Durlach

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Durlach is a district of Karlsruhe, Germany, with about 40,000 residents. It lies on the left bank of the Pfinz river at the foot of the Turmberg hill in Baden-Württemberg.

History in brief
- Durlach was granted to Hermann V of Zähringen by Emperor Frederick II.
- In 1565 it became the residence of the rulers of Baden-Durlach.
- It was nearly destroyed by the French in 1689.
- When Karlsruhe was founded in 1715, it became the new capital area for Baden.
- Durlach hosted a Liberal Party congress in 1846 and saw fighting during the Baden Revolution in 1849.
- In 1938, Durlach was incorporated into Karlsruhe.

What to see
- Karlsburg Castle in the center, built in 1565 and now housing museums, plus an old town hall and a church with a fine organ.
- In the market square, a statue of Margrave Charles II.
- The Turmberg, a hill with a vineyard, a castle ruin and a watchtower offering great views toward Karlsruhe, the Rhine valley, and on clear days the Vosges. You can climb the hill or take the Turmbergbahn, a historic funicular that is now electric.

Economy and today
- Durlach used to have factories making sewing machines (Pfaff), brushes, chemicals, tobacco, beer, vinegar, chicory, and pipe organs. Most have closed, but a few businesses remain.
- A major current employer is Fiducia IT AG, which provides IT services for many German credit unions.