Entrance to the Ernst Ludwig House

I should be used to seeing closed doors by this time. In this trip to Germany in the December, I have visited several places which seem to be closed for the winter. Mathildenhöhe in the city of Darmstadt is only slightly different. The artists’ colony wasn’t totally closed to visitors. In fact, it is wide open and can be considered a park of sorts. However, there are individual places within the park which were not open to visitors when I went there. The first one I saw was the exhibition hall here but it was under renovation. It wasn’t a nice look to see construction as my very first impression of Mathildenhöhe.

Another major structure here which was also not open to visitors at the time of my visit is the Ernst Ludwig House. This structure is named in honor of the Grand Duke of Hesse who came up with the idea of the artists’ colony. I can’t get in the house but at least I can see what is outside. Several of the artists who were brought here are Art Nouveau artists which happened to be popular that time. Here in Germany, it was called Jugendstil. The entrance of the Ernst Ludwig House was designed by these artists and you can see the Art Nouveau in the design. The two large statues remind you of an oscar trophy but are actually a man and woman, representing strength and beauty. The door is one colorfully designed door with flower patters on it. It is a shame that I can’t go in the house since the artists also had some work done inside.

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