Darmstadt

Darmstadt is a city in the Bundesland (federal state) of Hesse in Germany. As of 2003, its population was 137,900. The city is located to the south of the metropolitan areas of Frankfurt and Wiesbaden.

History

The name Darmstadt first appears towards the end of the 11th century, then Darmundestat; Darmstadt was chartered as a city by the Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian in 1330. The seat of the ruling landgraves (1567-1806) and thereafter (to 1918) grand dukes of the state of Hessen-Darmstadt, the city grew in population during the 19th century from little over 10,000 to 72,000 inhabitants. A Technical University was established in 1877.

Related Topics:
11th century - Emperor - Ludwig the Bavarian - 1330 - Landgraves - 1567 - 1806 - 1918 - Hessen-Darmstadt - 19th century - 1877

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In the begin of the 20th Century Darmstadt was an important centre for the art movement of Jugendstil, the German variant of Art Nouveau. Annual architectural competitions led to the building of many architectural treasures of this period. Surviving examples include the Rosenhöhe, the Mathildenhöhe with the Hochzeitsturm , commonly known as the Five-Finger-Tower, the Russian Chapel and large exhibition halls as well as many private villas built by Jugendstil architects who had settled in Darmstadt. The Russian Chapel was built as a private chapel for the last Tzar of Russia.

Related Topics:
Jugendstil - Art Nouveau - Rosenhöhe - Mathildenhöhe

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Darmstadt's municipal area was extended in 1937 to include the neighbouring localities of Arheilgen and Eberstadt, and in 1938 the city was separated administratively from the surrounding district (Kreis). Its old city centre was largely destroyed in a British bombing raid of September 11th 1944, which killed an estimated 12,300 inhabitants and rendered 66,000 homeless. Most of Darmstadt's 3000 Jews were killed by the Nazi regime between 1933 and 1945.

Related Topics:
1937 - 1938 - 1944 - Jew - Nazi

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In more modern times, Darmstadt is notable for its summer courses in contemporary classical music. These courses were founded as the Internationale Ferienkurse für Neue Musik by Wolfgang Steinecke, and ran first annually, then bi-anually. A large number of avant-garde composers have given lectures there, including Olivier Messiaen, Luciano Berio, Milton Babbitt, Pierre Boulez, John Cage, György Ligeti, Iannis Xenakis, Karlheinz Stockhausen and Mauricio Kagel.

Related Topics:
Music - Internationale Ferienkurse für Neue Musik - Wolfgang Steinecke - Composer - Olivier Messiaen - Luciano Berio - Milton Babbitt - Pierre Boulez - John Cage - György Ligeti - Iannis Xenakis - Karlheinz Stockhausen - Mauricio Kagel

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Darmstadt is home to a large technology institute, and promotes itself as a "city of science". It is well known as the high-tech centre in the vicinity of Frankfurt Airport, with important activities in spacecraft operations, chemistry, information technology, biotechnology and mechatronics.

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TU Darmstadt is one of the important technical institutes in Hessen region and is well known for its researchs in Electrical and Mechanical engineering disciplines.

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