A vibrant centre of intellectual life: Karlsruhe

Situated on the Rhineland Plain between the Black Forest, the Vosges mountains and the Palatinate hills, Karlsruhe is a centre of science and technology as well as the seat of Germany's highest courts of justice. This is also where the first email was received by a computer in Germany. It was sent on 3 August 1984 by an employee of the University of Wisconsin in the United States and was addressed to the computer scientist Michael Rotert in Karlsruhe.

A fan-shaped city with a palace at its hub

Given Karlsruhe's grand palace, the absence of an old quarter may puzzle visitors. But this is a young city, founded in 1715, and so lacks the medieval lanes and alleys common in German towns. Baden's Margrave Karl-Wilhelm had his dream city designed from scratch, with the palace at its centre and 32 streets and avenues radiating outwards like the ribs of a fan. From its very beginnings, Karlsruhe was a city without walls, open to friends and visitors, tolerant and liberal. People from France, Poland, Italy, Switzerland and many German states were involved in its creation. The 1818 Baden constitution was way ahead of its time, and Germany's first parliament was built here in 1822.

A city steeped in classicism and Badensian cuisine

Der Architekt Friedrich Weinbrenner prägte in der ersten Hälfte des 19. The work of architect Friedrich Weinbrenner dominated the appearance of Karlsruhe in the first half of the 19th century, and many of his buildings can still be found in the city centre today. With its Protestant church and town hall, the market square on the boulevard that forms the central north-south axis is one of the most striking neo-classical squares in Europe. However, the atmosphere here is much less stark than the architecture. Around the market square numerous pavement cafés and beer gardens provide a chance to observe the bustling city life. Kaiserstrasse, the longest shopping street in the Baden region, has a great selection of shops and there are lots of restaurants offering excellent local cuisine. What better way to follow this than Karlsruhe's vibrant nightlife? The many museums, such as the state museum in the palace, public parks and green spaces offer a more leisurely alternative. The botanical garden, palace garden and the zoo are oases of tranquillity amid the hubbub of the city. They alone would make a visit to Karlsruhe worthwhile – were it not for the many other fascinating attractions. Karlsruhe has always been just that little bit more liberal than most, which has allowed art, culture and the media to flourish and made the city a place to party, shop and enjoy a warm Badensian welcome.