Mathildenhöhe's Controversial Visitor Centre Breaks Ground After Years of Protests

A decade of debate ends as bulldozers replace protesters at Mathildenhöhe. Will the new centre heal divisions—or spark fresh resistance?

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2026 February 20 . 5:43 PM

1 min read

The image shows a group of people standing on top of a balcony of a building, holding flags and... — The image shows a group of people standing on top of a balcony of a building, holding flags and banners with text and pictures on them. There is a tree on the left side of the image and smoke in the air, suggesting that the people are participating in a protest.

Construction work for Info Centre at Mathildenhöhe can begin - Mathildenhöhe's Controversial Visitor Centre Breaks Ground After Years of Protests

Tree-clearing at Darmstadt's Mathildenhöhe World Heritage Site has finished, paving the way for a long-planned visitor centre. The UNESCO-listed location will now see construction begin after years of debate and protest. Authorities confirmed that preparatory work is set to start next week.

The decision to build a visitor centre at Mathildenhöhe was first made in 2016. However, progress stalled until recently due to opposition from activists. Protesters occupied the site for months, delaying tree felling and construction preparations.

Police eventually cleared the area before the trees were removed. While most demonstrations remained peaceful, authorities intervened after discovering an unfilled but nail-studded propane tank among the protesters' belongings. This crossed the line of acceptable protest tactics, according to officials.

Darmstadt's Lord Mayor Hanno Benz (SPD) acknowledged the lengthy process but expressed relief that the project could finally move forward. 'Together, we have ensured that these decisions—pursued for nearly a decade—can finally be implemented,' he stated. Benz also noted that the majority of protests had stayed peaceful despite tensions.

The new visitor centre aims to centralise services for tourists, including orientation, educational programmes, and heritage outreach. Its construction marks a key step in enhancing the site's accessibility and preservation. No specific timeline for completion has been released yet, as planning details remain focused on the initial phases.

With tree-clearing complete and protesters removed, construction of the visitor centre will begin next week. The project, delayed since 2016, is now set to transform how visitors experience the Mathildenhöhe World Heritage Site. The centre will serve as a hub for education and tourism at the UNESCO location.