10 reasons for Karlsruhe & Region
Discover what makes Karlsruhe & Region so special as a conference and event destination – compact, practical, and full of character. From law and democracy to media art and a spirit of innovation: here, leading institutions, creative ideas and forward-thinking developments come together within easy reach.
What makes Karlsruhe & Region a unique venue for conferences and events
1. Karlsruhe as a model for Washington, D.C.
Karlsruhe, the Fan-Shaped City: Legend has it that Margrave Karl-Wilhelm of Baden-Durlach (1679–1738) was overcome by fatigue during a hunting ride and while sleeping under a tree, he dreamed of a city laid out like a fan, with a magnificent palace at its center. In the middle of the Hardt Forest, then still an impenetrable wilderness, the margrave decided in 1715 to build his new residence. An octagonal tower was erected at the center of the palace complex — the geometric center of the symmetrically arranged whole. From this focal point, 32 streets and paths radiate outward like the rays of the sun.
Incidentally, the view from the castle tower of these radiating streets also impressed the future U.S. President Thomas Jefferson during his visit to Karlsruhe. He drew a sketch of the city layout and sent it to the most famous urban planner of his time, Pierre L’Enfant, who drew inspiration from it for the layout of the American capital, Washington, D.C.
2. ZKM: World's Largest Cultural Hub
A unique cultural experience awaits visitors in Karlsruhe at the ZKM | Center for Art and Media, Germany’s “Centre Pompidou.” Across more than 15,000 m² of exhibition space, visitors to the ZKM | Karlsruhe can explore surprising video, music and light installations, computer-assisted, interactive and immersive environments, as well as entirely new exhibition formats. Through sophisticated thematic and concept-driven exhibitions, the ZKM has been presenting the public with current, socially relevant developments from an international, artistic perspective since 1989.
The ZKM is a museum of all media and genres, a place for the arts of space and time. Thus, the exhibitions offer a cross-section of contemporary art and connect the otherwise separate genres of painting, installation, and sculpture with performance- and computer-based art forms. As a “reward” for the ZKM’s pioneering work, a special distinction was awarded in February 2018: The international art database ArtFacts.Net selected the ZKM as one of the top 10 museums worldwide.
3. A pyramid in the town square Marktplatz
The heart of Karlsruhe is the town square Marktplatz. Here, visitors can see the city’s landmark: a pyramid made of red sandstone, approximately seven meters high. This extraordinary structure covers the tomb of the city’s founder, Margrave Karl Wilhelm. Originally, the Konkordienkirche stood on this site, but in 1806, at the request of the princely family, Karlsruhe was to be transformed into the representative capital of the Grand Duchy of Baden and the market square was to be completely redesigned.
The design of the new monument to the city’s namesake was inspired by the spirit of the times: since Napoleon’s Egyptian campaigns in 1798, the Egyptian style had been influencing all of Europe. The pyramid quickly won the hearts of the people of Karlsruhe and today it adorns the city’s official logo as a stylized triangle.
4. Savoir-vivre in the Baden region
Karlsruhe’s close proximity to France is evident everywhere: here, indulgence and culinary delights are a top priority. Baden cuisine is widely renowned, and specialties such as “Baden-style pork tenderloin” (pork tenderloin in a delicate wine sauce), “Black Forest trout” (poached trout on a bed of fresh herbs) and of course white asparagus, known as the “royal vegetable,” stand up well in comparison to French delicacies.
Several restaurants in Karlsruhe specialize in top-quality Baden cuisine, such as “Anders auf dem Turmberg” on Karlsruhe’s local mountain, the “Turmberg,” the “Schwarzwaldstube” with its authentic traditional interior in the Schlosshotel, the “Künstlerkneipe,” which offers matinees and concerts in addition to culinary delights, as well as the “Oberländer Weinstube,” which serves an excellent selection of Baden wines from the Karlsruhe region.
In other respects, too, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to going out in Karlsruhe: The city offers everything a night owl could wish for. Traditional microbreweries like the “Vogelbräu,” “Wolfbräu,” the “Hoepfner-Burg,” or the “Badische Brauhaus” serve hearty home-style cooking, while the trendy cafés around Ludwigsplatz exude big-city flair. Otherwise, the same applies here: Karlsruhe is an “outdoor” city; as soon as the first rays of sunshine appear, guests are drawn outdoors and there are beer gardens on every corner.
5. A global pioneer in tram-train systems
Karlsruhe is considered a pioneer in public transportation: In the fall of 1992, the first modern “tram-train” began regular service in Karlsruhe. The new dual-system light rail vehicles switched from the Karlsruhe tram tracks to the railway line to Bretten. This “Karlsruhe Model” caused a sensation worldwide. This was also because the “Karlsruhe Model” proved to be enormously successful, with passenger numbers increasing tenfold on some sections.
