Business PF

Goldstadt Walk

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At the beginning of each semester, new students at Pforzheim University have the chance to experience the city through a walking tour, the so-called "Goldstadt Walk".

Over 90 Master students took off for this semester's walking tour, the so-called "Goldstadt Walk", through Pforzheim. The walking tour was organized for all new students wishing to get to know the city. Not only international students, but also many German students have recently moved to Pforzheim for the purpose of studying. Divided into one English-speaking and three German-speaking groups, each tour guide took off with a group for a walking tour of 2 hours.

The tour started at "Waisenhausplatz", which is located between the congress centre of Pforzheim and the "<link https: www.theater-pforzheim.de external-link-new-window external link in new>Stadttheater Pforzheim", the theatre of the city. As the German word "Waisenhaus" reveals, an orphanage used to stand on the property. All that is left over is a small wall on the ground, indicating where it was built.

The guides explained that during World War II on February 23, 1945, Pforzheim was almost completely destroyed by bombs. During the 20-minute bombing, almost 18,000 people lost their lives – at that time that accounted for one fifth of the population of Pforzheim. Today, the city has some 120,000 inhabitants.

From Waisenhausplatz, each group crossed the river Enz to move on to the “Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim”, the museum of jewellery. The students received a short guided tour through the museum, during which different jewellery from past centuries and all continents were explained. Entrance to the museum is for free for Pforzheim university students, which calls for students to come back.

After having passed two churches, the tour lead on top of “<link http: www.schloessle-galerie.de home.php external-link-new-window external link in new>Schlössle Galerie”, Pforzheim’s shopping center, from where almost the whole city can be seen. In summer, a bar opens on its roof garden. Right next to the shopping center is “<link http: www.schmuckwelten.de inhalt schmuckwelten.html external-link-new-window external link in new>Pforzheimer Schmuckwelten”, Europe’s biggest retail store for jewellery and watches. As Pforzheim used to be famous for its booming jewellery and watch production industry, it received the name “Goldstadt” (golden city), as it is still called today.