Tips 1 - 6 of 6 Darmstadt Local Customs
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Local Customs: The most beautiful location for weddings
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It is said that Darmstadt's Wedding Tower on Mathildenhöhe is not only Germany's highest location for weddings, but also the most beautiful one.
Just recently on a walk there, I was lucky to see that the tower was open to public (which is not often on Sundays in winter), and so I took a glance inside. Amazing !!!
At the walls of the entrance hall, Friedrich Wilhelm Kleukers has realized two extraordinary mosaics with reference to the tower’s meaning of love and happiness - "The Kiss" and "Faithfulness".
In the upper levels, grand duke Ernst-Ludwig and his wife Eleonore, for whom the tower was built in early 20th century, had their rooms - the room of the grand duke, which today is the chambers of civil registry office, and the room of the grand duchess, which is now the marriage room. Since 1993, many marriage ceremonies took place here.
Another touching little story is shown and told in a showcase: the marriage cups. Once, a princess loved a goldsmith. Her father wasn't happy with her choice at all and threw the boy into jail. As he realized that this wont destroy his daughters' love for the goldsmith, he promised to release him, if he could build a cup, of which two persons can drink at the same time. Inspired by his love, the goldsmith modelled his beloved, her long skirt being a cup, her hands holding another small cup, flexible assembled. The father couldn't break his promise, and the two lived happily forever. These cups are for sale, made by a local goldsmith.
The tower is open from March 1 - October 31, 10 am - 6 pm.
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Local Customs: Wedding Tower - archit. details
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The Hochzeitsturm (wedding tower) was a gift of Darmstadt's citizen to Gossherzog (Grand Duke) Ernst-Ludwig on the occasion of his marriage with Elenore von Solm-Hohensolms-Lich in 1905. Architect was Joseph Maria Olbrich (1867-1908), who has designed the tower according to echelon gables of gothic brick buildings in northern Germany. The finished building, however, is of Expressionism style.
The tower is 48,m m in height, and architectonically separated into three parts:
Grey base with entrance portal,
the nearly windowless body of the tower, made of dark-red clinker and the
five pinnacle top with copper foil and violet blind stones.
On top of the entrance, sculptor Heinrich Jobst (1874-1943) has created a relief, which shows personifications of the four virtues of rulers: strength, wisdom, fairness and benignity. The inscription below mentions the marriage and is flanked by the coat of arms of Darmstadt (the lion).
The mosaics at the portal, in gold and blue pieces, have been designed by Friedrich Wilhelm Kleukens (1878-1956, of Vereinigten Werkstaetten fuer Mosaik und Glasmalerei Puhl & Wagner - Gottfried Heinersdorff in Berlin-Treptow - associated studios for mosaic and glass painting).
Kleukens also designed the sundial on the southern side on the tower. It shows the 12 signs of zodiac, and lines of poet Rudolf Binding express the immortality of life.
On the northern tower side, Albin Müller (1871-1941) has shaped a turret clock, framed with gold leaf. It shows the Christian symbols of faith, love and hope (cross, heart, anchor).
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Website: http://www.mathildenhoehe.info/hochzeitsturm/
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Local Customs: Russian Chapel - architectural details
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Alexander and Wladimir Frolov of St. Petersburg have worked the mosaics inside and outside of Russian Chapel on.
They have applied the so-called reverse or Venetian method of mosaic piece lying, where a mirror image of the original was copied onto thick paper. This was cut then and pieces of cobalt glass were glued on the surface with image face down. Then the mosaic was framed, fixated with cement and the finished blocks were added to the walls.
The pictures show some architectural details on the chapel's outside.
Unfortunately it is not allowed to take pictures inside.
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Website: http://www.proregio-darmstadt.de/sehenswertes/details.asp?id=17
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Local Customs: State Museum - precision instruments (1)
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Darmstadt has quite an important history in scientific research, and so in one hall of State Museum you can find old precision instruments from 18 & 19th century.
