The Artists’ Colony

Travel

Passports Baggage allowance Please ensure your 10 year British Passport is not We advise you to check the baggage allowances out of date and is valid for a full three months carefully as you are likely to be charged the excess beyond the duration of your visit. EU, Andorra, if you exceed the weight limit. Maximum weights Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino or Switzerland for single bags apply. valid national identification cards are also acceptable for travel to Germany. With British Airways your ticket includes one hold bag of up to 23kg plus one cabin bag no bigger than Visas 56 x 45x 25cm including handles, pockets and British and EU passport holders are not required to wheels, and a personal bag (handbag or computer have a visa. case) no bigger than 45 x 36 x 20cm including handles, pockets and wheels. For all other passport holders please check the visa requirements with the appropriate embassy. For more information please visit www.britishairways.com German Embassy: 23 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PZ. Labels Tel: (020) 7824 1300. Fax: (020) 7824 1435. Please use the luggage labels provided. It is useful Web site: https://uk.diplo.de/ to have your home address located inside your Consulate: Visa applications have been outsourced suitcase should the label go astray. to VFS, please schedule an appointment via the blow website: Transfers http://www.vfsglobal.com/germany/uk/ On arrival in Frankfurt, transfer by coach to Opening hours: 0900-1130 Monday to Friday. Darmstadt (approx. 40 minutes) with an en-route visit to Waldspirale, continuing onwards to the Best Western Hotel in Darmstadt.

Tickets Departure Tax Included with your detailed itinerary is an e-ticket, The departure tax is included in the price of your which shows your flight reference number. You will flight tickets. need to quote/show this reference number at the check-in desk and you will be issued with your Special Requests boarding pass. Online check-in is not available for If you haven’t already, please notify Travel Editions this booking. of any special requests as soon as possible to allow

sufficient time to make the necessary Your Group Scheduled or Club Class ticket is non- arrangements. transferable and non-refundable. No refund can be given for non-used portions.

Accommodation Best Western Plus variety and flavours to be found in Germany’s The 3-star Best Western Plus is a modern, first class Bäckerei. hotel, located in the city center in a quiet location. The shopping center, congress center and theatres Drink are within walking distance. The hotel has 77 The national drink is beer in its many forms. rooms, each equipped with telephone, safe, 32-inch Regional flavours vary from light pilsner-type lagers full HD flat screen television, mini-bar, tea and to Weißbier and heavy stouts. Try Darmstadt’s coffee making facilities and air conditioning. locally brewed Braustüb’l. Hesse is home to the Rheingau, a small but For more information visit their website innovative viniculture area, which predominantly https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/book/hotels-in- produces a fine Riesling. darmstadt/best-western-hotel- A local Hessian speciality is Apfelwein, a wine made darmstadt/propertyCode.95278.html from apples, that can be tasted pure, gespritzt (mixed with sparkling water), or served hot, as a

delicious warming drink in the winter. Both white Riesling and Apple wines are an excellent Food accompaniment to the local Handkäse (sour curd Due to the region’s position in central Germany, cheese) Hessian cuisine is a fusion of northern and southern cooking, and based on locally available produce, Schnapps is another German favourite and comes with core ingredients including potatoes, bread, and flavoured with the likes of cherries, plums, locally grown vegetables, such as cabbage, onions, raspberries or pears. beans, asparagus. A typical dish would be meat, such as Kasseler Rippchen (smoked pork chops), Waiter or waitress service in restaurants is normal. served with potatoes, prepared in a variety of ways, Bars have table and/or counter service, although a vegetable, such as Sauerkraut or Zwiebelkuchen customers will often find that the drinks bought are (onion cake), topped with Grüne sosse (green simply marked down on a beer mat to be paid for sauce, often accompanies fish/meat, potatoes or on leaving. It is customary to tip bar and restaurant boiled eggs). staff, with an average 5-10%, rounding up the bill. Please note that it is not typical to leave the tip on The main meal of the day in Germany tends to be the table after paying the bill. More common is to lunch with a light snack eaten at about seven in the tell the waiter the amount including tip you want to evening. Breakfast served in homes and hotels pay before paying (via cash or credit card). usually consists of a boiled egg, cold cuts, cheese slices, jam, honey and a large variety of bread rolls. Meals included in the price of your holiday are:

The typical German snack, grilled, fried or boiled Breakfast – daily sausages (Bratwurst) with a crusty bread roll or potato salad, are available from snack bars Dinner – one dinner at the hotel plus dinner with (Wurststand), butcher shops, bakers and cafés. wine at a local restaurant Bread rolls filled with sausage slices, hot meat filling (such as Leberkäse), pickled herring, gherkins and onion rings or cheese are also popular.

