Botanischer Garten, Darmstadt

The Botanical Garden ( Botanisher Garten in German), located not too far from the city's center, is a hidden treasure of Darmstadt. It is a garden that boasts more than 100-year-old trees and more than 9000 plant species, including tropical/subtropical and aquatic plants. There are multiple greenhouses too, which can be visited. It is a must-visit place for plant and nature enthusiasts. 

The plant species are labeled, and numerous information boards help one understand more about the surrounding ecosystem, thereby making it an excellent place to learn.

But this garden just doesn't just serve the purpose of learning. The surrounding greenery, open grounds, and winding paths make it an ideal place to stroll, relax, and rest. 

The story behind the garden:

Like many other gardens in Darmstadt, this one, too, has a story behind it. 

The moat of the Schloss in Darmstadt ( Schlossgraben in German) was originally filled with water from the Darmbach stream. Since this stream also took the sewage from the neighboring town, the moat used to stink very severely during summer. It was then, in 1814, that the Grand Duke, therefore, agreed to a proposal by his building council to drain the palace moat and have a botanical garden laid out on the reclaimed area. The idea was to cultivate native plants and display them. However, they soon realized that the moat was too small. This led to the relocation of the botanical garden to its present location on Roßdörfer Straße in 1874.

Here is its location. I have shown it with reference to Luisenplatz.

Today, the garden is open to the public, and there is no entry cost. However, it can be visited only on foot. Bicycles are not allowed. 

Here are some pictures of the beautiful flowers that were growing in the garden when I visited it in spring:

Their official website is:

https://www.bio.tu-darmstadt.de/botanischergarten/index.de.jsp

Here, you can get information about visiting hours and the various events and exhibitions in the botanical garden.

Friendkreis e.V works towards protecting and developing the botanic garden. They organize programs like lectures, guided tours of the garden, and exhibitions. The funds generated are used for supporting the staff and maintenance and development of the garden. More information about them can be found here:

https://www.bio.tu-darmstadt.de/botanischergarten/freundeskreis/uebersicht_freundeskreis/index.de.jsp

They also have an exciting program called the Grünes Klassenzimmer ( meaning Green Classroom). Under this program, there are multiple learning opportunities for children of all ages through experimental learning amidst nature. The program lasts about 2-3 hours. More information about it can be found here:

https://www.bio.tu-darmstadt.de/botanischergarten/gruenes_klassenzimmer/infos_angebot/index.de.jsp

The botanical garden is a beautiful little hidden treasure of Darmstadt and is undoubtedly worth a visit.

To know more about places and experiences in Darmstadt, click here.