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Der Feurige Elias (The Fiery Elias) is a steam-powered train that runs through the streets of Darmstadt on the tracks of the Darmstadt tram system. (Before electrification, many tram systems used steam locomotives of which Elias is one of the survivors.) Elias makes 4 round trips mostly on Sundays in June and September. The June trips are along the Bergstraße from tram stop Darmstadt-Eberstadt Frankenstein. The September trips are to Griesheim from a downtown location between the Schloß and the Kongresszentrum. This info is of 2014. Consult the web site for dates, times and changes in itinerary.
This is the most beautiful part of Darmstadt. There is also a small park, an art museum and a Russian-style chapel there. In 1899 Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig invited seven artists to come to Darmstadt and, thus, the Artists’ Colony Mathildenhöhe was founded. The first of four large art exhibitions took place in 1901. The artists presented their ideas of a new living and working world. They designed a colony, the focal point of which is the Studio House, the Ernst Ludwig House. Since 1990 it houses the Artists’ Colony Museum. In 2021 Mathildenhöhe was listed as a world heritage site.
Rose heights
A park in the east of Darmstadt, just around the corner from the Ostbahnhof (east railway station). Don't miss out on the rose garden!
Darmstadt's landmark, a statue on a huge sandstone column in the city centre. When you visit Darmstadt, you can't miss it. On the first Saturday of every month (and during special events) it is open for the public, meaning that you can climb the column (through a stair located on the inside) and get a beautiful view over Darmstadt. It is located at Luisenplatz.
Forest Spiral
The huge Hundertwasser house was finished in 2000. It is a wonderful example for the colourful architectural designs of Friedensreich Hundertwasser, the famous Austrian architect and painter. The residential building has an interesting spiral shape, "green roof", and of its 1048 windows, no two are the same.
It is a hilltop castle near Darmstadt in Mühltal. The castle was first mentioned in the records in the year 948, and initial construction of the castle ruins remaining today began in the 13th century. The 14th and 15th centuries saw expansion, followed by construction of reinforcements in the 16th. It was owned by the Barons von Frankenstein who owned most of the surrounding land until 1662, when the Baron of that time sold the property to the Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt. There have been claims that the castle may have inspired the Mary Shelley novel, Frankenstein. While Shelley is known to have travelled through this area in 1814, historical scholars believe that she did not visit this castle. There are special dinners for Halloween and for other occasions. It is also possible to hike up to the castle.
A nice baroque garden with several fountains is in the south of Darmstadt in the heart of Bessungen. In the summer people are playing boule or just relaxing in the grass.