Throughout Germany, cakes play an important role in the cuisine, and Hesse is no exception to this. Frankfurter Kranz (butter cake), Baumkuchen, Kreppel (donuts), Blechkuchen, Wasserweck, Streuselkuchen are mere examples of the unlimited

Destination Darmstadt is near Frankfurt in southwest Germany. all 23 artists who worked on the Mathildenhoehe It’s known for the Mathildenhöhe district's art between 1899 and 1914. Downhill from the museum nouveau buildings, like the iconic Wedding Tower. lie seven of the eight artists‘ houses, which were Museum Künstlerkolonie features show-cased during the first exhibition in 1901 (three glass, textiles and jewelry. Hessisches further exhibitions were held in 1904, 1908 and Landesmuseum displays art by Joseph Beuys. 1914). Northeast, the Messel Pit has Eocene-era fossils. To the south is the ruined Frankenstein Castle, which For more information about Artists Colony Museum, may have inspired the famed book. visit: https://www.darmstadt- Places of interest included in the tour: tourismus.de/en/visit/darmstadt-is-culture/cultural- institutions/pois/museum-kuenstlerkolonie- Waldspirale darmstadt/detail.html

The artist and architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser is said to have once called straight The Wedding Tower lines “the devil’s tools.” Hundertwasser designed In honour of the marriage between Grand Duke many buildings throughout Austria and Germany, Ernst Ludwig and Princess Eleonore of Solms- but the Waldspirale is a loud testament to Hohensolms-Lich in 1905, the city wanted to give Hundertwasser’s hatred of straight lines and his the couple a gift. A previously expressed desire of allegiance to nature. Waldspirale translates to the Grand Duke’s to have an observation platform “wooded spiral,” and that is exactly what it is. The on the Mathildenhöhe was subsequently approved large spiraled building is topped with an incredible by the City Council in 1906. The Wedding Tower forest - beech, maple and lime trees grow on the designed by architect Joseph Maria Olbrich was undulating, twisting roof. Completed in 2000 – the thus erected in 1907/1908. same year Hundertwasser died – the Waldspirale has 105 apartments and more than 1000 windows. For more information about The Wedding Tower, visit: Not one of these windows are shaped the same in http://hochzeitsturm-darmstadt.eu/en/the-wedding- this “out of line” building, and many have “tree tower/the-tower.html tenants” growing right through them. Russian Church For more information about Waldspirale, visit: Built by the last Russian Tsar Nicholas II and the https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/waldspirale Tsarina Alexandra (Princess Alix of Hesse- Darmstadt) from private funds. The deeply religious Mathildenhohe complex rulers did not want to renounce Russian Orthodox The Darmstadt Artists’ Colony refers both to a services during their family visits to Darmstadt. For group of artists as well as to the buildings this reason, the Tsar donated the funds for the in Mathildenhöhe in Darmstadt in which these construction of the church on the Mathildenhöhe, artists lived and worked. The artists were largely which was therefore private property of the tsar's financed by patrons and worked together with family. The church was built as the first building on other members of the group who ideally had the Mathildenhöhe. Only later did the concordant artistic tastes. Jugendstilensemle, which was supported by Ernst Ludwig, come into being. The church is built in the For more information about Mathildenhohe, visit: style of the early Yaroslavsky churches. She stands https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darmstadt_Artists%27_Col on earth, which had been specially transported ony from Russia to Darmstadt and came from all the provinces. With its gilded onion domes and richly Artist Colony Museum ornamented gilded roof ridges, this church is a gem The Ernst Ludwig House was designed as a studio of Russian church architecture in Germany. building by Joseph Maria Olbrich. Since 1990, the Museum Kuenstlerkolonie exhibits here the work of For more information about the Russian Church, visit: http://darmstadt-church.de/geschichte/baugeschichte/

