The most popular regions in Darmstadt
Comfortable living conditions, with a well-rounded balance of residential areas, child-friendly facilities, shopping areas, and nature, attract both Germans and foreigners to this popular area of the city.
Bessungen, one of the oldest residential districts in Darmstadt, is located south of the city center. The district developed from a small area originally centered around a church and old rural houses inhabited by gardeners and blacksmiths caring for the Orangerie, which was built by the Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt in the 18th century. In the beginning of the 20th century, a series of three to four-story mansions with gardens, whose designs were influenced by the English garden city movement, was built around Paulsviertel, the eastern area of the district. This beautiful townscape adorns the area to this day. The addition of low-rise apartment buildings built after World War II and connected houses with small lawns built in recent years has made Bessungen a densely inhabited area with an array of architectural styles. Nevertheless, there is still much greenery to be enjoyed, with many trees lining the streets and the lush parks. It is quiet throughout the day and night, and the residents are generally well-mannered, making Bessungen a comfortable, popular area to live in.
Shopping in Bessungen
Various supermarkets can be found throughout the district, such as Rewe, Netto, Aldi, and Alnatura, a high-end organic supermarket. There is also the drugstore chain dm and Farmenkrauth, a home improvement and gardening supplies store. Shopping for everyday needs can be done without having to go to the city center or to a large shopping complex in the suburbs. In addition, the Orangerie hosts a small market every Friday, crowded with locals buying fresh produce, cheese, and flowers. More shops are located around the large park, including a bakery, an ice cream shop, a pharmacy, and a bookstore.
Parks in Bessungen
The Orangerie is a magnificent garden park with a greenhouse built in the early 18th century. In the warmer seasons, the symmetrical flower beds in front of the Baroque-style greenhouse are bursting with color. A playground for small children, the grassy lawn, and benches under tree shades invite young and old to sit down and relax.
A few minutes’ walk from the Orangerie is the Prinz Emil Garden, a park with a small Baroque castle and a pond with a Chinese-style maroon. The playground is quite popular with the children of the neighborhood, with its wide variety of equipment such as slides and swings.
