Rastatt, District capital in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
The town sits in northern Baden-Württemberg at the western edge of the Black Forest and spreads between the Rhine and gentle hills. In the center stand multi-story buildings with pale plaster facades and symmetrically arranged windows around a central palace complex, while residential districts and industrial areas shape the outer landscape.
The town began in the late 17th century as a residence for the margraves of Baden who built a large palace here. For more than two centuries it remained a fortress before the fortifications were dismantled in the 19th century and the settlement transformed into a civilian administrative center.
The name refers to a resting place travelers used before crossing forests and rivers in earlier centuries. Today you can see sandstone Baroque facades with stucco details and wide squares that show how much order and symmetry mattered here over the years.
Most landmarks lie in the old center and are easily walkable, with a first tour taking about half a day. Parking can be found at the edge of town from where short routes lead into the center.
In the outer districts stand occasional buildings that once belonged to the defense architecture and now serve as homes or workshops. Some of these structures have thick stone walls and small high windows that recall their military past.
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