A sculpture I admired near the library.
Ecstasy in Darmstadt
Darmstadt, Germany is located in Hessen, not far from Frankfurt. It actually has a few notorious claims to fame, if one does some research. During the rise of Nazi Germany, Darmstadt was the first city in which Jews were forced to close their shops. Some years later, 3,000 of these Jews were taken to concentration camps. It is also the city where Ecstasy was invented. Darmstadt doesn’t advertise these facts. I found them on my own while looking for things to do because Darmstadt is not a tourist destination; more a place where people live and work. There is also a university here, and some interesting churches and architecture to look at as one walks around. So that’s what I did. I walked around.
A house of no significance. But beautiful.
Darmstadt Now
To me, the architecture is beautiful, though many of the buildings/structures/houses I saw were not marked as anything special. The streets around the city center and market place are cobblestone, which always makes a city seem quaint to me. They are pedestrian traffic only and here I found exactly what I wanted to find: two used bookstores that had some books in English, a library, a Starbucks and currywurst. Currywurst is the street food that I’d hoped to find, but thought I might not unless I headed farther north in Germany. It was delicious!
Stomach full, re-caffeinated, and book in hand, I spent a wonderful afternoon in the city center watching the crowds. I’m glad I didn’t let Darmstadt’s Nazi and drug-laden past keep me away. Though truth be told, those little character flaws might have drawn me to it in the first place. Maybe the tour books ought to mention those.
What places have you visited that would probably like to forget their sordid pasts?
Browsing The Atlas 
Every place has its story to tell, if (like you Juliann) one is prepared to look for it. And often these places are more rewarding in not having coachloads of people crawling all over them. Love that house, but wouldn’t fancy cleaning it every day.
That’s so true, Roy. Cincinnati has lots of sordid stories to tell. But like Darmstadt, it makes for a rich history.
I like Curry Wurst
I nearly ate my weight in currywurst while I was there. I love it!
Great story. If only houses can speak and neighborhood’s alley could whisper, they will sure tell stories of the past that will stir a myriad of emotions in all of us.
Good or bad, I think it’s important to remember the history of an area and recognize how it formed the city it’s become.
An excellent post that raises interesting questions and issues.
Just one that shares its history of genocide – Phnom Penh! Darmstadt looks beautiful though.
Yes. Places like Phnom Pehn are sobering. They can’t hide their history, and shouldn’t. We need to remember.
Never been in Darmstadt, although we visit in Germany nearly every second year making a road trip around there. I love the first photo very much.
Thanks! It’s a nice little town. Definitely worth a stop.
yes… Darmstadt … my mother was redirected to Darmstadt from Auschwitz after been captured in Kerch in Crimea during operation Barbarossa in 1941. She was lucky to be in the right row in Auschwitz that didn’t sent her to the deadly showers. As she was still in a good health and strong enough she had to go to one of the weapon production factories… that the way how she ended in the small concentration lager in Darmstadt (200 prisoners capacity). Many of the girls (all behind barbed wire after working 12 hours a day, seven days in the week) died of starvation… but my mother escaped and lived until 2014.
Thank you for sharing your mother’s story. I cannot even imagine what that was like.