Margraves may once have held sway here – but today it is dominated by a sense of vitality and zest for life. Culture, lifestyle and culinary delights, combined with the surrounding countryside and the atmosphere of its parks and green spaces, make this city a very special place to visit. Its fascinating radial layout is just one aspect of what makes this sunny Badensian city so attractive.

The design of Karlsruhe's centre is reminiscent of the sun's rays, with its streets and avenues fanning out from their central point - the tower of the baroque palace with its palace gardens, botanical gardens and orangery. In the heart of the city, you'll find the market square and the pyramid. The Renaissance-style Gottesaue Palace and Karlsburg Palace in Durlach are also well worth a visit.

Karlsruhe is a cultural centre with an extraordinary wealth of museums. The Baden State Museum is the largest cultural history museum in the region. The Museum of Natural History has a number of exhibitions and a vivarium depicting native and exotic flora and fauna in realistic settings. Other highlights include the History of Law Museum, the Transport Museum and the Michelin Museum.