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Karlsruhe

The Silicon Woods: Karlsruhe's Digital Soul

6.6 km171 min6 stops

What awaits you on this Red Thread tour

Discover the hidden digital heartbeat of Germany. This immersive walking tour takes you beyond the classical facades of Karlsruhe to reveal its secret identity as the birthplace of the German internet and a pioneering, yet contested, Smart City. Join an urban planner and a tech historian as they debate the promises of digital utopia, the ghosts of industrial pasts, and the hacker ethos fighting for privacy in an age of absolute connectivity.

Itinerary

1

TOUR START

KIT Department of Informatics

The birthplace of the German internet, where the first email was received in 1984.

0.55 km • 8 min
2

STOP 2

FZI Research Center for Information Technology

A hub translating academic internet roots into applied Smart City technologies.

1.35 km • 21 min
3

STOP 3

Perfekt Futur

A former slaughterhouse transformed into a vibrant startup park using shipping containers.

2.13 km • 33 min
During your walk

Interlude

A deep dive into the infrastructure and policy decisions that shaped the German internet.

4

STOP 4

Entropia e.V. (Chaos Computer Club Karlsruhe)

The local chapter of the Chaos Computer Club, representing the hacker ethos and digital civil rights.

0.51 km • 8 min
5

STOP 5

Karlsruhe City Hall (Rathaus am Marktplatz)

The administrative heart of the city, where digital governance and civic reality collide.

2.07 km • 32 min
During your walk

Interlude

A reflection on the shift from knowledge scarcity to information abundance.

6

END

ZKM | Center for Art and Media

The 'Digital Bauhaus', exploring the societal and artistic impacts of the internet.

ZKM | Center for Art and Media

Image by fotogoocom on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

Where the tour takes place

Starting point and rough tour area – the exact route unfolds in the app.

Good to know

  • Ideal for Tech enthusiasts, urban explorers, history buffs, and digital philosophers interested in the intersection of society and technology.
  • Best time Weekdays during daylight hours, when the university campuses and startup parks are buzzing with authentic daily activity.
  • What to bring Comfortable walking shoes and a fully charged smartphone.
  • Pacing Take your time at the interludes to grab a coffee and sit down.
  • ZKM Entry Check the opening hours for ZKM if you plan to explore the exhibitions afterward.
  • Campus Etiquette Remember that KIT and FZI are active research facilities; observe quietly.
  • Weather Bring an umbrella, as several stops are outdoors with limited shelter.
  • Your voucher You can redeem your voucher for two years from purchase. Once redeemed, you have 14 days of access and can enjoy the tour as often as you like during that time.

Your guide

Tom Bennett
Audio sample
0:000:00

Tom Bennett

  • Urbanism, Infrastructure & Innovation
  • Northern England

Architecture and urban planning professional. Explains the city's hidden systems – from mobility to water pipes – clearly and vividly.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get to the tour after buying?

You see your voucher code right after payment – and you also receive it at the email address you entered at checkout. Redeem that code in the Red Thread app; that's where the tour starts.

When does my access start?

Only when you redeem the code in the app, not at purchase. From redemption you have 14 days of access to the tour.

Do I need the Red Thread app?

Yes. The free Red Thread app turns your tour into a vivid experience: with audio, a map, and thoughtful prompts, it guides you from place to place in an engaging and entertaining way. It's available free for iOS and Android.

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