Karlsruhe, also known as the “Gateway to the Black Forest”, lies in one of the most beautiful regions in the heart of Europe and is the ideal place to start tours through Germany, France, and Switzerland. As an important traffic junction, the city is linked to all the major European highways and rail routes. Karlsruhe is only an hour from Frankfurt international airport by Intercity Express (ICE) and less than two hours from EuroAirport Basel.

 

Over 300,000 people live in this modern hub of business and technology which, was created entirely from scratch: Margrave Karl Wilhelm of Baden-Durlach had the plans for a new royal residence drawn up in 1715. A palace complex was built in the middle of a wilderness, from it emanating 32 avenues like rays of the sun. This unique city architecture is a characteristic feature of Karlsruhe to this day and the reason why it is also known as the “Fächerstadt” (fan-shaped city). The later US president Thomas Jefferson was so taken by this design that he sketched the layout of the city and sent it to the municipal architect Pierre L’Enfant, who was inspired by it to create the layout of Washington, D.C.