He was a verderer, a professor in mechanics – and a trailblazer in the evolution of modern-day mobility. Born in 1785 in Karlsruhe, Karl Baron Drais von Sauerbronn invented the „Draisine“(dandy horse) in 1817. Now, 200 years later, the bicycle is the most used means of transport worldwide and is of central importance in the development of sustainable mobility that is fit for the future. 

A cause for celebration – especially in Karlsruhe. Since Karlsruhe is also the 2017 host of the Baden-Württemberg regional festival ('Heimattage'), the theme “home of the inventor of the bicycle” will be celebrated and explored over the coming months. During the Heimattage festival the social significance of the bicycle will be emphasized through urban cycling culture initiatives and an urban mobility network.

Under the motto “Ganz schön Drais!” (Loosely translated as “Jolly, cheeky and fabulous Drais!”) the weekend from 25 to 28 of May 2017 is the high point of the Karlsruhe bicycle anniversary celebrations. Friends of veteran cycles from all over the world meet at the IVCA Rally and bring their most beautiful and rare pieces of their collection to the hometown of Karl Drais – dressed of course in clothes typical for the time period. Further exciting races are the Penny-Farthing World Championships and the Germany Bicycle Courier National Championships. On top of this there will be bicycle polo games and many more events that approach the theme from a modern urban perspective.

The bicycle film festival CineBIKE between 2 and 3 June 2017 put the bicycle back in the spotlight. Alongside many classics, modern feature length films and several shorts show funny, moving and gripping stories about the beloved bicycle. In addition there will be a variety of exhibitions and discussion groups dedicated to Karl Drais.

Karlsruhe's nature bicycle tour (“NaturRADtour”)

Proverbially, Karlsruhe is known as the “green city”: the city is host to over 1,000 hectares of public parkland as well as numerous forest and nature reserves to be enjoyed by the public in their free time. The NaturRADtour from June 2017 onwards allows you to explore Karlsruhe in a new light: the cycling tour takes you through Karlsruhe city centre and a total of eight nature reserves, highlighting the proximity between urban and natural. You pass a number of attractions along the way, such as the Karlsruhe-Rappenwört Nature Protection Centre (“Naturschutzzentrum Karlsruhe-Rappenwört”) and the Oberwald Zoo (“Tierpark Oberwald”). The route is mostly flat and, at 42 km in length, is suitable for families. The tour starts and ends at Karlsruhe Palace.

The “father” of the bicycle came from Karlsruhe

Karl Baron Drais von Sauerbronn was born in 1785 in Karlsruhe and in 1817 invented the draisine, or dandy horse. The draisine was the first means of human transportation to move using just two wheels, one in front of the other. Drais thus invented the previously unknown two-wheel principle – which has no precedent in nature – which made fast travels across even ground possible without a horse. The first dandy horse had no rotatable means for steering, just arm rests. The second model included a hinged vertical axis connected to the front wheel, in doing so making turning possible for the first time. 

The Baden-Württemberg Heimattage 2017 in Karlsruhe

The Baden-Württemberg Heimattage 2017 are being held in Karlsruhe, the biggest city in the region. Karlsruhe plans to approach the term “Heimat” – meaning “homeland” – from a big city perspective and explore the ways in which 'Heimat' holds different meanings for people from cities and smaller towns and countryside villages. “How important is the notion of 'Heimat' nowadays?” is one of the festival's central questions.

Alongside the two major regional events, namely Baden-Württemberg Day on 6 and 7 May 2017 and the regional festival with a parade from 8 to 10 September 2017, the Heimattage have three main themes: “Heimat in transition”, “Heimat on the web” and “Heimat of the inventor of the bicycle” in the bicycle's anniversary year.

Further information can be found at www.karlsruhe-tourismus.de and www.heimattage-karlsruhe.de.