Introduction
Modern and historical sights are intermingled in Darmstadt, so you’ll find well-preserved gothic monuments surrounded by gleaming new buildings. Within the pedestrianised city centre there are shops, restaurants and ice cream parlours as well as the grand Ducal Palace and Langer Lui, a 33 metre column in the main square that commemorates Ludwig I.There is no shortage of green spaces in Darmstadt. The biggest park is the Herrengarten, next to the Hesse County Museum and Haus der Geschichte, where state archives are kept. Mathildenhohepark contains the Hochzeitsturm or Wedding Tower, also known as the Five Finger Tower due to its steeple; it was opened in 1908 as an exhibition space. Another sky-high building that’s worth a visit is the Wasserturm, the former water tower that now houses a restaurant and art gallery.
