Posted on February 25, 2010 by Fiona Hilliard

Karlsruhe.  Karls-Ruhe. Try translating this literally and you’ll come to the conclusion that ‘Karl is quiet’.

Quiet? That’ll teach you to take things literally. There’s loads going on in Karlsruhe. In fact, when it comes to attractions, this German city is positively ear splitting.

Karlsruhe is located in southwestern Germany, within striking distance of the French-German border.  First on your list of places to visit  with Karlsruhe car hire should be the city’s palace.  It is situated directly north of the centre of the city, just a short drive from the Marktplatz.  The whole palace had to be reconstructed after being bombed to oblivion in World War II and is now home to Badisches Landesmuseum, a whole museum dedicated to historical exhibitions. Not far from the palace, you’ll come to the palace garden (Schlosspark).  This is where you’ll spot locals enjoying picnics and impromptu badminton matches during the summer.

ZKM on Lorenzstrasse is also worth a look.  To give it its full name, the Zentrum fur Kunst und Medientechnologie showcases all things interactive, especially those quirky installations that fall into the category of ‘media art’.  It also hosts tonnes of cultural events during the year.  Pop in while you’re in town, for some highbrow fun.  Speaking of cultural events, Karlsruhe is quite the party animal. Over the summer months, visitors and locals are treated to some of Europe’s liveliest festivals and events. July’s Das Fest, a weekend of free music, as well as the African Summer Festival complete with drumming workshops (told you it was noisy) make for a vibrant, carnival atmosphere, while August’s KAMUNA (Night of the Museum) lets everyone enjoy the cultural gems of the city’s museums and galleries at night.  No round-up of Karlsruhe’s delights would be complete without mentioning the Medieval Spectaculum (the name alone is note-worthy).  This medieval extravaganza has it all, from knights in shining armour to magicians, fire-breathers and a bustling market.