Owing to its even architectural features, Karlsruhe reflects the spirit of rationalism. Founded as a Grand-Ducal residential city, Karlsruhe accommodates the oldest technological university of Germany. Nowadays, the city is a "Residence of Law" that comprises the supreme German courts of justice.

Although the City (or what the residents refer to, i.e. the shopping mile around the triangle Marktplatz, Europaplatz and Palace or Schloss) is rather small, but there are som exceptionally nice residential areas (like the Weststadt) and it's well worth exploring all the city's small side alleys and have an espresso or cocktail in one of the many hidden cafes and bars. (Rumor has it that Karsrluhe has the second highest number of bars per head in Germany, second only to Berlin.)

Karlsruhe can be used as a basis for exploring the Black Forest.

Karlsruhe is a major tech and industry town, although you wouldn't know when you're strolling along the shopping mile: Karlsruhe is big in IT, so it's all clean & high-tech.

Karlsruhe contains of the disctricts Aue, Beiertheim, Bulach, Dammerstock, Daxlanden, Durlach, Grötzingen, Grünwettersbach, Grünwinkel, Hohenwettersbach, Innenstadt, Innenstadt-Ost, Innenstadt-West, Kirchfeldsiedlung, Knielingen, Maxau, Mühlburg, Neureut, Nordstadt, Nordweststadt, Oberreut, Oststadt, Palmbach, Rintheim, Rüppurr, Stupferich, Südstadt, Südweststadt, Waldstadt, Weiherfeld, Weststadt and Wolfartsweier.