Pforzheim is known as the "Gateway to the Black Forest" or "Goldstadt" (Gold City) due to its jewelry and watch-making industries. Located on the northern edge of the Black Forest between Karlsruhe and Stuttgart, it sits at the confluence of three rivers: the Enz, Nagold, and Würm. With a population of approximately 126,000, it is a city of functional post-war charm that serves as a primary starting point for hikers and a hub for precision engineering.
Understand
[edit]Pforzheim's modern appearance is defined by the air raid of 23 February 1945, which destroyed about 80% of the city in less than 20 minutes. Consequently, the historic center was almost entirely replaced by the pragmatic, functional architecture of the 1950s. While it lacks the traditional "half-timbered" romanticism found in nearby towns, the city offers a unique look at post-war urban planning, interspersed with extensive green areas along its river valleys.
The city's identity remains deeply rooted in precious metals. About 75% of all German jewelry is still produced here, and it remains a global center for jewelry design and watch-making. For outdoor enthusiasts, Pforzheim is most significant as the "golden gate" to the Black Forest, being the traditional starting point for the three major long-distance hiking ridges: the Westweg (to Basel), the Mittelweg (to Waldshut), and the Ostweg (to Schaffhausen).
The city is a good base for travelers who prefer an urban starting point for nature expeditions or those interested in industrial history and modern design.
Get in
[edit]By train
[edit]- 1 Hauptbahnhof. The main station is served by S5 S6 as well as regional trains an IC along the line Nuremberg Karlsruhe every two hours and even one daily ICE per direction
By plane
[edit]The closest major airport is Stuttgart (STR IATA). Also the tourist airport Baden-Baden/Karlsruhe (Baden Airpark) (FKB IATA) is close by.
By car
[edit]The town is easily accessible from the A8 between Karlsruhe and Stuttgart and is on the B294 from Bretten, the B463 from Calw and the B10 from Vaihingen an der Enz.
By bus
[edit]The Verkehrsverbund Pforzheim-Enzkreis provides services around the region. Pforzheim public transport belongs to the larger Karlsruhe area (KVV).
Get around
[edit]
Public transport
[edit]The Verkehrsverbund Pforzheim-Enzkreis provides services around the region.
Taxi
[edit]- Taxi-Funk-Zentrale Pforzheim e.V., Güterbahnhof 11, ☏ +49 7231 13 99 99. day & night on the road.
- Minicar, ☏ +49 7231 44 44 44.
E-scooter
[edit]The scooter provider Lime provides services in Pforzheim as well. You need the app of the provider to locate the scooters.
See
[edit]Museums
[edit]- 1 Jewellery museum (Schmuckmuseum Reuchlinhaus), Jahnstraße 42, ☏ +49 7231 39-2126, [email protected]. Tu-Su 10:00-17:00. The museum celebrates the jewellery heritage of Pforzheim as "golden town" in the famous Reuchlinghaus designed by Manfred Lehmbruck the son of artist Wilhelm Lehmbruck, who is one of the most influential architects for the functional post-war architecture in Pforzheim. There is also a cafe, where you can sit outside close to the Stadtgarten park if weather allows.
- 2 Rail museum (Museum im Bahnhof Weißenstein), Belremstraße 74, ☏ +49 7231 767969. Every 1st Sunday of the month (Feb–Dec) from 10:00 to 17:00. Located in a lovingly restored 19th-century station building, this museum showcases the history of the Nagold Valley Railway and features several impressive model railroad layouts in various scales.
- 3 Gasometer, Hohwiesenweg 6. A large 360-degree photo exhibition with changing content.
- 4 Cemetery Museum (Friedhofmuseum), Ispringer Straße 42 (Nordstadt). Pforzheim has a cemetery museum with ancient tombstones and also the large cemetery of Pforzheim direct next to the museum, is worth a visit with many historic family graves. You'll find many inscriptions from 23 February 1945 free to public.
Parks
[edit]- 5 Wildpark (Wildpark Pforzheim), Tiefenbronnerstraße 100. Outdoor animal park which offers habitat for over 400 partly rare mammals, fish, frogs, amphibians and birds from various regions of the world.
- 6 Enzauenpark (near Gasometer). Created for the federal flower festival 1992 along the river Enz provides a beer garden and the historic water supply station Wasserwerk Friedrichsberg. It starts at the Gasometer and offers a nice walk in summer.
- 7 Stadtpark Pforzheim, Jahnstraße 42. Small park near the Reuchlingmuseum with a nice fountain and you can ride the black forest wave there
Buildings and sights
[edit]- 8 Alfons Kern Tower (Alfons Kern Turm). Place for social discourse and interdisciplinary laboratory of the future. The stairwell tower of the former Alfons-Kern-Schule in Pforzheim offers space on several floors. Regular exhibitions are held on two floors. On the top floor, students of the Master’s program Design & Future Making of explore the future in the MADLAB of the University of Pforzheim. On the ground and first floor is the Café Roland at home.
- 9 Kollmar & Jourdan House. The Kollmar & Jourdan house was built in Art Nouveau style at the beginning of the 20th century and impresses then as now with its unusual design and colour scheme. The street side is clad with coloured glazed exposed brick. The unique colour scheme features light green wall surfaces interspersed with pale white and brownish tones. Five figural relief busts in allegorical form depict the five continents: Africa, Australia with kangaroo, Europe, Asia, America. Each continent is characterised by folk ornaments.
