The city of Karlsruhe was founded in 1715 by Market Count Karl-Wilhelm von Baden-Durlach, making it a relatively young city at just under 300 years old.

 

The market count Karl-Wilhelm von Baden-Durlach also came up with the idea of radiating all the streets away from the palace. This is why Karlsruhe is often referred to as the "fan-shaped city".

There are more than 30,000 students among the approximately 300,000 inhabitants.

More than 30,000 students study at the seven local universities: the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (formerly the University), the Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences, the University of Education, the State Academy of Art and Design, the State Academy of Fine Arts, the University of Music and the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University Karlsruhe. Not least under the influence of the students, the once staid administrative city has become a lively metropolis with international connections, an extensive range of sports and cultural activities and a lively nightlife.

You can't write about Karlsruhe without mentioning sport. If you just want to watch it, you will find some major sporting events here: international competitions such as the Women's Basketball World Championships, the Tennis Davis Cup and the International Athletics Indoor Meeting have already taken place here and even the Tour de France has stopped off here several times. If you are interested in interesting games, you can support the Karlsruhe Sports Club (KSC), ASV Karlsruhe-Hagsfeld and BG Karlsruhe at their respective home games. If you would like to take part in sport yourself, there are numerous clubs to contact. Information on this can be obtained from the City of Karlsruhe.

 

The university sports department also has a wide range of activities for students.

In addition to the Badisches Staatstheater with drama, musical theater, classical concerts and martinees, Karlsruhe is home to a number of creative private and amateur theaters. The spectrum ranges from boulevard plays at the Kammertheater to d'Badisch Bühn and the dedicated Sandkorn factory theater. Information on events can be obtained directly from the City of Karlsruhe.

 

Art exhibitions at the Center for Art and Media (ZKM), the Städtische Galerie and the Staatliche Kunsthalle invite you to visit. The annual exhibition of the Academy of Fine Arts and the Majolika Manufactory with its ceramics exhibition are also well worth a visit.

 

The Natural History Museum and the Baden State Museum in the palace have exhibitions on natural history and historical topics. Karlsruhe even has a large number of outdoor installations and art spaces. If you would like to find out more about the many different things to do in Karlsruhe, you can also find information directly from the City of Karlsruhe.

Music is not neglected either. The concerts on offer range from classical music and jazz to rock and pop. With "das Fest", Karlsruhe offers one of the largest multi-day open-air festivals with up to 200,000 visitors in the region, with new German and international bands and acts every year. In 2019, for example, Gentleman, Max Giesinger and Fettes Brot performed on the main stage of "das Fest".

 

The cultural offerings at KIT with choirs, bands, orchestras and theater also have a lot to offer students. Of course, you are also encouraged to take part in the individual groups!

 

Of course, the nightlife in Karlsruhe should not be forgotten either. Karlsruhe has over 1000 restaurants and bars, including more than 30 student and music pubs - something for every taste.

Geographically, Karlsruhe is located on the 49th parallel in the Rhine plain between the Palatinate, the Vosges and the Black Forest. This gives the city a mild climate. If you would like to see the 49th parallel for yourself, you can do so in the Karlsruhe Zoological City Garden, as the parallel runs right through the middle.

 

Karlsruhe also has extensive green spaces, many of which are located in the city center: one of the largest city forests in Germany, the zoo's city garden, the Günther-Klotz-Anlage and the palace garden with a large lawn for sunbathing, which is directly adjacent to the KIT South Campus.

Karlsruhe has a well-developed public transportation network. The streetcars of the Karlsruhe Transport Association KVV run as far as the Black Forest, the Palatinate and Kraichgau. Students travel free of charge on weekdays between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. and all day on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. A semester ticket, which entitles you to free travel all day for 6 months, can be purchased at a reduced price.