local informations

Karlsruhe, founded 1715 as the capital of the German dukedom Baden, lies in the south west of Germany. Situated between the banks of Germany's most famous river, the Rhine, and the northern foothills of the beautiful Black Forest, Karlsruhe enjoys a mild and pleasant climate. Other important cities of the French-German cultural area, like Heidelberg and Strasbourg (France), are easily reachable within an hour.

Being built from scratch for Margrave Karl-Wilhelm, Karlsruhe was designed to express the sovereigns attitude. From the very start, Karlsruhe was conceived as a city without walls, open for friends and guests. Its principal layout - radial in shape, similar to a fan - focuses the city on the palace and surrounds the city-heart with gardens and forests.

Today, Karlsruhe has more than 250.000 citizens. Its Technical University (founded 1825) is renowned as being one of the leading technical universities in Germany. The Federal Supreme Court and the Federal Constitutional Court make Karlsruhe the center of the German administration of justice. Various other scientific and cultural institutions emphasize the city's role as place for intellectual exchange.