Tourist Attractions in Karlsruhe, Germany

Ettlinger Strasse in Karlsruhe runs south to the Festplatz (on right), round which is the Congress and Exhibition Center, with the new Stadthalle (1985), the Konzerthaus, the Nancy-Halle, the Schwarzwaldhalle (Black Forest Hall) and the Gartenhalle.

Durlach, once the seat of the Margraves of the Zähringen line and now part of Karlsruhe, has preserved an attractive old quarter. The Schloss now houses the Pfinzgau Museum (regional history) and the Heimatmuseum of the Carpathian Germans. Within easy reach is the Turmberg (225 m/738ft), with the Durlacher Warte (fine views of the town and the Upper Rhine plain).

The Handel Festival runs from mid-February to early March and includes daily performances, including operas, chamber and choral concerts, theatrical performances and seminars. Since its inception in 1985, the repertoire has focused not only on Handel, but also on his contemporaries.

The performances take place in impressive venues including the Baden State Theater and the Gottesaue Mansion.

Along Karlsruhe's Kaiserstrasse (pedestrian zone) to the west, past the handsome Head Post Office, is the Mühlberger Tor. Farther west, at Röntgenstrasse 6, is the Upper Rhineland Writers' Museum (Oberrheinisches Dichtermuseum; manuscripts, first editions, letters, etc.).

South of the Karlsruhe palace, is the Marktplatz (pedestrian zone, shopping arcades), with the 6.50 m/20ft high red sandstone pyramid which has become the emblem of Karlsruhe. It contains the burial vault of the town's founder. On either side of the square, which divides the long Kaiserstrasse into two parts, are the Stadtkirche (Town Church; Protestant) and the Town Hall (Rathaus), both designed by Friedrich Weinbrenner.

Southwest of the Marktplatz in Karlsruhe lies the Friedrichsplatz, with the Museum am Friedrichsplatz (Landessammlungen für Naturkunde; natural history, with vivarium). Beyond this, in the Nymphengarten, is the Baden Library (Landesbibliothek; 1964).

Southwest of the Kunsthalle in Karlsruhe, at Karlstrasse 10, is the Prinz-Max-Palais (history of the town; Municipal Gallery; periodic special exhibitions).

From the Markt in Karlsruhe Karl-Friedrich-Strasse runs south to Rondellplatz, with the Constitution Column (Verfassungssäule) and the old Margravial Palace, one of the architect Weinbrenner's finest buildings (restored), and the overpass at the Ettlinger Tor. To the southeast is the Baden State Theater (Badisches Staatstheater; 1970-75; opera and drama), in front of which is an unusual sculpture, the "Musengaul" (the "Muses' Nag").

From the Congress Center in Karlsruhe the beautiful Stadtgarten extends south to the railroad station (Hauptbahnhof), with the Japanese Garden, the Vierordt Baths, the Tulla Baths and the Zoo. To the east of the Vierordt Baths, at Werderstrasse 63, is the Transport Museum (Verkehrsmuseum).