At ten locations throughout the city center, residents can scan a QR code with their smartphones and listen to short audio clips about democracy in action, both past and present. The content is available in German, English, and plain language. The clips can be listened to individually or combined into a “democracy walk.”

Mayor Christiane Hinninger emphasizes: “At a time when democratic values are repeatedly being called into question, we must remind ourselves that democracy cannot be taken for granted. It can only thrive when people continually recommit themselves to freedom, participation, and social cohesion. The audio walk illustrates this in an innovative way.”

The stops along the audio walk showcase different facets of democratic life in Wiesbaden. These include sites of parliamentary decision-making, the new beginning after 1945, and volunteerism. The audio walk was developed as part of the “World Design Capital (WDC) Frankfurt RheinMain 2026.” Inspired by the WDC’s guiding principle, “Design for Democracy. Atmospheres for a better life,” the project brings democracy to life where it actually takes place: in public spaces.

The ten stops on the audio tour are: 

• Active Museum of German-Jewish History, Spiegelgasse 9, a memorial to people who were disenfranchised, persecuted, and murdered under the Nazi regime.

• BRITA Arena, Berliner Straße 9, home stadium of SV Wehen Wiesbaden, representing all sports clubs where people build a sense of community.

• Office for Women’s Civic Work, Friedrichstraße 32, a place for equal participation in political and social life. 

• Georg-Buch-Haus, Wellritzstraße 38, where the draft of the new constitution of the state of Hesse was debated after World War II. Today it is part of a children’s, youth, and community center. 

• Hessian State Parliament, Schlossplatz 1–3: Formerly the seat of the dukes, today the place where the members of the Hessian State Parliament pass laws.

• New City Hall, Schlossplatz 6, seat of the mayor, the city administration, and the Wiesbaden City Council, as well as the seat of the Youth Parliament

• Oranienschule, Oranienstraße 5–7, site of the first session of the “Constitutional Advisory State Assembly,” the first democratic postwar parliament in Hesse after World War II; today a place where students learn about and experience democratic coexistence 

• Schlachthof, Murnaustraße 1, a collectively organized cultural center; a memorial to the deportation of Wiesbaden’s Jewish residents to the extermination camps; 

• “Unter den Eichen” Concentration Camp Memorial, Carl-von-Ibell-Weg; former site of the Hinzert concentration camp’s satellite camp; today the location of the “Design, Computer Science, Media” department at Rhein-Main University of Applied Sciences

• Main Train Station, Bahnhofsplatz; formerly the arrival point for noble spa guests; today the starting point for many demonstrations

The audio walk will continue to exist beyond “World Design Capital Frankfurt RheinMain 2026.” In the future, an expansion to include sites of democracy in Wiesbaden as well as in other cities and municipalities is conceivable. Existing steles and information systems are used to mark the stations and are supplemented with “Hörmal-Demokratie” QR codes. The stations can also be accessed digitally at www.hoermal-demokratie.de. Further information about the project can be found on the website. The stations are also listed in the digital twin of the city of Wiesbaden.

The “Hörmal Demokratie” project is made possible through the support of the State Capital of Wiesbaden.