Karlsruhe Off the Beaten Path Tips by Kathrin_E

Rappenwört on the Rhine is Karlsruhe's finest open air swimming pool, founded in the 1920s. The original pool was a branch of the river. Nowadays this isn't in use any more, there are 3 or 4 modern pools instead, among them one with artificial waves. The area is huge so that one always finds a quiet spot on the vast lawns underneath old trees, no matter how crowded the pool is.
The bath is situated right on the bank of the Rhine, so after a swim you can promenade along the river. The pools are open from May to the end of the summer holidays. Outside the season the bath area is open for walkers. No dogs please!

How to get there? Tram #6 to "Rappenwört" stops in front of the entrance.
Attention, not all #6 trams go as far as Rappenwört, the ones to "Daxlanden" won't take you there - it's quite a walk from the final station in Daxlanden.
Or go by bike. Rappenwört is on the bike trail through the floodplain forest that offers endless opportunities for bike tours.

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A 'must see' for all admirers of Jugendstil / art nouveau is the hidden Baischstraße, just off Kaiserplatz. The street was planned to be the "Beverly Hills" of Karlsruhe. A gatehouse separates the quiet dead-end lane from the busy, noisy square. All buildings in this lane were planned and built by the architect Hermann Billing from 1901 to 1903. In spite of some damage during the war this is still a fine example of authentic Jugendstil architecture.

Where? On the North side of the Kaiserplatz you'll see the huge house with the gate (photo 3), just walk through.
Tram: Mühlburger Tor (1,2,3,6,S1,S2,S5,S11)

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The Friedenskirche in the suburb of Weiherfeld takes us back to the times of destruction and need after the end of the war. Among the debris, people needed consolation and prayed for a better future. Unfortunately most of the churches were in ruins, too.

The parishes needed new churches that were cheap, easy to build and didn't look too much like barracks. In 1948 the architect Otto Bartning, famous for his protestant church architecture since the 1920s, developed a construction kit, a skeleton of prefabricated wooden frames that could be set up in a day or two. The walls were then filled with bricks from the debris, a work the parish people could do by themselves. Windows and doors were again prefabricated.

About 50 of these so-called "Notkirchen" were built all over Germany in the years 1948-1950. The one in Karlsruhe-Weiherfeld is a well preserved example that shows the architect's genius. From practically nothing he created rooms of timeless beauty. Wood and bricks make a warm, homely atmosphere. A church to feel 'at home' in.

Except for the Sunday services (usually 10 a.m.) the church isn't open, so contact the parish if you want to see it and make an appointment.
Tram S1/S11 to Dammerstock, then 10 minutes walk along Nürnberger Straße - Belchenstraße - turn right into Schauinslandstraße.

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Phone: Parish: 0721 / 88 14 34
Website: http://www.weiherfeld-dammerstock.de/Frieden/index.htm
Other Contact: http://www.kirchennetz.info/dek/

The crazy horse was made by the sculptor Jürgen Goertz in 1974. Originally named "Trojan Horse", it was supposed to be put up inside the theater but then decided against. In 1981 the Land Baden-Württemberg bought the sculpture and had it erected in front of the theater's entrance. The name was changed into "Musengaul" - the horse of the muses.

Not everybody was happy with this strange three-legged creature. Nevertheless it became the symbol of Karlsruhe's theater, and its portrait can be found on all their advertising material and on the intro of their website.

I like it. It's funny. Especially the broom tail and the sometimes laughing, sometimes scary face. Walk around the sculpture, keep eye contact and watch how the face changes if seen from different angles.

Where? In front of the theater (Badisches Staatstheater), Ettlinger Tor/Baumeisterstraße
Tram 2,5,S1/S11,S4/S41 to "Ettlinger Tor"

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Website: http://www.staatstheater.karlsruhe.de

Looking at the lush green meadows and trees nobody would imagine steam trains running here. Before the train station was moved further South to its present position, the main train route to the North and West lead along what's now a quiet promenade. The Hildapromenade, named Seldeneckstraße and Ludwig-Marum-Straße further West, offers a relaxing walk after sightseeing. The late 19th and early 20th century architecture along is worth a closer look, too.

Lunch-to-go tipp: get a roll or sandwich at Badische Backstube at Mühlburger Tor (they've got a great choice around lunchtime), sit down on one of the benches and relax.

The promenade was named after the last Grandduchess of Baden, Hilda von Nassau, the wife of Grandduke Friedrich II. who had to resign in 1918.

