Karlsruhe is also known as the “fan city” because of the castle, which was built as the centre of the city and from which the streets radiate like rays.
The fan-shaped city has a wide range of cultural attractions, including numerous museums. A particular highlight is the Centre for Art and Media (ZKM), one of the top 5 museums in the world, which delights visitors with very special exhibitions and interactive stations.
Karlsruhe is also a city of culinary delights. Due to its unique location on the sunny Rhine plain, Baden's cuisine reflects French, Swabian and Swiss influences.
Shopping is guaranteed with the Ettlinger Tor and Postgalerie shopping centres, as well as Baden's longest shopping mile. There are also many small shops and cosy cafés in the side streets.
A city tour on the red double-decker bus is the perfect way to get to know the fan-shaped city. The bus is packed with information, background facts and amusing stories about Karlsruhe.
Karlsruhe is easily accessible by car via the A5, A8 and A65 motorways. With over 130 long-distance trains a day, Karlsruhe is also a hub for ICE, InterCity, EuroCity and InterRegio services. Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden airport is approximately 30 minutes away by car and Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Strasbourg airports are approximately 50–60 minutes away by car.
Facts
Karlsruhe, the former capital of Baden, is located in south-west Germany, on the western edge of Baden-Württemberg. Situated on the Rhine, the city area borders Rhineland-Palatinate to the north-west and France to the west.
Geographical data
Location: 8° 24' 18” east longitude and 49° 00' 54” north latitude (castle tower). The 49th parallel runs south of the Stadtgartensee. The city has an area of 173.49 km² and extends 16.8 km north-south and 19.3 km east-west. The city boundary is 82.4 km long, of which 11.5 km runs along the Rhine.
The climate
Karlsruhe has a very pleasant climate. Due to its location in the Rhine plain, protected by the low mountain ranges, Karlsruhe is the second warmest city in Germany with an average summer temperature of 20°C. The fan-shaped city is also the city with the most sunny days per year (around 140), along with Freiburg. The incomparable atmosphere of the parks and green spaces also contributes to the southern flair: almost 60% of the area is covered by greenery.
Altitude
The market square in the centre of Karlsruhe is 114.9 metres above sea level. The lowest point in the city is 100.0 metres above sea level at the Rhine near the oil harbour, and the highest point is 322.7 metres above sea level at the zoo in the Grünwettersbach district.
Population
Karlsruhe has about 313,000 inhabitants.
