Palace tower

The palace tower’s lookout platform is accessible via a staircase of 165 steps. At a height of 42 metres, it provides a panoramic view of Karlsruhe, the Black Forest and the Palatine mountains. The history of the Tulpenmädchen (tulip girls) is being presented in the room below the lookout platform. It was not until the past few years that historians gained some more information about the tulip girls’ role and their slightly dubious reputation. The tulip girls were young women appointed as court musicians. However, a verifiable number of illegitimate children, all baptised either Carl or Carline, suggests that some court singers also provided additional services for Margrave Karl Wilhelm. There seems to have been truth to the amorous legends of the margrave.