Pforzheim is a town of nearly 120,000 inhabitants in the state of Baden-Württemberg,
southwest Germany. It is called the gateway to the Schwarzwald (Black Forest). It is world-famous for its jewelry and watch-making industry, the ratonale behind its sobriquet "Goldstadt" or Golden City. It has an area of 98 km² and is situated between the cities of Stuttgart and Karlsruhe at the confluence of three rivers (Enz, Nagold and Würm). Pforzheim marks the frontier between Baden and Württemberg, being located on Baden territory. The City of Pforzheim is a beautiful city, but sadly lacks places worth visiting, as a tourist.
How to Get There:
Pforzheim is close to Stuttgart and Karlsruhe and you may reach the city by air, rail and road. The closest international airport is Stuttgart International Airport, about 50 km (south-east) and driving time is about 45 minutes.
Frankfurt International Airport is about 145 km (north) of Pforzheim and driving time may vary between 90 and 120 minutes. By rail, you would get into Pforzheim normally via Karlsruhe, Stuttgart or Vaihingen/Enz. During day, trains from Karlsruhe or Stuttgart are frequent. Various airport shuttle services arrange transfers to and from the international airports in Stuttgart or Frankfurt. Pforzheim is well connected by road.
What to See:
Bertha Benz Memorial Route - Follow the tracks of the world's first automobile journey back in 1888 (Mannheim - Pforzheim - Mannheim); Bretten; Kloster Maulbronn, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the Black Forest. Also, The Old and New City Hall; The Archive Building (Archivbau); The House of Industry (Industriehaus); Reuchlinhaus; The look-out tower on Büchenbronn Hill; The Arch Bridge at Dillweißenstein; The ruins of Liebeneck Castle; Leitgastturm; Seehaus (formerly a hunting villa of the Margrave; now a popular destination for Sunday afternoon walks ); The Old Grapes Press of Brötzingen; Hachel Tower; The Copper Hammer (Kupferhammer; a traditional water-powered sledge hammer which was used for metal forming) and the Enz Flood-Plains Park (Enzauenpark; a park to walk, play or cycle along the river Enz).
Where to Eat:
Pforzheim has a variety of restaurants(77) with oriental food and local cuisine on the menu. Spaezle, a type of egg noodle, made by hand and eaten with some type of meat sauce is the local delicacy. Seehaus Pforzheim is a must if in the Schwarzwald; Others like the Alpirsbacher Eck, Casino Royal, Dimitra, Dudelsack, Phoenix Stuben and Schutzenhaus can be tried out.
Hotels:
Pforzheim has 15 hotels and 5 B&Bs. Parkhotel, Hotel Residenz, Kurhotel 19hundert, Best Western 26 Queens Hotel Pforzheim – Niefern and Hotel Villa Hammerschmiede are in the luxury range; City-Hotel Garni, Hotel Crystal, Royal Hotel, Hotel Europa Garni, Hotel Gute Hoffnung Garni and Hotel Montana Garni are mid-range while Gasthof Sonnenberg, Pension Morlock, Gasthaus-Restaurant Rabeneck and Pension am Park are budget hotels.
