Darmstadt’s green side
Darmstadt offers many green areas and listed parks. The city is also surrounded by a forest belt that covers 49% of the municipal area. This makes Darmstadt one of the most forested cities in Germany.
The Ostparkweg: From the market square to the Darmbach source or to the Oberwaldhaus
The Ostparkweg leads from Darmstadt's city centre along the Darmbach to the east, to the Darmbach source behind the Fischerhütte or as an alternative to the Oberwaldhaus at the Steinbrücker Teich.
The Ostparkweg connects the recreational areas close to the city such as the Rudolf-Müller-Anlage, the Woog, the area around the Botanical Garden with the forest behind the Lichtwiese to the Darmbach source or via the Oberfeld to the leisure area at the Steinbrücker Teich.
Route length:
From the market square to the Darmbach spring: approx. 5.5 km
From the market square to the Oberwaldhaus: approx. 6.4 km
Planet Trail on the Ludwigshöhe
The planet trail deals with the closer cosmic environment of our earth and informs about the most important objects of our solar system. Starting from the sun, one walks through the solar system on a scale of 1 to 1 billion - every meter walked corresponds to 1 million kilometers in the solar system.
The distance of the path is 2.8 km and can be done in 1.5 to 2 hours. More information about the planet path on the website of the Geo-Naturpark Bergstraße-Odenwald.
Hiking along the Bergstrasse
The Bergstrasse forms a landscape for varied hikes. The mountain range between Darmstadt and Heidelberg is adorned with over 30 castles and palaces, which can be explored via the Burgensteig (Castle Trail) and the Blütenweg (Blossom Trail).
The Burgensteig connects 30 castles and palaces and can be hiked in nine half-day tours. It starts in Darmstadt-Eberstadt.
The Blütenweg runs through forests, meadows and vineyards. It leads past quarries, front gardens and through well-tended parks. The trail, which is divided into 5 stages, focuses on nature reserves, parks and vineyards.
Burgensteig and Blütenweg can also be combined in 9 different combinations as circular hiking trails.
Further information on the Burgensteig and Blütenweg at www.diebergstrasse.de
The Burgensteig connects 30 castles and palaces and can be hiked in nine half-day tours. It starts in Darmstadt-Eberstadt.
The Blütenweg runs through forests, meadows and vineyards. It leads past quarries, front gardens and through well-tended parks. The trail, which is divided into 5 stages, focuses on nature reserves, parks and vineyards.
Burgensteig and Blütenweg can also be combined in 9 different combinations as circular hiking trails.
Further information on the Burgensteig and Blütenweg at www.diebergstrasse.de
Sieben-Hügel-Steig (Seven-Hills hiking trail)
The 13 km long route with slight inclines starts from the Ostbahnhof, with seven hills lined up south of Darmstadt.
Rosehnhöhe: 186 m
Dachsberg: 258 m
Dommerberg: 264
Herrgottsbberg: 227
Ludwigshöhe: 242 m
Marienhöhe: 235 m
Prinzenberg: 241 m
A detailed description of the route to the Sieben-Hügel-Steig can be found on the Bergstraße-Odenwald website.
Forest Art Trail
The Verein für Internationale Waldkunst e.V. has been organising the "International Forest Art Trail" in Darmstadt every two years since 2002, each with a different theme. It extends in the Darmstadt forest district for 3.3 km from the Böllenfalltor to the Ludwigshöhe, past the Goethefelsen, Goethe pond and Ludwigshöhturm.
The path through the forest can be viewed as a forest adventure path in order to promote the character of scouting and exploration by the visitor. With the means of art, the forest is brought to the attention of the visitors in a new way.
Starting point: parking lot at Herrgottsbrunnen Weg (Klappacher Str. 145, next to the police headquarters)
Overview of Darmstadt's parks and gardens
Ihr Eintrag ins Digitale Schaufenster: Onlineformular
Prinz-Emil Garden
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Prinz-Emil Garden
This intimate garden, with tiny castle, pond and wrought-iron pavilion originally contained late baroque elements, but around 1900 it was completely turned into a landscaped garden. From the terrace of the castle, the former owner and finance minister Karl Friedrich von Moser enjoyed an uninterrupted view stretching as far as the Rhine river. The water basin enhanced the impression of distance.
©Simone Sündermann
Steinbruecker Teich / Oberwaldhaus
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Steinbruecker Teich / Oberwaldhaus
The former forest of Darmstadt's nobility surrounding the large "Steinbruecker Teich" lake is a much-loved recreational area just outside the gates of the city. Mini-golf, pony rides, pedal boots and a playground for children with and without handicaps all await the vistor.
Since 1901, the café-restaurant Oberwaldhaus offers refreshments, a beergarden and also rooms for overnight guests.
Pony riding Oberwaldhaus: www.ponyhof-oberwaldhaus.de
Pony riding: for children from 3 to 5 years
Take a pony walk (a pony without a rider!): from 6 years
from March to October: Saturday / Sunday / Holidays: 12 pm to 6 pm
Only in dry weather, without registration.
