Karlsruhe lies at the foot of the Black Forest and next to the Rhine River. Located in the economic powerhouse of the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Karlsruhe’s human scale makes this medium-sized city a pleasure to discover.
View and book hotels in Karlsruhe. Click here.
Founded only 300 years ago by
Margrave Karl-Wilhelm, the cityâs plan resembles
Paris, with streets laid out in rays, from the central point of the countâs palace. The renowned 18th century city planner
LâEnfant liked
Karlsruheâs design so much; he incorporated its elements into his plan for
Washington, D.C.
The count named the city
"Karlâs peace" after falling asleep in the local forest and dreaming of this new, elegant urban center based on French rationalism. However, the city offers little time for rest, as it is the location for weekday farmersâ markets, and weekend festivals in the summer, complete with lively bands and plenty of
good local Moninger beer.
A trip to
Karlsruhe should include a visit to the
Biergarten of the Moninger Brauerei. This tasty brew is made nowhere else in the world except
Karlsruhe. The gardenâs large, tree-filled yard with comfortable picnic benches is the perfect place for a sunny afternoon drinking a pilsner with the local people, and sampling
regional dishes.
Getting around
Karlsruhe is no problem, even if you donât have a car. The city boasts a state-of-the-art transit system, with
quiet and safe trams whose tracks reach all the way to the French border.
If youâre driving,
Karlsruhe is well-connected to major Autobahn routes that can take you for day trips to the nearby cities of
Heidelberg and Freiburg, or a relaxing tour through the
Black Forest or along the
Rhine Riverâs vineyards.
