This photo may not represent the actual event
This photo may not represent the actual event
Open Monument Day Darmstadt
Admission
Free
Date & Time
Sun, Sep 13, 10:00 AM – Sun, Sep 13, 06:00 PM
Group
Tags
Organiser
Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz / Tag des offenen Denkmals®
About this event
The day links several Darmstadt buildings that are usually off-limits. The former Kranichstein marshalling yard, closed in 2002, is the most technically fascinating site: its vast grounds with hump yard, signal box tower, roundhouse and historic heavy-haulage tractors can only be seen via four free themed guided tours (registration from 30 August, ages 14+). In the city centre, the Protestant Stadtkirche opens its walk-in landgrave crypt and runs guided tours. The Haus der Geschichte in the former court theatre opens its archives, screens old Darmstadt films, runs a children’s marbled-paper workshop, and holds a talk on the 1944 firestorm. The neoclassical St. Ludwig presents its revised Winterhalter organ and closes the day at 18:00 with Duruflé’s Requiem sung by the Darmstadt Vocal Ensemble. The Vahle studio house offers a garden tour and landscape exhibition in a listed mid‑century setting, while the ecumenical community centre in Kranichstein combines tours, video presentations and live instrumental interludes in its 1980s architecture. All events are free, with cafés and snacks at several stops.
Schedule
Sun, Sep 13
09:15 AM - 10:15 AM
Tour of the former marshalling yard core area
A look into the locomotive shed and across the yard; tours at 10:15, 11:45, 13:30, 15:00. Not barrier‑free.
Eisenbahnmuseum Darmstadt‑Kranichstein, Steinstraße 4
09:15 AM - 10:15 AM
Tour of the Culemeyer road trailers and heavy‑haulage tractors
Barrier‑free tour covering a historic transport system; same time slots as above.
Eisenbahnmuseum Darmstadt‑Kranichstein, Steinstraße 4
09:15 AM - 10:15 AM
Tour of the roundhouse and workshop
Insight into steam‑locomotive maintenance and the listed roundhouse; not barrier‑free.
Eisenbahnmuseum Darmstadt‑Kranichstein, Steinstraße 4
09:15 AM - 10:15 AM
Tour of the signal box tower R1 and hump yard
Climb 60 steps into the signal tower and learn how goods wagons were sorted; not barrier‑free.
Eisenbahnmuseum Darmstadt‑Kranichstein, Steinstraße 4
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Historical film screening: Darmstadt in old films
Four short films on city history, shown continuously; drop‑in any time.
Haus der Geschichte, Karolinenplatz 3
10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
Guided tour of the city church and landgrave crypt
Tour the early‑Gothic choir and the walk‑in crypt with landgrave tombs; also at 13:00, 14:30, 16:00.
Stadtkirche Darmstadt, Kirchstr. 11
11:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Guided tours and video presentation at the ecumenical community centre
Tours of the 1980s church and community rooms, a half‑hourly video on Kranichstein, and live instrumental interludes.
Ökumenisches Gemeindezentrum Kranichstein, Bartningstr. 40‑42
01:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Marbled paper workshop for children
Kids experiment with water‑based colours to create marbled paper; accompanied by adults.
Haus der Geschichte, Karolinenplatz 3
01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Organ presentation: the revised Winterhalter organ
Regional cantor Jorin Sandau demonstrates the renovated organ, touching on digital aspects and its new sound palette.
Innenstadtkirche St. Ludwig, Wilhelminenplatz 9
01:15 PM - 02:15 PM
Lecture: The firebombing of Darmstadt in 1944
Former city archivist Dr. Peter Engels presents the events and impact of the 11 September 1944 air raid.
Haus der Geschichte, Karolinenplatz 3
02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Garden tour and landscape exhibition at Vahle studio house
Walk through the listed garden of 1960 and view watercolours by Inge and Fritz Vahle, plus landscape photographs by Andreas Neuhann.
Atelierhaus Vahle, Schumannstr. 11
05:00 PM - 06:15 PM
Concert: Duruflé Requiem by the Darmstadt Vocal Ensemble
The Darmstadt Vocal Ensemble performs Duruflé's gentle Requiem, complemented by instrumental pieces and Pēteris Vasks' Plainscapes.
Innenstadtkirche St. Ludwig, Wilhelminenplatz 9
Sun, Sep 13
09:15 AM - 10:15 AM
Tour of the former marshalling yard core area
A look into the locomotive shed and across the yard; tours at 10:15, 11:45, 13:30, 15:00. Not barrier‑free.
Eisenbahnmuseum Darmstadt‑Kranichstein, Steinstraße 4
09:15 AM - 10:15 AM
Tour of the Culemeyer road trailers and heavy‑haulage tractors
Barrier‑free tour covering a historic transport system; same time slots as above.
Eisenbahnmuseum Darmstadt‑Kranichstein, Steinstraße 4
09:15 AM - 10:15 AM
Tour of the roundhouse and workshop
Insight into steam‑locomotive maintenance and the listed roundhouse; not barrier‑free.
Eisenbahnmuseum Darmstadt‑Kranichstein, Steinstraße 4
09:15 AM - 10:15 AM
Tour of the signal box tower R1 and hump yard
Climb 60 steps into the signal tower and learn how goods wagons were sorted; not barrier‑free.
Eisenbahnmuseum Darmstadt‑Kranichstein, Steinstraße 4
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Historical film screening: Darmstadt in old films
Four short films on city history, shown continuously; drop‑in any time.
Haus der Geschichte, Karolinenplatz 3
10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
Guided tour of the city church and landgrave crypt
Tour the early‑Gothic choir and the walk‑in crypt with landgrave tombs; also at 13:00, 14:30, 16:00.
Stadtkirche Darmstadt, Kirchstr. 11
11:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Guided tours and video presentation at the ecumenical community centre
Tours of the 1980s church and community rooms, a half‑hourly video on Kranichstein, and live instrumental interludes.
Ökumenisches Gemeindezentrum Kranichstein, Bartningstr. 40‑42
01:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Marbled paper workshop for children
Kids experiment with water‑based colours to create marbled paper; accompanied by adults.
Haus der Geschichte, Karolinenplatz 3
01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Organ presentation: the revised Winterhalter organ
Regional cantor Jorin Sandau demonstrates the renovated organ, touching on digital aspects and its new sound palette.
Innenstadtkirche St. Ludwig, Wilhelminenplatz 9
01:15 PM - 02:15 PM
Lecture: The firebombing of Darmstadt in 1944
Former city archivist Dr. Peter Engels presents the events and impact of the 11 September 1944 air raid.
Haus der Geschichte, Karolinenplatz 3
02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Garden tour and landscape exhibition at Vahle studio house
Walk through the listed garden of 1960 and view watercolours by Inge and Fritz Vahle, plus landscape photographs by Andreas Neuhann.
Atelierhaus Vahle, Schumannstr. 11
05:00 PM - 06:15 PM
Concert: Duruflé Requiem by the Darmstadt Vocal Ensemble
The Darmstadt Vocal Ensemble performs Duruflé's gentle Requiem, complemented by instrumental pieces and Pēteris Vasks' Plainscapes.
Innenstadtkirche St. Ludwig, Wilhelminenplatz 9
Location
Map data from OpenStreetMap