Attention, the meadows are visited by all dogs of the quarter on a daily basis, so mind your steps if you leave the footpaths - mines!

Tram: Mühlburger Tor

See travelogue page for more pics.

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Karlsruhe's main cemetery is huge and shows beautiful trees and quite a number of remarkable gravesites - some really artistic, others just plain tasteless. I like walking there in autumn, that's the season to be close to the dead to me.

The chapel and courtyard in the style of an Italian camposanto were built by the architect Joseph Durm in 1874-76.

Where? Haid-und Neu-Straße (near Hoepfner Brewery)
Tram: 4, 5, S2 to "Hauptfriedhof"

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For those who are interested in postmodern/contemporary architecture: The State Library building by Oswald Mathias Ungers (1984-1991).
The main reading hall is covered by a huge dome that recalls the one of next-door classicist St. Stephan's Church by Friedrich Weinbrenner (which recalls the Pantheon in Rome).
The view of the hall is most impressive from the inner windows in the magazines on 2nd and 3rd floor.

If you want to visit the main reading hall (Hauptlesesaal) and the magazines, leave your bags and jackets in a locker or at the desk.

Erbprinzenstr. 15, next to St. Stephan's church and Friedrichsplatz.
Tram: 1, 3, 4, S1/S11, S2, S5 to "Herrenstraße"
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9.00-18-00, Thurs 9.00-20.00, Sat 9.00-12.30

Free internet available in the entrance hall (30 minutes per person)

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Website: http://www.blb-karlsruhe.de/

The Badische Landesbibliothek (Baden State Library), shortly referred to as "BLB", is a true paradise for book lovers. They have (almost) everything among their 2 million books, mostly in German, there are also quite a number of publications in English and other languages available.

The full use of the library's services requires a library card which can be obtained at the registration desk in the lobby within a couple of minutes by filling in a simple form. You need a valid ID and a Karlsruhe address(!) to get it. It is still free - they have been discussing the introduction of an annual fee for years but so far nothing has happened. Let's keep fingers crossed.
The library card is necessary for borrowing books to take them home and for ordering books from the closed magazines, both for the reading hall and for borrowing.

For short-term users without a library card, the reading hall and the open magazines are accessible.
The shelves in the reading hall (Hauptlesesaal) contain the 'basic' literature about all imagineable subjects, encyclopedias (also in English), scientific magazines. If you want to look up something quickly, here you go. These books cannot be borrowed, meaning they are available all the time unless somebody has just taken them from the shelf to read in them.
The open magazines ("Offenes Magazin") on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd floor can also be used; htere are tables and chairs so you can sit down and read in there. Attention, they are a maze, especially the 2nd floor. You need exact signatures to find what you want.

The catalogue is available online and can be used from every internet PC in the world, which is really useful. In the BLB itself, are PCs in the lobby, in the reading hall and in the magazines where you can look up signatures.
Books can be ordered online if you have a library card number and password.

Free internet is available in the entrance hall (30 minutes per person)

If you want to visit the main reading hall (Hauptlesesaal) and the magazines, leave your bags and jackets in a locker or at the desk.

Address: Erbprinzenstr. 15, next to St. Stephan's church and Friedrichsplatz.
Tram: 1, 3, 4, S1/S11, S2, S5 to "Herrenstraße"
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9.00-18-00, Thurs 9.00-20.00, Sat 9.00-12.30

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Website: http://www.blb-karlsruhe.de

The Mint was designed by Karlsruhe's famous architect Friedrich Weinbrenner and carried out by his student Friedrich Theodor Fischer in 1826-1827. This is the only one of Weinbrenner's larger building that has remained in its original state. The monumental classicist facade closes the view axis of the long, wide Karlstraße.

The Karlsruhe Mint started minting Baden's coins in 1827. After making Deutsche Mark and Pfennig it is now producing Euros and Cents. Check the contents of your purse - coins that were minted in Karlsruhe are marked with the letter "G".

Where? Stephanienstraße, Northern end of Karlstraße.
Tram 1,2,3,4,6,S1,S2,S5,S11 to "Europaplatz"

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The 19th century quarter around Hirschbrücke has got a little bit of Parisian flair to me. The iron construction was built in 1889-1891. The bridge once crossed railway tracks leading to the former central station, which was located at Ettlinger Tor on the site where the new theater now is standing. The railway was moved further South - luckily, imagine steam trains polluting this living quarter. Today the trams 2 and 5 use the tracks underneath the bridge.

Where? Südweststadt, Hirschstraße - Jollystraße.

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