On the trail of Art Nouveau in Karlsruhe
After Münster, Karlsruhe is the most bicycle-friendly city in Germany and is also one of the most important Art Nouveau centers in southern Germany.
This makes it an obvious choice to explore the historic Art Nouveau buildings in the fan-shaped city by bike.
The BNN special "Get on your bike" is a real insider tip for a suitable bike tour, which was compiled jointly by KTG Karlsruhe Tourismus GmbH, BNN and the Allgemeiner Deutscher Fahrradclub (ADFC). It contains around 20 tours through Karlsruhe and the region, including the "Southern stronghold of Art Nouveau" tour. The route of the tour runs for around eight kilometers through the city, with the option for all cycling enthusiasts to extend the route to twelve kilometers. The crowning glory of the tour, whether 8km or 12km, is Karlsruhe Castle in the city center.
The west of Karlsruhe
The tour starts at Karlsruhe Central Station, which is the first point of interest along the tour. Karlsruhe Central Station is one of the few Art Nouveau stations still in existence today.
The tour then continues through Bahnhofsstraße and Jollystraße. As the tour runs through the middle of the city and is therefore mostly flat and easy to cycle on, it is also ideal for the whole family and children. In Jollystraße there is also the opportunity to make a short stop at the large playground.
The next destination on the tour is Gutenbergplatz. In addition to the square itself, you can also admire the Krautkopf Fountain here. The square is also perfect for a coffee break at Café Juli, right next to the fountain.
The route continues through Sophienstraße, where the richly decorated façades, bay windows and balconies make the entire street the next highlight along the route. A short detour into Moningerstraße is also worthwhile. The former brewery is located at the end of this street. Above the entrance to the former brewhouse, you can admire a sign in typical Art Nouveau lettering, after which the tour continues along Sophienstraße.
If you follow the road, you will reach the next two Art Nouveau buildings along the tour: Rathaus West and Christuskirche. The beautiful windows of the Christuskirche are a particular highlight.
Karlsruhe city center
From the west of Karlsruhe to the center of the fan-shaped city: the next stop on the "Southern stronghold of Art Nouveau" tour is the villa colony in Baichstraße. Baichstraße was a private street laid out by Hermann Billing with Art Nouveau villas and the lanterns, gates and fences are also in this style.
The tour then leads towards the Orangery and the Federal Constitutional Court. The destination is a special Art Nouveau advertising pillar.
The route continues to two of the most famous sights in Karlsruhe: the town hall and the Protestant city church. The buildings are not built in the Art Nouveau style, but in the Classicist style. However, they are definitely worth a short stop. Via Rondellplatz and Lidellplatz, you finally reach the Schiller School in Kapellenstraße. The entrance to the school is particularly striking, so it is not difficult to find this destination.
The last stage
The last two destinations are reached via Durlacher Allee. First you pass the Hotel Markgräfler Hof. Then you cycle a little further until you reach Gottesauer Platz. This is where the Lutherkirche is located. The church is surrounded by Melanchthonstraße, which is also a stop worth seeing thanks to its curved bay windows and round arches.
With this highlight, you can either end the tour, cycle on to Schlossplatz and enjoy the view of Karlsruhe Palace or admire other sights in Karlsruhe. There are, of course, many other routes on which you can discover Karlsruhe from a different angle, both by bike and on foot.
