With approximately 30,000 inhabitants, Karlsruhe-Durlach is the most populous district of Karlsruhe. Durlach residents colloquially refer to themselves as Dorlachers or Letschebachers. Durlach was first mentioned and designated as a town in 1196. In the 13th century, Hohenberg Castle was destroyed by Conrad III of Lichtenberg, Bishop of Strasbourg, and was never rebuilt. After the Thirty Years' War, King Louis XIV completely destroyed the town of Durlach, except for a handful of residential buildings. The town fared no better in the following years. Looting and destruction plagued the defenseless Durlach residents until the end of the war in 1697. Karlsruhe-Durlach was an independent town and the residence of the Margraviate of Baden-Durlach from 1565 to 1718. Around 1715, the new residence of Karlsruhe was founded, into which Durlach was forcibly incorporated in 1938. The district lies on the edge of the Pfinz Valley and to the east of the city of Karlsruhe. The Durlach Turmberg is the district's landmark and one of Karlsruhe's many attractions. It was built in the eleventh century by the Counts of Hohenberg and expanded in the twelfth century. Despite the express vote of the Durlach residents in 1938, they were incorporated into Karlsruhe, but it was agreed that all authorities and offices would continue to operate from Durlach. For this reason, Karlsruhe-Durlach remains – even today – the only district in Karlsruhe with its own tax office and district court. Fifty years later, Durlach also received its own local assembly and council. Guggelensberg, Lerchenberg, and Geigersberg border the Turmberg to the south, which are foothills of the Black Forest. Each of these hills still belongs to Karlsruhe-
Durlach and is known as a residential and residential area of ​​Karlsruhe. Durlach is directly connected to the German Autobahn via the A5 and is also easily accessible via the B10 and B3. Durlach also has the Karlsruhe-Durlach train station, which is the second-largest interchange point in Karlsruhe. The station is accessible via the Karlsruhe Stadtbahn (city rail), the RheinNeckar S-Bahn (commuter rail), regional trains, and some long-distance trains. Karlsruhe city center is also easily accessible by tram.