Michelstadt - Frankenstein Castle - Darmstadt

Route: Frankfurt - Michelstadt - Frankenstein Castle - Darmstadt - Frankfurt
Duration: 9 h
Firstly we will visit to Michelstadt which consists of several parts, such as the old town, Reinbach, Stockheim, etc. Cobbled streets, half-timbered houses, and shops fill up the old town centre. There are the historical Buildings around the market square, Michelstadt Castle , The half-timbered houses in Michelstadt,  the Historical town hall constructed in the 15th century, the old town hall is a delightful piece of half-timbered architecture, and its whole structure is perched on oak timbers , a beautiful renaissance fountain Marktbrunnen, the Synagogue and City Church. In addition to the town hall and a beautiful renaissance fountain, the Löwenhof is a special ornament on the market square. Together with the Gothic town hall, the palace-like baroque building of the Löwenhof dominates the spacious market square.Built as an inn “Zum golden Löwen” around 1755. The Michelstadt Castle originated from a Franconian Meierhof, whose previous building from the 10th century was destroyed in 1307. The current looking results essentially from the reconstruction work of the 14th century and the 16th and 17th centuries. The theft tower (Diebsturm) to the west of the storage building probably still belonged to the old castle complex and thus dates from the 13th century. It got its name because it served as a prison.The lower floor was bricked up completely closed and had neither door nor window.The prisoners were placed down into the room from the floor above with a rope. Next we will visit to the Frankenstein Castle which was probably built a little before 1252 (the year of the first historical record) and remained in the Frankenstein family for around 400 years. In the c17th, it became a barracks for retired soldiers; and the castle was overzealously restored by well-meaning romantics during the c19th. The word ‘frankenstein’, rather prosaically, means ‘the stone of the Franks’ – the name of the family who laid claim to the land. Unfortunately, the most impressive parts of the present-day castle – the tall, peaked towers – didn’t ever exist in Medieval times. These were additions in the 1850s by Romantic architects who wanted to exaggerate the castle’s gothic qualities. Even so, much of the inner ward of the castle (the lower walls) are authentic; and you can still see the remains of the old drawbridge. Also it possible that Mary Shelley found the inspiration for her gothic novel, Frankenstein, from these ruins.Next we will visit to Darmstadt which like almost no other city, it combines an appreciation of the arts with a passion for science and innovation. Darmstadt still has the charm of a royal capital – at the same time it is a modern city, a laboratory for cultural as well as scientific experiments. Darmstadt was the capital and residence of the Hessian landgraves and grand dukes, capital of the Grand Duchy of Hesse until 1919, then capital of the People's State of Hesse until 1933 and the State of Hesse until 1945. The establishment of the Mathildenhöhe Artists' Colony more than 100 years ago played its part in raising Darmstadt to prominence. Still to this day, the magnificent Art Nouveau buildings give the muses' hill an unmistakable character. The city has long been known for its publishing houses, internationally acclaimed institutes for literature, art and music, the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) and the technical university. The Hessian State Museum, home to the world's largest Joseph Beuys collection, the Kunsthalle art museum, the State Theatre, a vibrant music and entertainment scene and the city's many art galleries all have their own unique cultural flair. Centralstation, a heritage-listed former power station, is now a venue for theatre productions, readings, exhibitions, concerts and club nights. But that's not all. Other attractions include the Old Town Hall, the palace on the Marktplatz square, the octagonal house and the orangery, as well as the Russian Orthodox church with its enchanting grove of plane trees. Not forgetting the Messel Pit Fossil Site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that unearths our planet's early history. After free time we return to Frankfurt.
Price: per person