Ljubljana is the capital and largest city of Slovenia. The origin of the city's name is unclear. In the Middle Ages, both the river and the town were also known by the German name Laibach. This name was in official use as an endonym until 1918, and it remains frequent as a German exonym, both in common speech and official use.

During antiquity, a Roman city called Emona stood in the area. Ljubljana itself was first mentioned in the first half of the 12th century. It was under Habsburg rule from the Middle Ages until the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918. Situated at the middle of a trade route between the northern Adriatic Sea and the Danube region, it was the historical capital of Carniola, a Slovene-inhabited part of the Habsburg Monarchy.

The city, with an area of 163.8 square kilometers, is situated in the Ljubljana Basin in Central Slovenia, between the Alps and the Karst.

The city's architecture is a mix of styles. Despite the appearance of large buildings, especially at the city's edge, Ljubljana's historic center remains intact. Although the oldest architecture has been preserved from the Roman period, Ljubljana's downtown got its outline in the Middle Ages.

The central square in Ljubljana is Prešeren Square (Prešernov trg) where the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation is located. Built between 1646 and 1660, it replaced an older Gothic church on the same site.

Ljubljana is famous for its bridges. The most notable bridges of Ljubljana are the Triple Bridge (Tromostovje), the Trnovo Bridge (Trnovski most), the Dragon Bridge (Zmajski most), the Hradecky Bridge (Slovene: Hradeckega most), and the Butchers' Bridge (Mesarski most). The Trnovo Bridge crosses the Gradaščica, whereas the others cross the Ljubljanica.

Each year, over 10,000 cultural events take place in the city, including ten international theater, music, and art festivals. The Ljubljana Festival is one of the two oldest festivals in former Yugoslavia (the Dubrovnik Summer Festival was established in 1950, and the Ljubljana Festival one in 1953).

Karlsruhe, also known as the "Gateway to the Black Forest", is situated in one of the most beautiful regions of Europe and is an ideal starting point for journeys through Germany, France and Switzerland.

As a major traffic hub, the city is well connected to the main motorways and rail network. With the ICE, Karlsruhe can be reached in just one hour from the Frankfurt airport and in less than two hours from the EuroAirport Basel.

In Karlsruhe culture enthusiasts will get their money's worth. The city offers a diverse museum landscape with the Landesmuseum in Karlsruhe Castle, the Staatliche Kunsthalle with its impressive collection and the Museum of Natural History with its fascinating vivarium.

With around 316,000 people, Karlsruhe is the second largest city in Baden-Württemberg. Karlsruhe is well-known for its history, as well as cultural and historical buildings.

The striking Karlsruhe Baroque Castle was built between 1715 and 1718. It served margraves, then electors and great-grandparents of Baden for 200 years as a residential and government seat. The Karlsruhe castle is the center of Karlsruhe's city plan, the so-called "fan", formed by 32 radial roads. Particularly well visible is this from the castle tower, on which the visitor can climb. In the Karlsruhe castle itself, various exhibitions and events can be viewed. Around the castle Karlsruhe offers the perfect opportunity to relax in the castle parks, go on a sport or just have a break.

The Pyramid on the Market square is the landmark of Karlsruhe. It stands between the Town Hall and the Town Church. Under the Pyramid is the crypt of the Concordia church, which was demolished in 1807. Karl Wilhelm von Baden-Durlach, the founder and planner of the city, should be buried here. The above-mentioned interior is not connected with the sarcophagus of the margrave.

The Botanical garden is located between the Castle garden, the Orangerie and the Federal Constitutional Court. More than 40,000 different plants from all over the world grow there. In the garden, surrounded by fountains, green trees and flowers in various colors one can relax on a bench with a cup of coffee, while in the greenhouse one can admire: sculptures, cactuses, palm trees, birds and much more for curious visitors.

The Tower Hill (Turmberg) is the landmark of Durlach. Since 1888 the Turmbergbahn has been climbing up the hill. In the back of the hill is a large playground for children as well as the Waldseilpark Karlsruhe. Besides gastronomy and wine-tasting, you can look forward to a unique view of Karlsruhe.

Karlsruhe offers one of the best-known places for media and art enthusiasts. The ZKM contains exhibitions on subjects such as acoustics, images, new media and much more. In the industrial building of a former ammunition factory, visitors can actively participate in exhibitions. Research and production, exhibitions and events as well as archives and collections are combined in the ZKM. The visitor is given the opportunity to discuss art and science.

For gourmets, Karlsruhe is worth a culinary discovery trip. The Baden cuisine is widely known and offers many regional specialties. It is distinguished by its high quality and the use of regional products. The proximity to France is evident not only in the local cuisine but also in the excellent wines.