Hessian State Museum Schlossmuseum, Darmstadt The art and natural history collections of the counts The original Palace Museum was established based and grand dukes are the foundation of today’s on an initiative of the last Grand Duke of Hesse and Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt (HLMD, by Rhine in what were formerly the representation Hessian State Museum). With its mixture of art, and living rooms of the older part of the Palace. culture and natural history exhibits, the museum is Opened in 1924, art work displayed in the museum one of the few all-round museums worldwide. In a originate mainly from the old palace inventory close cooperation between Grand Duke Ernst- which became the Grand Duke's private property Ludwig and Alfred Messel, the building was specially after his abdication. In September 1944, the Palace designed for the different collections and was burnt down almost completely, all showrooms and formally opened in 1906. the storerooms, including a large part of the collection, which had been only partly evacuated, For more information about the Hessian State Museum, were destroyed. visit: https://www.darmstadt- For more information about the Schlossmuseum, visit: tourismus.de/en/visit/darmstadt-is-culture/cultural- http://www.schlossmuseum- institutions/pois/hessisches-landesmuseum- darmstadt.de/museum_engl.html darmstadt/detail.html Stadel Museum, Frankfurt Sprudelhof, Bad Neuheim Established as a civic foundation in 1815 by the Sprudelhof is the largest coherent art nouveau banker and businessman Johann Friedrich Städel, complex in Europe and the reference to water as a the Städel Museum ranks as Germany’s oldest health-giving force is omnipresent here. The former museum foundation. Under a single roof, its spa complex is a total work of art and impressively collection offers a virtually complete survey of shows the combination of architecture, fine and seven hundred years of European art from the early applied arts, as well as garden landscaping and fourteenth century to the present, with focuses on design of the square. Visitors are fascinated the the Renaissance, the Baroque, early Modern art and moment they enter the fountain courtyard. From much more. The holdings encompass altogether the upper steps of the large flight of stairs, there is 3,100 paintings, 660 sculptures, more than 4,600 a beautiful view of Bad Nauheim’s landmark photographs and more than 100,000 drawings and between two gatehouses. Bright, white walls with prints. Works by such artists as Lucas Cranach, carved limestone ornaments invite you to stroll Albrecht Dürer, Sandro Botticelli, Rembrandt van through the bathing complex built at the turn of the Rijn, Jan Vermeer, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, twentieth century. Large clock towers rise above Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Max Beckmann, Alberto you. In the centre is a monumental basin with Giacometti, Francis Bacon, Gerhard Richter, bubbling fountains enclosed by cleanly designed Wolfgang Tillmans and Isa Genzken form the arcades. In the fountain courtyard, visitors highlights. immediately get a sense of Bad Nauheim’s history as a world-renowned health resort. The spa For more information about the Stadel Museum, visit: complex, which was built between 1905 and 1911 http://www.staedelmuseum.de/en in the art nouveau style, included six bathhouses with waiting rooms and a total of 265 bathing cubicles, as well as two administration buildings Books to read that form a court-like complex opening up towards Klaus-Jurgen Sembac - Art Nouveau the park, and still showcase two characteristic Kathryn B Hiesinger – Art Nouveau in Munich: fountains in the centre today. What makes Bad Masters of the Jugendstil. Nauheim's art nouveau so special is that everything is still in its original state - the waiting rooms, inner courtyards and wooden tubs in bathhouse 3 transport visitors back in time to 1900.

For more information about Bad Neuheim, visit: https://www.bad-nauheim.com/travel- destination/attractions/sprudelhof

Your lecturer Prof. Anne Anderson Anne author, broadcaster, international NADFAS lecturer and Fellow of the Soceity of Antiquaries, was a senior lecturer at Southampton Solent University for 14 years, specialising in the Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau and Modernism; she currently teaches at Kingston University. Anne's career as an international speaker has taken her all over the world and her TV credits include the BBC's 'Flog It!'. Anne has received a rapturous response from our customers at the many Travel Editions' tours she has hosted and is excited at the prospect of continuing to share her knowledge with our clients further afield.

Enjoy two evening lectures during your trip:

‘Arts and Crafts or Art and Industry: The Darmstadt Artists’ Colony’

‘Jugendstil-: Art Nouveau to Modernism’

Tour manager Your tour manager will be on hand throughout the tour to ensure that everything operated according to plan. If you have any problems or questions please see him or her immediately – it is often possible to resolve complaints or problems very quickly on the spot, and do everything to help you enjoy your holiday.

The Basics Electricity – 220 volt, two-pin continental plug. We Climate – The weather in Darmstadt at this time of advise you take a continental adaptor with you. year is likely to be pleasant, but evenings can be quite cool and there is the chance of the odd Drinking water – Tap water is safe to drink. Please shower. Our best advice is to come prepared. note that ordering tap water in a restaurant or bar is considered rude – bottle still or sparkling water is common.

Shops and museums – Shops can regulate their own opening hours within these times 0600-2000 Monday to Friday; 0600-1600 Saturday. Smaller shops may close 1200-1430 for lunch. Please note than some museums close on Mondays.

Time – GMT +2 hours (Summer time Apr-Oct); GMT Clothes –You may like to bring a warm sweater for + 1 (Standard time Nov-Mar). cool evenings. Light rain wear for the occasional Language – German. storm and good walking shoes are recommended. Religion – Protestant (34%), Roman Catholic (34%). Camera – bring plenty of memory cards/film and National holidays – New Year’s day (01 Jan); any spare camera batteries as these are not always Epiphany (06 Jan); Good Friday; Easter Monday; available. Please check with your guide before Labour day (01 May); Ascension day; Whit Monday; photographing people. Corpus Christi; German Unity day (03 Oct); All Saints’ day (01 Nov); Christmas day (25 Dec); St Shoes – we suggest good grip/flat walking shoes for Stephens day (26 Dec). walking on excursions.

