Discover Durlach: History, Museum and Turmberg

When looking for hotels in Durlach, you can first consider which aspects of the destination you want to shape your stay: the history of the former residence, the Pfinzgau Museum or wine hiking trails on Turmberg. The Old Town, with its medieval atmosphere, and the historic townscape reflect Durlach’s rich cultural history. This allows you to consider cultural history and time outdoors as distinct priorities when planning your trip.

The history of the residence and the Pfinzgau Museum

As the former residence of the Margrave of Baden-Durlach, Durlach has a rich history. One important date is 1565, when Margrave Charles II moved the residence from Pforzheim to Durlach. A hunting lodge that already stood there, along with its adjoining gardens, was subsequently converted into Karlsburg. Until its destruction by the French in 1689, Karlsburg served as the residential palace of the Margraves of Baden-Durlach. The dates mark different stages: the conversion into a residence and the end of the palace’s history.

The Pfinzgau Museum is housed in the baroque Karlsburg. It explores the past and present of Durlach, formerly an independent town that remained so until 1938. Its topics range from art and cultural history to social and everyday history; the museum also displays objects from these fields. The town’s history is presented in both a permanent exhibition and changing special exhibitions. The different exhibition formats thus offer both an ongoing connection to the town’s history and changing areas of focus.

Wine hiking trails and views from Turmberg

The wine-growing area on Durlach’s Turmberg can be explored on three wine hiking trails marked with different colors. Purple, green or red pictograms identify the routes. These color markers provide a clear point of reference when exploring the three trails. Unlike the museum’s focus on the town’s history, here the emphasis is on walking through the wine-growing area—a different option to consider when planning your trip.

On a clear day, the view from Turmberg extends to the peaks of the Vosges, across the Rhine Valley and to the Palatinate Forest. Clear conditions are essential for the view: which distant vistas are visible depends on clear weather. The Turmberg funicular also has a long history; it has been in operation since 1888. If you plan to include the funicular in your day, check the timetable in advance.

More perspectives in the wider destination of Karlsruhe

The wider destination of Karlsruhe offers further topics in cultural history. Since 1997, the ZKM has been housed in Hallenbau A, a former industrial building protected as a historic monument. The building was constructed from 1915 to 1918 and was then among Germany’s most architecturally advanced buildings. Durlach’s history as a residence and Hallenbau’s industrial architecture thus offer different historical perspectives within the Karlsruhe destination.

The State Museum of Natural History Karlsruhe features permanent exhibitions on native and exotic wildlife, as well as rocks, minerals and fossils. Karlsruhe Zoological City Garden combines a zoo with a municipal garden. In the wider destination of Karlsruhe, natural history collections and the combination of a zoo and garden thus provide different places to explore.

There are also different ways to plan activities: the approximately ten-kilometer-long “AugenBlick” circular route in Karlsruhe can be started at various points, for example at Turmberg. The Karlsruhe City Tour takes visitors to notable sights around Karlsruhe in a red double-decker bus. As seasonal details may change, it is a good idea to check tour dates before planning.

Discover more destinations: Oststadt, Grötzingen.

Back to the main travel overview: Karlsruhe.