Herrngarten
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Herrngarten
Initially laid out as a large vegetable garden, the Herrngarten became a baroque pleasure garden in the 17th century und later, in the 18th century under Countess Caroline, an English-style park. To the north-east, it borders on Prinz-Georgs-Garten, a Rococo-style complex in which fruit and vegetables can be found in between the trees and shrubs.
Web
Shop
Großer Woog - Naturfreibad
The popular bathing lake is located in the center of the town and nevertheless forms an island of peace and seclusion. The "Großer Woog" is not only a place of rest and bathing pleasure. The nature paradise is also a meeting place for many waterfowl, such as Stockenten, Gießhühner and Great Blue Heron. The beautiful spacious park invites you to rest and linger.
The Woog was probably created as a quenching pond in the middle of the 16th century. Around the year 1820 he was first mentioned as a public bathing pond.
The entire ensemble, consisting of "family bath" and "island", is under monument protection. The functional building on the family pool side was rebuilt following the example of the "Frauenbad" ("womens' bath"), which was created in 1927/28, and was handed over to the public in 1994.
Swimming pool "Family Bath"
Landgraf-Georg-Str.121
Swimming pool "Island"
Heinrich-Fuhr-Str.20
The summer season for the Woog swimming pool is mid May to September.
In order to apply the necessary distance rules to the spatial conditions and to avoid queues at the ticket office, please buy a ticket in andvance in the Darmstadt Shop Luisencenter or online: darmstadt.de/darmstadt-erleben/freizeit/schwimmbaeder.
Partner of the DARMSTADT CARD:
reduced admission
Opening Hours
Daily: 08:00-10:00, 10:45-14:45, 15:30-19:30
Rosenhoehe
The rose garden (Rosarium) with its enormous variety of roses is the centre of attention on the Rosenhoehe, which came into being under Landgrave Ernst Ludwig. The hill became a park as early as 1810, when Grand Duchess Wilhelmine created a landscaped garden, with pavilions, swings and a tea house. The Rosenhoehe, with its old and new mausoleums, is also the final resting place of the families of the grand dukes.
Planet Trail on the Ludwigshöhe
The planet trail deals with the closer cosmic environment of our earth and informs about the most important objects of our solar system. Starting from the sun, one walks through the solar system on a scale of 1 to 1 billion - every meter walked corresponds to 1 million kilometers in the solar system.
The distance of the path is 2.8 km and can be done in 1.5 to 2 hours. More information about the planet path on the website of the Geo-Naturpark Bergstraße-Odenwald.
Blick in den Waldgarten ©Skulpturengarten
Darmstadt sculpture garden
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Blick in den Waldgarten ©Skulpturengarten
Darmstadt sculpture garden
The Darmstadt sculpture garden is a place of diverse encounters for art and garden lovers. Guests get an insight into the specific features of the artist's garden, which has been created on Ludwigshöhe in the past eighteen years: sculptures, sculptures, objects, installations, natural sculptures, found and collectibles with the surrounding ambience develop into a total work of art on a 4,000 m2 forest area.
Guided tours
The sculpture garden can only be visited with a tour. The tours serve to better understand the art project and its public appreciation.
Sunday tours from 20. June 20 to 14. November 2021
Sundays / public holidays, without registration
Opening Hours
Monday: closed
Tuesday: closed
Wednesday: closed
Thursday: closed
Friday: closed
Saturday: closed
Sunday: 14:30-16:00
Address
Auf der Ludwigshöhe 202
64285 Darmstadt
Contacts Phone+49 6151 2769054
Contacts Email
Waldfriedhof
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Waldfriedhof
The 80 acre cemetry in the woods (Waldfriehof) is Darmstadt’s largest cemetry. It was opened in 1914. The architect was the head of Darmstadt’s city planning, August Buxbaum. The cemetry was designed in the shape of a horse-shoe. In the middle, a north-south pathway runs from the south entrance to the more recent additions to the cemetry. The city crematorium can be found in the Waldfriedhof.
Opening Hours
Daily: 07:00-19:00
Orangerie
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Orangerie
In 1716 Count Ernst Ludwig established a baroque orangery garden in Bessungen. His architect Louis Remy de la Fosse planned a small castle to be used as winter quarters for the valuable citrus trees. Lack of money meant that only the west wing and a greenhouse were built. These buildings are used today as a restaurant and as a venue for various events.
Prinz-Georg-Garden
In 1764, Ludwig VIII gave the former Prettlackschen Garden to his son, Prince Georg Wilhelm. The garden, which bears his name, was of a closed geometric shape. Today the baroque garden house is home to the porcelain collection of the grand duchy. A free public library can be found in the prettily painted and renovated Prettlackschen garden house. The basic structure of the garden has remained unchanged over the centuries.
Opening Hours
Daily: 08:00-16:00
©Stefan Schneckenburger
©Stefan Schneckenburger
Botanic Garden of the Technical University Darmstadt
The botanic garden of the Technical University Darmstadt dates back to 1874. Visitors can experience hundred year old exotic trees, winding paths by the local stream as well as heather and alpine gardens and swampland. Between eight and nine thousand different varieties of plant can be found in more than 10 acres of open land and about 1300 square metres of greenhouse, many times more than the number of indigenous plants.
