Pforzheim

Pforzheim is a city in the northern Black Forest foothills of Baden-Württemberg, where three rivers converge. The city extends across 16 districts and combines industrial areas with forested hills at the edge of the woodland.

Romans founded a settlement here as a passage to the hinterland, which received town status in the Middle Ages. Later, the place developed into a center for jewelry and watchmaking after craftsmen began processing precious metals in the 18th century.

The name derives from the Latin word Porta, pointing to its former role as a gateway to the Black Forest. In the jewelry quarters around the center, goldsmiths and jewelers still work in small workshops, passing their craft down through generations.

The main train station is centrally located and connects the city with Stuttgart and Karlsruhe. Buses run regularly to all districts, while the center is easily walkable.

A museum in the center displays hundreds of jewelry pieces spanning several centuries. Many workshops open their doors to visitors who want to follow the work process from raw material to finished ring or watch.

Location: Karlsruhe Government Region

Elevation above the sea: 273 m

Part of: Bertha Benz Memorial Route, Schwarzwald-Schwäbische-Alb-Allgäu-Weg

Shares border with: Enz district, Calw District

Website: https://pforzheim.de

GPS coordinates: 48.89088,8.70295

Latest update: December 14, 2025 21:27