Currency – Germany – Euro. €1 = 100 cents. Notes Bath plugs – The hotel has plugs for basins, but it is are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 useful to carry a ‘universal’ one with you. and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents. Telephones/mobiles – You should be able to use Switzerland – Franc. 1CHF = 100 cents. Notes are in your mobile phone in France, depending on your denominations of 1000, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 CHF. operator and contract. Coins are in denominations of 5, 2, 1 CHF and 50, 20, 10, 5 cents. Tipping –To keep our tours affordable, we do not increase the tour price by adding in tips. However, Banks – Cashpoints compatible with international in the tourism industry, there is a certain level of banking networks are located in all towns and cities, expectation that when receiving a good service, one as well as airports, major train stations and other does award with a tip. Tour Managers, spots. They usually offer an attractive exchange Representatives, Guides and Drivers appreciate a rate. Those banks that still exchange foreign tip at the end of their involvement with the tour, currencies into local money will always charge a but this is entirely at your discretion. We believe in transaction fee, so withdrawing money from an allowing you to tip according to your level of ATM usually represents the most logical means of satisfaction with their services, but for your obtaining euros. guidance about £2-3 per person per day for the tour manager is the norm. We would like to reiterate Credit cards – American Express, Diners Club, that tipping is an entirely optional payment and this MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted across the information is given purely to answer any questions country. If you’re eating at a restaurant, check prior you may have about it. to the meal that your card will be an acceptable form of payment. Even in cities, it’s advisable to carry a supply of cash with you at all times. Varying amounts of commission can be charged.

Health

Doctor/Dentist/Chemist Please talk to your tour manager if you are feeling Insurance unwell and they will organise for you to see a To be covered under your Travel Insurance Policy, doctor. if you become ill, it is essential that you contact a Keep receipts for insurance claims. local doctor and also telephone the emergency number of you insurance company. You will NOT be covered for any claim unless this procedure is carried out. Your insurance company will then Hospital decide on the best course of medical attention. Your tour manager/hotel reception will arrange hospital transport. Keep receipts for insurance claims. European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) The EHIC replaced the old E111 in 2006. Valid in all EEA countries, the card lets you get state General Health Advice healthcare at a reduced cost or sometimes for We suggest you take a good supply of your own free. It will cover you for treatment that is needed individual medicines with you and always keep to allow you to continue your stay until your some in your hand luggage in case you get delayed planned return. It also covers the treatment of or your luggage goes astray. General-purpose pre-existing medical conditions. supplies for bites, stings, or scratches, and your Please note that the EHIC is not an alternative to usual medication for headaches, or stomach travel insurance. It will not cover any private upsets are always recommended. Oral re- medical healthcare or costs such as being flown hydration sachets are excellent for topping up salt back to the UK, or lost or stolen property. and glucose levels. Therefore, it is important to have both an EHIC and Visit the NHS Fit For Travel website for more a valid private travel insurance policy. It is also generally information specific to the country you important to note that each country’s healthcare are visiting – www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk system is slightly different, so the EHIC might not cover everything that would be generally free on the NHS. Sun Protection We strongly recommend that you take out an Always ensure you take sufficient sun protection appropriate travel insurance policy when you and moisturiser. A sun hat and sunglasses are also travel abroad. advisable. For more information about the EHIC please visit: https://www.ehic.org.uk Inoculations You should check with your own doctor and take their advice as to which inoculations are required for the country you are visiting, as only they know your medical history and recommendations are liable to change at short notice.

Emergencies Should an emergency arise, please call our offices on: 00 44 20 7251 0045 Outside office hours (Mon-Fri 0900-1700), telephone our emergency staff on: 00 44 20 7431 8201 or 00 44 7899 796542 or 00 44 7831 133079 or 00 44 1235 850720 PLEASE USE THESE NUMBERS ONLY IN THE EVENT OF A GENUINE EMERGENCY.

If you find that you are in need of consular assistance during your holiday:

British Consulate-General Munich Möhlstrasse 5 81675 München Germany Tel: +49 (0) 89 211090 Email: [email protected]

Open Mon-Thu 0900-1200 and 1300-1700 and Fri 0900-1200 and 1300-1530

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PLEASE NOTE: THIS INFORMATION IS CORRECT AT THE TIME OF PRINTING. IT IS MEANT AS A GUIDE ONLY AND WE CANNOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ERRORS OR SUBSEQUENT CHANGES.