Do
[edit]- 1 Maulbronn Monastery (Kloster Maulbronn) (North of Pforzheim). One of Europe’s most complete and best preserved Medieval monastery complexes. It combines a multitude of architectural styles, from Romanesque to late Gothic, in one place – creating a unique atmosphere.
- 2 Wildpark (Wildpark Pforzheim), Tiefenbronnerstraße 100, [email protected]. An outdoor animal park which offers habitat for over 400 partly rare mammals, fish, frogs, amphibians and birds from various regions of the world. M-F €3, Sa Su €5.
Buy
[edit]Buy
[edit]As the "Goldstadt," Pforzheim is the primary place in Germany to purchase high-quality jewelry and watches directly from the source. The city center, particularly the pedestrian zone around Leopoldstraße and Westliche Karl-Friedrich-Straße, features numerous traditional goldsmiths and specialized boutiques.
- 1 Schmuckwelten Pforzheim, Leopoldstraße 1, ☏ +49 7231 145550. Mon–Sat 10:00–18:00. A large shopping and adventure center dedicated to jewelry. It houses various galleries, a mineral museum, and retail outlets for local manufacturers, ranging from affordable silver pieces to luxury watches.
- 2 Schlössle-Galerie, Westliche Karl-Friedrich-Str. 80, ☏ +49 7231 154440. Mon–Sat 09:30–20:00. A modern shopping mall in the city center with over 35 shops, including international fashion brands, electronics, and a food court. It is easily recognizable by its glass architecture and serves as a central point for general retail needs.
Eat
[edit]Pforzheim has a variety of restaurants. There are restaurants with oriental food and restaurants with food from the Pforzheim area. One of the traditional meals is Spaezle. It is a type of egg noodle, made by hand. Normally it is eaten with some type of sour cream sauce.
- 1 Landgasthof Seehaus Pforzheim, Tiefenbronner Straße 201, ☏ +49 7231 651185. Tue–Sat 11:30-22:00, warm dishes until 20:30; Sun 11:30-21:00, warm dishes until 19:30. A historic former hunting lodge located idyllically by a small lake in the Hagenschieß forest, offering regional German and Swabian-Baden specialties. The venue features traditional dining rooms and a beer garden with a playground. €15-€30.
- 2 Platzhirsch, Marktplatz 11, ☏ +49 7231 1544330. Mon–Thu 11:30-00:00, Fri–Sat 11:30-01:00, Sun 11:30-23:00. A modern and vibrant restaurant located directly on the central market square. It offers a diverse menu ranging from burgers and steaks to Mediterranean bowls and regional classics, complemented by a popular bar area and extensive outdoor seating. €12-€28.
- 3 Arlinger Restaurant, Arlingerstraße 49, ☏ +49 7231 441235. Tue–Sat 17:00-22:00, Sun 11:30-14:30 and 17:00-21:00,. A cozy neighborhood restaurant known for its high-quality German and regional cuisine. It features a seasonal menu, a well-curated wine list, and a quiet summer terrace away from the city center's bustle. €15-€35.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]- 1 Jugendherberge Pforzheim-Dillweißenstein, Kräheneckstr. 4, ☏ +49 721 28248. Check-in: 16:30 - 19:30, check-out: 10:00 (self check-out). Housed in the historic ruins of Kräheneck Castle, this youth hostel offers a unique medieval atmosphere and serves as a convenient base for hikers starting the Westweg trail. From €46 in dormitory.
- 2 Parkhotel Pforzheim, Deimlingstraße 32-36, ☏ +49 7231 161-0. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. A centrally located upscale hotel situated between the theater and the river Enz, featuring a spa area and a rooftop bar with views over the city. From €76 for single-bedroom.
- 3 Best Western Queens Hotel Pforzheim-Niefern, Pforzheimer Str. 52, 75223 Niefern-Öschelbronn, ☏ +49 7233 7090. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. A modern hotel located on the eastern outskirts near the A8 motorway, offering a sauna, fitness facilities, and easy access for travelers arriving by car.
Connect
[edit]- 1 Tourist information, Schloßberg 15 - 17, ☏ +49 7231-39 3700. Mon–Fri 10:00–13:30. The main information center located opposite the castle church. It provides city maps, brochures, hiking guides, and local souvenirs.
- 2 Post Office (Deutsche Post), Bahnhofplatz 1. Mon–Fri 09:00–18:30, Sat 09:00–13:00. Located directly at the main railway station (Hauptbahnhof), offering full postal services, international shipping, and stamps.
Go next
[edit]
Pforzheim is an ideal base for exploring the northern Black Forest and the Kraichgau region.
- Maulbronn: Home to the Maulbronn Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the best-preserved medieval Cistercian monastery complex north of the Alps. It is about 19 km north and reachable in 22 minutes by local train or bus.
- Black Forest: Pforzheim is the traditional starting point for several long-distance hiking trails. You can easily reach nearby towns like Bad Wildbad (via the Enz Valley Railway) for its thermal baths and treetop walk.
- Bertha Benz Memorial Route: Enthusiasts can follow the tracks of the world's first long-distance automobile journey from 1888. Pforzheim was the turning point of Bertha Benz's historic trip from Mannheim.
- Bretten: A picturesque town 20 km to the north, famous for its historic market square and the "Peter-und-Paul" festival. Accessible via the S9 light rail.
- Karlsruhe and Stuttgart: Both major cities are only about 30 minutes away by regional train (IRE or RE), offering world-class museums, shopping, and nightlife.
- Hirsau: Located in the Nagold valley, featuring the impressive ruins of a once-powerful Benedictine abbey.