The town of Bruchsal, northeast of Karlsruhe, lies on the upper Rhine plain on the borders of the Kraichgau, at an important rail junction. The town has a beautiful Baroque palace, an interesting church, and several museums.
The Corps de Logis in Bruchsal houses a branch of the Baden Provincial Museum (pieces of original furniture from the palace, porcelain and faience, tapestries; hunting collection).
Southeast of Bruchsal is the town of Bretton with the Melanchthonhouse, where Philipp Melanchthon was born. The house dates back to 1897 and contains a museum, library and Memorial Hall where visitors can discover the life and times of this reformer, humanist and close friend of Martin Luther. There are over 450 original manuscripts and 9000 books here, as well as statues, portraits, coats of arms, memorial coins and works of graphic art.
Among the exhibits in the Bruchsal Municipal Museum are Ice Age animals, archaeological finds from prehistoric and early historical times, coins and medals.
St Peter's Church (by Balthasar Neumann, 1742-49) in the southeast of Bruchsal houses the tombs of the last Prince-Bishops of Speyer. There are occasional concerts and recitals in the church.