May 22, 2025
Experience Europe in Karlsruhe: A City Walk Meets the Law
Since early May, the Forum Recht Foundation in Karlsruhe has been offering a city walking tour focusing on European law
As part of Europe Day 2025, the Forum Recht Foundation hosted the first-ever „Recht stadtlich!“ city tour with a European theme through Karlsruhe on May 8 and 9. This special edition tour is now available for groups of eight or more to book free of charge. Web Communications Manager Romy Klemm spoke with Laura Pozzato, intern at the Forum Recht Foundation in the Program and Educational Outreach departments, which helped design and implement the tour.
„Quite Urban! Europe Edition“ – a city tour with a European perspective
Dear Laura, you’ve already offered the „Quite Urban! Europe Edition“ city tour twice. How did it go?
Laura Pozzato: Very good. About 30 participants in each group followed us on a tour through the city center exploring the history of European law. The groups were mixed in terms of age. Many were already familiar with the classic tour, but still found the European edition informative and enriching.
Was there any feedback from participants?
Laura Pozzato: Yes, we conducted our own survey. 100 percent of respondents would recommend the tour, so the feedback was consistently positive. Certain stops generated a great deal of interest, such as those focusing on fundamental rights or the role of EU law.
Do you have a personal favorite station?
Laura Pozzato: Two, in fact. I find the two stations on fundamental rights particularly fascinating. The first is—surprise!—the Square of Fundamental Rights. Here, we explore the difference between national protection of fundamental rights and European protection of human rights. The EU and globalization raise the question of how fundamental rights are protected across borders. It’s becoming increasingly important to safeguard fundamental rights at the European level as well.
The topic will then be revisited at the stop at the Federal Constitutional Court. There, we’ll discuss the relationship between German law and EU law—that is, which level takes precedence in which situations. This isn’t just legally relevant; it affects all of us.
EU law and German law are not separate from one another. Germany is part of the EU—and many legal decisions at the national level have a European dimension.
How does this tour differ from the tours we usually offer once a month in Leipzig and Karlsruhe?
Laura Pozzato: The topics and perspectives differ significantly. The classic tour focuses more on Karlsruhe’s history, local cuisine, and the German legal system. In the Europe Edition, while we maintain the local connection, we shift the focus to European contexts: What role does the EU play in our daily lives? How do German and European law interact? We’ll explore many specific cases, some drawn from everyday life, such as price labeling at Aldi, which is influenced by EU regulations.
Were there any surprises during the design phase?
Laura Pozzato: Yes—on the one hand, it’s interesting to see how many everyday decisions are actually rooted in European law. On the other hand, it was fascinating to discover just how strongly our German civil law has been influenced by the French „Code civil.“ This shows that our legal system has long been interwoven with European law.
Thank you very much for the interview.
Additional Information
The Tour „Quite urban! – European Edition" You can book for free for groups of ten or more people. To do so, please use the linked form. Please note that we currently offer the Europe Edition only for Karlsruhe. In Leipzig You can join the free standard city tour on its regular dates, or request it for private groups of ten or more people.
We strive to accommodate the individual needs of diverse groups as well as groups with specific needs and requirements. Please let us know when booking in the text field on our booking form with.
Which tour is right for me—the Europe Edition or the Standard Tour?
Standard Tour of Karlsruhe – Focus: City History & German Law
SUITABLE FOR:
- Curious people
→ Get to know Karlsruhe from a different perspective -
Newcomers to Karlsruhe
→ Basics on the city's history, its courts, and historic sites in the downtown area -
People interested in the legal system
→ Basic information about the Federal Constitutional Court, the Federal Court of Justice, and the German legal system -
School classes (secondary level)
→ Suitable for use in politics, social studies, or history classes -
Residents and tourists
→ Ideal for anyone interested in Karlsruhe and its reputation as "Residence of Justice" would like to get to know.
THE FOCUS IS ON:
→ History of Karlsruhe
→ Anecdotes and pub quiz trivia on law and the rule of law
→ City Courts (Federal Constitutional Court, Federal Court of Justice)
→ Relevant Legal Developments in Germany
→ Interesting Facts About Karlsruhe
→ Germany, Karlsruhe, and the Law in General
Europe Edition – Focus: EU & German Law in the European Context
SUITABLE FOR:
- Curious people
→ Get to know Karlsruhe from a different perspective Teachers & School Classes
→ Aligns with the curriculum topics of Europe, fundamental rights, the European Union, and European integration in social studies and historyThose Interested in a Career / Those Committed to the EU
→ for people interested in European integration, EU law, and democracy educationAdults with prior knowledge / a deep interest
→ If you want to learn more than just the basics about the relationship between Germany and the EU.Advocates (e.g., in civic education, government agencies)
→ ideal for expanding your background knowledge
THE FOCUS IS ON:
→ What role do Germany and Karlsruhe play in the EU?
→ Interplay Between EU Law and German Law
→ Current Challenges & Developments in Europe
→ the role of the law in general
→ Similarities and Differences in the Laws of the States
→ the relationship between national and European law
Regular dates for the walking tours in Karlsruhe in 2026
- Thursday, April 9, 2026, 5:00 p.m.
- Saturday, May 9, 2026, 11:00 a.m. (Special event with the Europe Edition to mark Europe Day)
- Thursday, June 11, 2026, 5:00 p.m.
- Thursday, July 9, 2026, 5:00 p.m.
- Thursday, August 13, 2026, 5:00 p.m.
- Thursday, September 10, 2026, 5:00 p.m.
- Thursday, October 8, 2026, 5:00 p.m.
Regular dates for the walking tours in Leipzig in 2026
- Thursday, April 16, 2026, 5:00 p.m.
- Thursday, May 21, 2026, 5:00 p.m. (Special Edition: History of Democracy)
- Thursday, May 23, 2026, 11:00 a.m. (Special Edition: History of Democracy)
- Thursday, June 18, 2026, 5:00 p.m.
- Thursday, July 16, 2026, 5:00 p.m.
- Thursday, August 20, 2026, 5:00 p.m.
- Thursday, September 17, 2026, 5:00 p.m.
- Thursday, October 15, 2026, 5:00 p.m.
Decision-Making Guides
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN …
- ... Karlsruhe & German law in general? → Standard tour
- ... Germany's role in the EU / European politics? → Europe Edition
- ... an exciting field trip for school groups? → Both are possible, but the standard tour has fewer prerequisites
- ... an introduction for newcomers to Karlsruhe? → Standard tour
- ... a booking for a specific date, for example, because you're on a school trip or company outing in Leipzig or Karlsruhe → both are possible, for groups of eight or more participants
If you have any questions about our city tours in Karlsruhe, please feel free to email us at tour-karlsruhe(at)stiftung-forum-recht.de or use the Contact form via this link! You can find all the information about the city walking tours on the education program's website: City Walks in Karlsruhe and monthly City tours in Leipzig.
- If you have any questions about our city tours in Karlsruhe, please feel free to email us at rundgang-karlsruhe(at)stiftung-forum-recht.de
- Or use the contact form directly via this link!
- You can find all the information about the city walking tours in Karlsruhe on the program's website:
- About our city walking tours in Karlsruhe
- About our city walking tours in Leipzig