Since then, the Karlsruhe network has grown steadily to a length of around 500 km. Today, the railcars run from the capital of Baden into the Black Forest, to and through Heilbronn’s city center, and on through the Neckar Valley almost to the outskirts of Stuttgart. Passenger demand for Karlsruhe’s transit services has doubled over the past 20 years.
Many cities in Germany and other European countries have planned and are planning similar projects, and even in Adelaide, Australia, trams now run on double tracks.
6. A bridge between the past and the present: Staatliche Kunsthalle (State Art Gallery)
The Staatliche Kunsthalle is one of Germany’s oldest and most important museums. Opened in 1846, the Kunsthalle is one of the few early German art museums where much of the original architecture and furnishings have been preserved. It comprises three historic buildings on the edge of the Botanical Garden. The focus of its collection, spanning seven centuries, is on German, French and Dutch painting. In addition to the more than 800 works on display, visitors can also admire a cabinet of engravings housing over 90,000 prints, as well as one of the largest publicly accessible museum libraries. The Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe sees itself as a mediator between the past, present and future; therefore, the Junge Kunsthalle presents changing exhibitions specifically for children and young people.
7. Fascinating Worlds at the State Museum of Natural History in Karlsruhe
Exciting exhibitions and a diverse range of events — at the Natural History Museum, nature (and natural science) becomes an adventure for the whole family. Visitors can marvel at unique exhibits such as a pterosaur model with a 12-meter wingspan, an earthquake simulator, minerals, fossils and lifelike dioramas, as well as many live animals including insects, reptiles, fish and more.
One of the highlights is the permanent exhibition “Form and Function – Nature as a Model.” Spanning nearly 800 m², the newly renovated west wing of the museum now houses a unique exhibition featuring spectacular large-scale objects: A 240,000-liter seawater tank with reef sharks, in which Germany’s largest living coral reef is growing, a large jellyfish tank, a large paludarium with live crocodiles and turtles, the skeleton of a northern right whale and much more. Building on these biological models, the exhibition uses interactive screens to showcase technical ideas and products that draw on design and functional principles from nature — from gecko tape and coatings based on the lotus principle to the foundations of offshore wind turbines.
8. Karlsruhe – Active City Surrounded by Nature
In Karlsruhe, urban charm blends with a stunning natural landscape. Just a few minutes from the bustling shopping streets, the city’s green oases invite visitors to stroll and linger. The Stadtgarten Karlsruhe, which includes the Zoological Garden, is one of Germany’s largest inner-city parks. The Schlossgarten is also a popular destination: the park was laid out in the French Baroque style between 1731 and 1846 and has been transformed over the years into an English landscape park. In addition to the spacious green areas, fountains, and sculptures from various eras, the idyllic lake invites visitors to linger. From April through All Saints’ Day, the Schlossgartenbahn runs on a 2.5-kilometer loop through the well-maintained gardens.
Visitors can hike over 70,000 kilometers in and around Karlsruhe, and a well-developed network of bike paths through a varied landscape is also available. Water sports enthusiasts will find one of Germany’s largest inland ports in Karlsruhe, the Rhine Port, featuring a three-kilometer training course for recreational and competitive athletes.
9. Shopping fun in the Fan-Shaped City
There are plenty of shopping options in Karlsruhe, such as at one of the largest indoor shopping centers in southern Germany, the ETTLINGER TOR KARLSRUHE, or on Baden’s longest shopping street, Kaiserstraße.
Those looking for something special will find it in the side streets off Kaiserstraße: for example, the “Südliche Waldstrasse” is home to 214 meters of exclusive boutiques, antique shops, interior design studios, and galleries. High-end fashion and unique design can also be found on “Erbprinzenstrasse” and “Karlstrasse.”
10. New opportunities for the Creative Industries in Karlsruhe
At the end of 2006, operations at the Karlsruhe slaughterhouse, founded in 1887, were discontinued. The site was renamed “Kreativpark Alter Schlachthof” and is intended to offer new opportunities for the creative industries in Karlsruhe through a diverse range of cultural offerings.
Many media and cultural professionals have since established their bases here. A new, vibrant urban district is emerging, featuring cultural institutions and restaurants. Research-oriented, innovative companies and creative businesses are finding a place side by side. Close to downtown and the university, new, future-oriented creative jobs are to be created. Stakeholders from the various sectors of the creative industries can thus work in an innovation-friendly, communicative and inspiring environment.
For more information visit: www.karlsruhe-erleben.de/en