Train Karlsruhe → Strasbourg

Karlsruhe - become a fan of Benz’s birth city Karlsruhe was founded in 1715 as Karlsruhe palace, when Germany was a series of principalities and city states. Gateway to the black forest and close to the Rhine, Karlsruhe was one of Europe’s first planned cities over 300 years ago. Its nickname “Fan-Shaped City” reflects the elegant design, with 32 streets radiating out from the palace like the rays of the sun. The town surrounding the palace became the seat of two of the highest courts in all of Germany, The Federal Constitutional Court and the Federal Court of Justice. Karlsruhe is considered the “house of justice” in all of Deutschland, a role taken over from Leipzig after 1945. Not to worry, the town isn’t teeming with criminal types. In fact, Karlsruhe is a relaxing sort of place, with some of the warmest weather in the entire country. Visitors enjoy more than 800 hectares of public parks and you’ll often see residents enjoying the sunshine or one of two beautiful botanic gardens. The municipal Botanischer Garten is part of the Palace complex, while the Botanischer Garten der Universitat is lovingly maintained by the local university. Learn more about Karlsruhe

Where smart people learn to love Alsace Capital of Alsace, home of the European Parliament and the Council of Europe, and less than 2.5 hours from Paris by TGV, Strasbourg beckons with a blend of history and modernity. The Grande Île, Strasbourg's historic city center, is a UNESCO world heritage site. This was the first time such an honor was placed on an entire city center. There are incredible sights to see in just this one area: The Palais Rohan, 500-hundred year old churches including the Cathédral de Nôtre Dame (the tallest medieval building in Europe) and its famous astronomical clock. If you're lucky to be here around the holidays, the Strasbourg Christmas market surrounding the church has been an annual event since 1570. The neighborhood known as Petit France sits along the banks of The Grand Île. Famous for its medieval, black and white timber-framed buildings, the renowned Maison Kammerzell is the city's best example on Place de la Cathédrale in an area formerly belonging to the Holy Roman Empire. Learn more about Strasbourg