Karlsruhe city and football guide
Karlsruhe: the city
Grand in parts, bland in others, Karlsruhe maintains its feeling of former glories in a laid back corner of Germany.
Ahead of my flying visit a few guide books had been pretty unkind about Karlsruhe - despairing the effect the Second World War bombers and post war planners had had on a once beautiful city.
For me, I'd say it was a green, pleasant and cultured place to visit and worthy of an afternoon or an overnight stay (if you can land a cheap rate in the business hotels).
Grandeur: The Schloss (palace).
I'll qualify this review now: my Karlsruhe tour was only a few hours on route on the fast line between Stuttgart and the Black Forest city of Freiburg. And it was a Monday - so pretty much everything was closed, which is a bit of a disadvantage when its much heralded attractions are mainly museums.
So if you feel I've done the city down, drop me a line and I'll happily make amends.
However, the staff at Tourist Information Centre opposite the Hauptbahnhof were pretty helpful and armed with a map it's a 20 minute walk up to the middle of town, crossing through the park and bizarrely past the elephants in the zoo.
Admittedly the stroll is pretty non-descript but it does improve - Marktplatz is the hub of the city, a plaza often featuring a market, you'll be stunned to hear, plus a mix of cafes and shops and the imposing Town Hall. The main shopping thoroughfare crosses through and it's a busy place around lunchtimes.
In the middle: The main square.
It also features a bizarre pyramid which apparently is the gravestone of the city's founder.
Keep right on and you come to the jewel in Karlsruhe's crown, the Schloss. This stunning palace sits inside beautiful grounds which give rise to the feeling that this is German's greenist city.
It's here you might just get an idea of Karlsruhe's unique central layout, the paths fan out from the Schloss throughout the park. Alternatively you could hire a helicopter but looking at Google Maps is probably easier.
Science and research are modern Karlsruhe's middle name (well so to speak) - among the clutch of state museums are one for science, plus three or more art galleries should you be so inclined.
With a big student presence in the university there's a laid back feel to the town - now in the shadows of Stuttgart, and not as pretty as Baden Baden or Freiburg - but all in all content with its lot.
Getting there and around
Karlsruhe/ Baden Baden Airport is the closest to the city. It's on the smaller side with the only direct link to Britain being a Ryanair route from London Stansted, and an Irish link to Dublin. The Dublin run is three times a week in winter, with the Stansted route being daily - evening arrivals and departures all week except Saturday, which has a morning connection instead. There are additional flights in summer.
More info on the airport website by clicking here.
Trains run from the airport terminal to Karlsruhe Hauptbahnhof with a change at Baden Baden - with the change the journey takes around an hour. Several trains run every hour.
Stuttgart Airport is also an option, served by all the major carriers - simply get an S-Bahn from the airport to Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof, and regular trains make the journey to Karlsruhe in 50 minutes.
The Hauptbahnhof (main train station) sits on the main line between Stuttgart and Basel in Switzerland. It's well appointed, with numerous snack bars plus McDonalds and Subway, with further cafes outside. Left luggage lockers take care of your bags for 2 euros.
Terminus: The Hauptbahnhof.
Exiting the station, you'll find yourself in a busy bus and tram terminus - keep your eyes peeled as you may not have the sixth sense the locals seem to have for an oncoming tram.
Singles around the middle cost 2.10 euros in 2009 with a day card - City Karte - much better value at 4.50 euros in 2009. If there's a group of you a day ticket covering five people, the City Plus, is 6.80 euros. Tickets are bought at machines at the stops and need to be punched on board.
There's a few lines that take you to the Marktplatz in the city centre, including lines 2, 3 and 4 - just check you're heading in the right direction. The journey's eight minutes and most lines run every ten minutes.
Ive heard rumour of special matchday buses from the main train station to the ground but haven't got any firm information on these.
Karslruhe SC: a fan's guide
Who are yer? Karslruhe SC
It's back to Bundesliga B for Karlsruhe in 2009, relegated after two years in the top flight.
They have bounced between the top two divisions for much of the last 30 years. The highlight was a prolonged stay in the early 1990s. That included one memorable UEFA Cup run in which they hurtled to the semi-finals, dumping PSV Eindhoven, Valencia and Bordeaux along the way. The 7-0 victory over Valencia is probably the finest hour.
Oliver Kahn's the most notable name in a list of ex players.
The turn of the Millenium saw bad times as Karlsruhe tumbled out of Bundesliga 2 but they bounced straight back and four seasons later took the step into the big flight, only to fall back in 2009.
Where do you come from? The Wildpark Stadion
The stadium is marketed as being 'rich in tradition'. Which you and I know means it's pretty old.
It's certainly a throw back to the permed days of the Keegan Bundesliga era - a sizeable bowl, holding just under 30,000 with one main stand, a more modest stand opposite and two open ends, a mix of terracing and seating. A big scoreboard adorns the back of one end.
We are Karlsruher: The ground.
Its most striking features are the four floodlights - visible from the railway station a good mile away (although annoyingly well hidden when you're inside the surrounding park looking for it) that are high, thin and bend into the ground at each corner.
We're on our way: Getting to the ground
The Wildpark Stadioin is, as its name suggests, in the park - the Schlossgarten, in the top right hand of Karlsruhe centre if you're looking at any maps.
Normal public transport won't take you there - and one option is to take a hike through the park. It's a big park - and let me tell you it's easy to get lost, as I did, nearly missing my train as a result. Dedication to this website saw me jogging through the park for the pictures you see here.
Your guiding lights: The floodlights are your first sight of the ground from the park. If you're at this point you're a ten minute walk - if you go the right way.
You could walk from the station, as I did, but it's a long one - a good 40 minutes. I'd suggest breaking that in the cafes and bars around Marktplatz, around half way, or get a tram that far - Trams 2, 3 and 4 take you there from the Hauptbahnhof.
From Marktplatz walk towards the Schloss (that's the palace) then turn right into Zirkel, which then becomes Neuer Zirkel.
The crowds will help you find your way from here but in case they don't go over the wide Richard Willstatter Alle inthe park, them over a second crossroads - a t the third, turn right . You should just be able to see the stadium floodlights ahead on the left. Follow that route for 400 yards, then look out for two paths off to the left that then merge into one- take this route and the ground is suddenly with you 200 yards ahead.
Bag a seat: Buying a ticket
Although the club is in Bundesliga B in 2009 a good run will see crowds filling the ground so if that's the case it may well be worth your while getting one in advance.
Previous spells in the Bundesliga B have seen their crowds average anything from 13,000 to 28,000 so the league position and the opposition clearly plays a big part.
You can buy them online by clicking here
Who ate all the pies? Eating and drinking
Being slap bang in the middle of a giant park means regulation food and drink options are few and far between, so expect a good gathering of matchday bars and kiosks.
The area around Marktplatz is as good a place as any for pre-match drinks, with a few cafes around the square and a few bars found around neighbouring side streets.
If you want your football on TV too, I did spot a Premiere Sports bar on the main drag just 50 yards from the Hauptbahnhof - walk past Tourist Information and it's on your right.
Bag a souvenir: Club store
There's a store at the ground open Tuesday to Saturday, and matchdays on Sunday. Alternatively check out the online option. http://ksc-onlineshop.de/