Once the capital of Baden in southwest Germany, the city of Karlsruhe lies next to the Rhine River near the border of France. Its street layout, similar to Paris, spools out from a central point in rays, and was the inspiration for Pierre L’Enfant, the city planner and military engineer who designed the basic plans for the layout of streets, parks and boulevards in Washington, D.C. In fact, it was during his travels through France, northern Italy and Germany that then-American Ambassador to France Thomas Jefferson fell under the spell of the symmetry of the German city’s 32 grand avenues arrayed in an orderly, fan-like pattern from the central Baroque Karlsruhe Palace.

Visitors can follow in the footsteps of Jefferson, exploring the palace and its landscaped botanical gardens, or while viewing the city from the palace tower. Easily accessible in an hour via high-speed train from Frankfurt, Karlsruhe has plenty to offer in the way of arts and culture. At the Center for Art and Media, explore the latest in IT developments through exhibitions and events showcasing cutting-edge production and research. At the prestigious Staatliche Kunsthalle, an international exhibition of works by artist Paul Cézanne will be on view Oct. 28–Feb. 2, 2018. Enjoy wandering through the market square with its famous pyramid, built in 1823, along with a host of galleries, museums and historic spots. When it’s time for a break, slip into a charming café for a slice of Black Forest cake, then relax in a green space. The city boasts more than 2,500 acres of parks and gardens.