Among them is one of the very first microscopes, made by Antoni van Leeuwenhoek (1632 - 1723), dutch scientist and pioneer in manufacturing of microscopes. By advancing the technique of lens bevelling he could reach magnifications up to 270x - quite an achievement for early 1700th ! As I am working with modern microscopes today, it was extremely fascinating to look at these treasures here in the museum and imagine how they have done their research with these skilled instruments !
Picture 1 shows a set of simple microscopes by Leeuwenhoek and Musschenbroek (of 1705 - 1718), picture 2 a microscope of Hertel technology, 1716, picture 3 a travel microscope by Michael Milchhuber, mid 18th century and picture 5 a microscope of Culpeper and Scarlet of 1790.
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Website: http://www.hlmd.de/w3.php?nodeId=300
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Local Customs: State Museum - religious ivory carvings
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Among the collection of Hessen State Museum are some wonderful ivory carvings (scrimshaw ?), from early medieval ages, which had been donated to Grossherzog (grand duke) Ludewig I in 1805 by Cologne art collector Baron von Hüpsch.
Ivory has been used for carvings since a very long time (by Cro-Magnon man using mammoth tusks), but the real skills in carving beautiful artwork was developed by Egyptian, Greek and Roman artists.
The ivory carving collection in the state museum consists of mainly religious objects from medieval age; diptychons, small boxes and religious book cover carvings.
Picture 1 shows the beautiful cover of a so-called "Lektionar" (a book which contained all texts for sermon readings), dated 449, and showing consul Asturius of Rome. The book frame with gilded embossed copper, and a rock crystal, however, was done in late 13th century.
Picture 2 shows an "Evangeliar" (a book with all gospels in their original form), the relief dated of early 10th century. Both objects are from St. Martin resp. St. Jakob churches in Liège, Belgium.
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Website: http://www.hlmd.de/w3.php?nodeId=431
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Local Customs: State Museum - Mosaic Floor
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The little archeologic exhibition in Darmstadt’s State Museum is dominated by a 7 x 4,7 m mosaic floor of roman age, 175 AD. It shows Oceanus, the oldest aquatic deity of Greek-roman mythology, around him several half human, half animal figures, fish and birds being grouped.
The material used for the rich color play in the mosaic are red and yellow pieces of brick, black, white, grey and violet marble and some blue and green glass cubes.
This mosaic once was part of the thermal facilities the Romans have established in 2nd century in Bad Vilbel, part of greater the Frankfurt area (where today’s famous brand of sparkling water is originated). The museum page tells that the mosaic was laid inclined, so that the water flowing over it, created the image of the figures moving slightly.
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Website: http://www.hlmd.de/w3.php?nodeId=436
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Join a Discussion transportation from Darmstadt to Frankfurt // flat prices
(2 replies, Thursday, May 28, 2009, 7:15 PM UTC) places to go
(1 replies, Sunday, May 15, 2005, 7:19 PM UTC) Darmstadt we have a problem
(4 replies, Wednesday, Jan 7, 2004, 4:22 PM UTC) » All Darmstadt Posts
» Ask about Darmstadt Destinations near Darmstadt- Pfungstadt, 7.75 km / 4.82 miles
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leics Mon Aug 17, 2009 06:30 UTC
Yes.....out of season, stay overnight (looks like nice walks down to the river too), maybe do the tour. Worth an exploration imo. Off to Malta now. Hugs. Jx | BruceDunning Wed Aug 5, 2009 22:53 UTC
I know why you get behind in posting comments-you have such good detail and indepth perspective. Thank yo for the tour | LoriPori Fri Jan 23, 2009 12:43 UTC
Really enjoyed your home page of Darmstadt. It's not really so bad. My favourites are the Wedding Tower, Ernst-Ludwig Haus, the oldest part - Ressungen, St. Ludwig Church & the art nouveau house - Moosberstrasse No. 60 | Escadora7 Sun Oct 5, 2008 07:23 UTC
Hallo Ingrid! Nice Darmstadt tips - I went there for a business trip, but other than the ESOC buildings, I didn't see much! Bummer - looks like I missed a lot. Viele Grüße aus Los Angeles, Eve |
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on Sep 20, 2006
