Palace setting
Thanks to its location in the Rhine valley, Karlsruhe is one of Germany's warmest and sunniest cities. When the frost melts away under the first warming rays of the spring sun, the plaza in front of Karlsruhe Palace fills with life. The Baroque façade of the former residential palace offers a unique backdrop, and serves as a meeting place for young and old alike. As an architectural and cultural centre, the palace connects the lively city centre with the idyllic palace gardens. During the summer months, the area serves as the setting for numerous open air events.
Palace garden
The extensive park is a favourite destination, inviting guests to sunbathe and stroll. The Schlossgartenbahn (palace garden train) runs here regularly on the weekends (Good Friday to All Saints’ Day). On Sundays, “Greif” the steam locomotive travels through the garden and Hardt forest on a 2.7 km track.
Schlosslichtspiele (Palace light show) Karlsruhe
For six weeks during the summer, the Karlsruhe Palace becomes one of the biggest and most beautiful projection screens in Germany. During the Schlosslichtspiele Karlsruhe, complex video projections play over the 170 metre long Baroque facade after darkness, showing the palace in a whole new, splendid light each evening. The light show has been on display since 2015 and can be viewed free of charge from the lawn in front of the palace. It turns the former margrave’s residence into a lively hub in the heart of the city on summer evenings.
Stadtwerke Karlsruhe WINTERZEIT
During the winter months, a skating rink is set up around the statue of Grand Duke Karl Friedrich. The public utility's “WINTERZEIT” (Winter Time) turns ice skating in front of the gorgeous Karlsruhe Palace into a true experience. If you would rather not go out in the cold, you can also enjoy the view of the Baroque palace with a glass of mulled wine or punch from a wooden hut in the ice age winter village.