Grounded in 1899 as an artist's colony, here is a bit from the Darmstadt web site to whet your…read moreappetite:) Paris, Brussels, Vienna, Glasgow, Barcelona and Darmstadt! This Hessian city made a name for itself among the Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) metropolises of Europe. In 1899, Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig founded the first artists colony with seven artists, architects, painters and sculptors: J. M. Olbrich, P. Behrens, P. Huber, H. Christiansen, P. Bürck, L. Habich and R. Bosselt. Their first task was to design and build their own living and working quarters and present them to the public. So works of art surround you here as the houses, park and other buildings all belong to the total concept.

The Mathildenhohe is one of the highlights of Darmstadt. There's an interesting permanent…read moreexhibition of Art Nouveau in the museum with a nice little gift shop, and regular more contemporary art exhibitions are held in the main building (I had my first introduction to Hundertwasser here), but they don't always provide English translations. The romantic Russian chapel is in the grounds, and talking of romance many people get married in the Hochzeitsturm (the symbol of Darmstadt), as long as a wedding isn't on you can pay to go to the top of the tower and get a view of Darmstadt. In the summer you can even play petanque in the shade of the plane trees. If you're hungry or thirsty there's a small bistro, with an outside seating area in the summer (you don't have to pay to get into the bistro). It's also worth leaving the grounds and exploring the area a bit, as there are some stunning houses with unique architectural features. Basically if you're in Darmstadt, you must go here.

This is an interesting place to visit if you are in Heidelberg. It is the old student jail where…read morethey used to put students who had broken university, and also town, laws (the university was in charge of punishing students for their misdemeanours, unless they were of a very high charge). The incarcerated students spent their time covering the walls of their cells in graffiti, which has been well preserved. So when you enter now you can see the names the students gave each room, along with slogans scrawled on the walls and lots of amusing scenes.

Hermanshof is a hidden treasure in the middle of Weinheim. I like to go there with a book or my…read moredrawing pad and take a walk to get away from the city or to think. It's not a tradtional park where you can grill or have a party but a botanical garden where you can look at amazing species flowers and plants. Don't miss the wisteria trellis in Spring; it smells fantastic! There is no entrance fee and keep in mind no animals are allowed inside the garden.