Karlsburg Castle

Karlsburg Castle stands in Durlach, a district of Karlsruhe. It was the residence of Margrave Charles II from 1563. The castle began as a medieval structure before he expanded it into a palace. His successors enlarged the building until French troops burned it in 1689. Margrave Frederick Magnus rebuilt part of it in 1698, completing two wings by 1703. The castle’s history reflects the struggles of the Baden margraviate. Frederick Magnus faced financial difficulties and disputes with Durlach’s citizens. His son, Margrave Charles III William, abandoned the project in 1715 to build Karlsruhe. The Karlsburg later served as an administrative office and barracks. Today, the castle houses several institutions. The Pfinzgau Museum and the Carpathian-German Museum are located there. The registry office, adult education classrooms, and a historic banquet hall can also be visited. The Margrave School and Durlach city library share the space. The surviving Prinzessinnenbau wing remains a reminder of its past.