Opening Hours
Monday: 09:00-15:30
Tuesday: 09:00-15:30
Wednesday: 09:00-15:30
Thursday: 09:00-15:30
Friday: 09:00-15:30
Saturday: closed
Sunday: closed
Address
Schnittspahnstr.11
64287 Darmstadt
Contacts Phone+49 6151 1622320
Contacts Emailschneckenburger@
bio.tu-darmstadt.de
Vortex Garden
The Vortex Garden with a villa on Mathildenhöhe is Darmstadt's only public park in private ownership.
Designed according to the principles of permaculture and the balance of natural eco-systems, the owner would like to make the garden accessible as a "place of vitality, renewal and recreation". On request, the design and the idea of the garden are explained to interested visitors.
From 9 am to 9 pm the garden is open for visitors free of charge.
The "Haus Martinus" (formerly "Haus Hubertus") was designed in 1921 by the architect Jan Hubert Pinand.
Opening Hours
Daily: 00:00-24:00
Luftschloss (2012)
Luftschloss (2012)
Arthropozän-Lutetiana neli (genannt ‚die Spinne‘) von Florian Huber und Sebastian Weissgerber (2020) ©Y-PR
Forest Art Trail
The Verein für Internationale Waldkunst e.V. has been organising the "International Forest Art Trail" in Darmstadt every two years since 2002, each with a different theme. It extends in the Darmstadt forest district for 3.3 km from the Böllenfalltor to the Ludwigshöhe, past the Goethefelsen, Goethe pond and Ludwigshöhturm.
The path through the forest can be viewed as a forest adventure path in order to promote the character of scouting and exploration by the visitor. With the means of art, the forest is brought to the attention of the visitors in a new way.
Address
Herrgottsbrunnenweg
64285 Darmstadt
Contacts Phone+49 6151 7899537
Contacts Email
©Ulrich Mathias
©Ulrich Mathias
Ludwigshöhe
The Ludwigshöhe, also called Bessunger Hausberg, is a popular excursion destination in the south of Darmstadt.
Discovered as a destination at the beginning of the 19th century, the flow of visitors increased from year to year. After the construction of a small wooden temple, a massive inn was built in 1838, which was constantly rebuilt and expanded over the years. The excursion destination was crowned by the construction of a 27.5 m high lookout tower, the Ludwigsturm
Alter Friedhof – the Old Cemetry
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Alter Friedhof – the Old Cemetry
Known today as the "Alter Friedhof“, Darmstadt’s old cemetry between the Nieder-Ramstaedter-Straße and Herdweg dates back to 1828. Originally rectangular in shape, additions in 1848, 1873 and 1894 have led to its current form. The oldest tombstones are to be found in the northern part of the cemetry.
Darmstadt’s oldest graveyard was around the parish church (Stadtkirche) and was used until 1739. But soon there was no more space there and the Kapellplatz became the new cemetry. By the start of the 19th century, this too had no more room for burials. As a result, the city opted for a new cemetry in the Nieder-Ramstaedter-Strasse. In 1847, the cemetry on the Kapellplatz was turned into a public park.
Opening Hours
Daily: 07:00-19:00
©Ulrich Mathias
Plane Tree Grove
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©Ulrich Mathias
Plane Tree Grove
On the occasion of the exhibition of the Artists’s Colony in 1914, the Platanenhain, a grove of plane trees planted in the 1830’s, was decorated by the sculptor Bernhard Hoetger with a row of sculptures and reliefs, which symbolise the circle of life.
UNESCO World Heritage in the region of Darmstadt
Darmstadt ist part of the Geo-Naturpark Bergstraße-Odenwald, which, since 2015, is part of the "International Geoscience & Geoparks Programm" of UNESCO and thus bears the label "UNESCO Global Geopark".
The Geopark extends between the rivers Rhine, Main and Neckar on more than 3,500 km², with a spacious landscape with diverse nature and geology, worth protecting.
The Messel Fossil Pit was added in 1995 as the first German natural monument in the list of UNESCO World Heritage. It uniquely sheds light on the early evolution of mammals and documents the history of earth's evolution 48 million years ago, when explosive changes in the flora and fauna took place after the end of the dinosaur age.
From the Mathildenhöhe to the Messel Fossil Pit:
Take bus line FU from stop "Mathildenhöhe" (on Dieburger Str.) to stop "Grube Messel - Besucherzentrum Grube Messel" on Landesstrasse 3317. The walk to the visitor centre is then around 500 meters.
The Lorsch Abbey was a Benedictine abbey. It was founded in 764 and was a power, intellectual and cultural centre until the high Middle Ages. The Lorsch King's Hall is the architectural highlight of the UNESCO World Heritage. The building with its antique and early medieval facade decoration is one of the best preserved examples of Carolingian architecture.