Karlsruhe Germany

KARLSRUHE THE CITY WITH MANY FACES.


My Visit to Karlsruhe where I experienced the diversity that Baden’s culture capital had to offer with its wide variety of Theatres and Museums. Karlsruhe is the venue for the European Days of Culture and the Handel festival.

Legend has it that Margrave Karl Wilhelm of Baden once had a vision of a star-shaped city in a dream, which gave rise to the initial idea for Karlsruhe’s fan-shaped or radial layout.

I was taken on a 3 hour walking tour of this city my guide was Ursula Friede. Ursula certainly knows the city and I was enthralled by the city of many faces. We explored the Baroque Palace, the Botanical Gardens, The museum of literature, The city landmark: The pyramid on the market square (The city’s founders’s gravestone ) The Town Hall on the neo-classical market square by the architect and master builder Friedrich Weinbrenner. To be seen in this Town Hall is the curious device – “the walking machine”
This was the first bicycle and was invented by Karl Friedrich Freiherr in 1813. Also to be seen in the City Hall is the model of the first Car by Carl Benz, likewise a Karlsruhe resident, who in 1886 invented his three-wheeled, single-cylinder, four-stroke gasoline engine-driven car.

The city is a mix of modern and old architecture which seem to blend with no problem at all like the Federal Supreme Court and the Federal Constitutional Court. Also a beautiful new addition is the modern temple for muses: The Baden State Theatre, a contrast to the Concert House with its beautifully restored portico.

I was hosted at the Schlosshotel, located on the Bahnhofplatz which was a stone’s throw from the Oasis of relaxation the Municipal Gardens and Zoological Gardens which is home to the beautiful Polar Bears. These gardens are a pleasure to wander through with the birds, flowers and water features.

The Hotel, staff and the people of Karlsruhe stood up to their reputation that of being extremely friendly, and hospitable. My only complaint was that there was too short a time to really experience this City with Many faces and I look forward to returning sometime soon.