Karlsruhe: Germany

Karlsruhe: Germany
Karlsruhe (population 282,595 in December 2003) is a city of Germany, in the Baden-Württemberg Bundesland, located near the French-German border. The altitude above sea level of the city’s area is between 100 m (on the westerly edge, toward the Rhine river) and 277.5 m (Turmberg in the east). Its geographical coordinates are: 49°00′ N 008°04′ E, which means that the 49th parallel (meridian) runs through the city center, its course being marked by a line of flag-stones in the Stadtgarten (city park).
Local attractions
Good visibility assumed, the Durlacher Turmberg to the east can be seen miles before reaching the city. It sports a look-out tower (hence its name) with nearby restaurant and can be reached by the historical Turmbergbahn (former rack railway, see link below).
The Stadtgarten is a recreational area near the Hauptbahnhof (main railway station) and was rebuilt during the Bundesgartenschau (Federal Garden Show).
The Marktplatz with the stone pyramid marking the grave of the city’s founding father. (For a short period during the Nazi reign it was called Adolf-Hitler-Platz.)
The city is nicknamed Die Fächerstadt (the fan city) because of its deliberate layout, with straight streets running out fan-like from the castle. The Karlsruhe Schloß (castle buildings) is an interesting piece of architecture; the adjacent Schloßgarten invites to a walk in the woods.