With almost 30,000 inhabitants, Durlach is the largest district in Karlsruhe and is often referred to as the "mother" of Karlsruhe. This is because Durlach was the residence of the Margraves of Baden-Durlach. In 1715, however, Karl Wilhelm moved his court to Karlsruhe. Durlach remained an independent town. It was not incorporated until 1938.
Durlach's historic city center
You can lose yourself in the traffic-calmed medieval alleyways of the old town center. The picturesque townscape clearly shows the old town walls, parts of which are still preserved (e.g. the Basler Torturm). Worth seeing are the town church, the Karlsburg (the old castle), originally a Renaissance building, the market square and the town hall. On the town hall balcony stands a figure of a knight holding a flag made of sheet iron in one hand and a shield with the Baden coat of arms in the other. It is said to be a statue of Margrave Karl II, who made Durlach his residence in 1556. Charles II is popularly known as "Karle mit der Tasch", because the margrave is said to have always paid the builders himself from a bag he carried with him.
Explore the old town of Durlach on your on your own during a historical tour.
Today, Durlach Palace is home to the Pfinzgaumuseum, the branch of the city library and the Baden Conservatory, among other things. The Durlach Palace Gardens are the oldest gardens in the city of Karlsruhe.
The people of Durlach love to celebrate. The carnival parade, the old town festival, the cultural summer or the medieval Christmas market are legendary events that always attract many thousands of visitors to Durlach.
Tip
Strolling through the traffic-calmed medieval town center of Durlach is always an experience. Small cafés and restaurants invite you to stop for a bite to eat.
