Karlsruhe is an impressive city in southwest Germany, founded in 1715 by Margrave Charles III William. He wanted to create a "star" or "fan"-shaped city, which is why he placed his grand palace directly in the middle with 32 streets radiating outward. When Thomas Jefferson visited Karlsruhe, he was so impressed that he drafted a blueprint-a blueprint that was used for the planning of Washington, D.C.
Modern Karlsruhe is a laid-back yet forward-thinking cultural hub thanks to the large student population. There are plenty of parks, a handful of fantastic museums, hip restaurants, and the city boasts the unique position of being only 15 kilometres from the French border. A multitude of Deutsche Bahn trains arrive and depart from Karlsruhe daily at affordable prices.
