The artists' colony established under the patronage of Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig and led by Joseph Olbrich was an important centre of the Art Nouveau movement in Germany. Over a period of several years, a unique artists' quarter grew up here, with studios, exhibition buildings and homes.

Centre of German Art Nouveau
In 1899, Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig von Hessen invited seven well-known Art Nouveau artists to Darmstadt to set up home on a hill outside the town, Mathildenhöhe, where they would live, work and teach. And so the famous Darmstadt artists' colony was born. Until the outbreak of the First World War brought an abrupt end to this creative endeavour, Mathildenhöhe was an important source of new ideas in architecture, art and design. The Art Nouveau wedding tower, exhibition building and artists' houses can still be visited today.

The Hessian State Museum contains exhibits from pre-history and early history through to the 20th century. The Grand Ducal Porcelain Museum has rare examples of Hessen-Darmstadt Kelsterbach porcelain and items from the imperial Russian St. Petersburg porcelain factory.

As well as landmark buildings, visitors to Darmstadt can enjoy its broad range of art and culture. The House of History is the town's cultural gem. At Mathildenhöhe, the artists' colony of homes, studios, an exhibition building and gardens with ornate stonework is a living example of early 20th century modern architecture. The works of artists working in Darmstadt from 1899 to 1914 are exhibited at the Artists' Colony Museum.