Travel tips for Darmstadt

1. Darmstadt is the fourth largest city in Hesse after Frankfurt, Wiesbaden and Kassel. It has been a science city since August 13, 1997. 2. The Mathildenhöhe Artists' Colony in Darmstadt is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From 1567 to 1945, Darmstadt was the capital and residence of the County of Hesse-Darmstadt, the Grand Duchy of Hesse and the Volksland of Hesse. There are many universities and research institutions in the city. Around 50,000 students are spread over the Technical University, founded in 1877, the University of Applied Sciences Darmstadt, the Evangelical University and the Wilhelm Büchner University. More than 30 other research institutions include the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research, the European Space Operations Centre (ESA/ESOC), the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) and three institutes of the Fraunhofer Society. 3. There are also many companies and institutions conducting applied research and development in the field of communications and information technology. These include Deutsche Telekom, Software AG and the second largest branch of DAX Group Merck KGaA 4. Spiral Forest is a residential building located in Darmstadt. The building's exterior was designed with the participation of Viennese artist Hundertwasser and completed in 2000. The Russian Church on the Martilden Heights in Darmstadt is dedicated to Mary Magdalene. This sacred building was built between 1897 and 1899 according to the plans of the Petersburg architect Leon N. Benois. Orthodox ceremonies are still held here today, in the style of a 16th century Russian church. 5. The landmark of Darmstadt is the 48.5-meter-high Wedding Tower, which stands on the Mathildenhöhe. Austrian architect Joseph Maria Olbrich designed this brick tower on behalf of the city of Darmstadt and it was completed in 1908. The building is very distinctive and spectacular.