Darmstadt, Mathildenhöhe Hochzeitsturm, Kapelle

 Germania > Hesse > Darmstadt

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The Germans call this church the "Russian Chapel" (Die Russische Kapelle). This Orthodox church is a gift from the last Russian Tsar Nicholas II to his wife, Princess of Hesse and the Rhine Alix, daughter of the Grand Duke Ludwig IV, who converted to Orthodoxy. During his life, the king and his family visited Darmstadt several times. The architectural plan was carried out by Professor Benoit, the construction on the site was led by the architect Jacobi. The fact that the imperial couple was present at the laying of the cornerstone of the church on October 16, 1897, as well as at its opening on October 8, 1899, speaks of its importance for the royal house. The construction costs amounted to 4,000,000 gold marks, not including the cost of mosaic work, which was completed on October 7, 1903.