Curators Route

Most early ICE trains from Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris,  Brussels or Vienna will have you arriving in Pforzheim by 2 pm, assuming there are no delays. Be sure to reserve your seat ahead of time, as trains tend to fill up quickly during the summer season. The ICE trains are equipped with WiFi and typically feature an onboard bar. We recommend arranging lunch before departure. During your journey, immerse yourself in the ambiance of Black Forest spa culture by listening to recordings from the inaugural edition of the World Hope Forum Germany, which presented various perspectives and alternatives for rejuvenating the body and mind. We recommend a brief visit to the ZKM Center for Art and Media. Regional train services, which do not require reservations, run from Karlsruhe to Pforzheim.

Hotel Europa is modest but conveniently located right behind Pforzheim’s main train station (a more comfortable option would be the Parkhotel Pforzheim). If you're craving authentic German bread, head to Bäckerei Emmerich Toifl across the street to quench your hunger. No time to waste! Juwelier Leicht, located near Hotel Europa, is hosting a series of tasting events called "Shelving Seasons." This new work by artist Suzanne Bernhardt and designer Philipp Kolmann addresses the challenges of our consumption cycle in a seductive way. A new black forest inspired cocktail aims to reimagine regional traditions for discerning cosmopolitan tastes. Please note: entry is limited to groups of ten and occurs every half and full hour, with tastings lasting twenty minutes.

Continue your exploration at the Reuchlinhaus. On the lower level, you'll find the thematic exhibition "Inhalatorium," exploring the concept of sharing air and featuring works by artist Yvonne Dröge Wendel and philosopher Makan Fofana with curator Yasemin Keskintepe. The second thematic exhibition, "Solartal," is located in and around the courtyard. Relax in the shade-rich sun salon created for La Biosthétique by buro Belén. Purchase a home-sized sundial with the typeface of Charlotte Rohde produced regionally. Explore dental jewelry by designer Nanna Doll. Admire the textile centerpiece by designersMeyers & Fügmann in collaboration with the Nähcafe, a gathering place for migrant women. And lastly, don't miss the collaboration between the Geomancy Group and Mo Langmuir & Strl_. This interesting architecture is home to the largest Kunstverein (art association) in the region and the only museum in Europe devoted to collecting and presenting jewellery. Both institutions responded to Ornamenta's programme with self-curated exhibitions.

Recharge with very tasty Venezuelan Arepas at Vivarepas (make sure you call in advance to secure a table). Feel like catching a movie after dinner? Head to the Kommunales Kino, close to your hotel or check out the film programme of the Open Air Cinema at Kulturhaus Osterfeld. Check online beforehand to see if the movie has been dubbed in German or subtitled. Alternatively, grab a cocktail at Cafe Roland, situated at A.K.T., a former staircase of a school that's been transformed into an exhibition space and a hangout spot for Pforzheim's cultural scene, or smoke a Shisha pipe at Elemenz, the oldest hookah bar in town.

Skip breakfast and head directly to the Enz riverbanks, situated opposite the EMMA Creative Centre. Here you'll find a bronze sculpture overlooking the waterfront. The creature, crafted by Brynjar Sigurðarson and Veronika Sedlmair, incorporates a sprinkler system developed by Kärcher, designed to produce a rainbow arch over the river. Check the smartphone app for real-time updates on the optimal weather conditions required to spot a rainbow. Afterwards, treat yourself to the breakfast buffet at the Parkhotel. With an abundance of options, you'll feel fully satisfied until well past lunchtime. Plus, you might have the chance to share an egg with some of Pforzheim's high society members.

From Pforzheim’s train station, there are regular trains every fifteen minutes to Mühlacker, and the journey takes, on average, a little more than ten minutes. Once you arrive, make a brief stop at Charlotte Steinke Optik, a boutique frozen in time specializing in eyewear and clocks, now run by its second-generation daughter. On your way, read the time on a new sundial by typeface designer Charlotte Rohde in collaboration with the local clock tower firm from Calw named Perrot. Get ready for a ten-minute walk to the Ziegelgarten, where Spazio Cura transformed demolition site fragments into a central meeting place for the visitors of the Ornamenta and new residents of the area. Head back to Pforzheim Hbf afterwards.

Bus line 5 (heading to Hochschule/Wildpark) takes you from the main train station to the Zum Eros group show in the Wildlife Park. The exhibition delves into unconventional relationships and commences with work by Pforzheim University transportation design alumni Julius Schuster and Tim Winterhalter. Explore a new chapel by Diane Hillebrand, Tatjana Stürmer, and Philipp Schüller, who integrate products from the regional chain company BINDER egf and formal menswear brand Digel. Don't miss the other works at the open-air exhibit showcasing works by Suzanne Bernhardt & Philipp Kolmann, Q-Prints & Service gGmbH presenting Céline Baumann, along with contributions from Pforzheim University professor Christine Lüdeke and Salt Istanbul Director Deniz Ova. Head back to the train station and catch the S-Bahn in the direction of Bad Wildbad.

Get off at S-Bahn station Sandweg, where not far from there, you'll find the Schmutzige Ecke group show hosted in the Matthäuskirche. This architectural gem was reconstructed after the war using debris from demolished buildings. This venue alone is worth a visit. At the church find works by designers ThusThat, Henrirëtte Waal, Moreno Schweikle, Anthea Oestreicher and Jan Schulz. Continue your journey on the same line to the final destination. Upon arrival at Bad Wildbad, check into Hotel Bergfrieden and visit the last exhibition of the day: Bad Databrunn, hosted in a former thermal spa with works by Wiktoria Wojciechowska and David Feulner, Pforzheim Goldsmith and Watchmaking School with WaterSchool Rotterdam.

A stay at the Bergfrieden Hotel in Bad Wildbad includes complimentary access to the Vital Therme, which offers a modernist pool and sauna area. Make the most of your time with an afternoon swim and sauna visit. Afterwards, be sure to have a reservation at Zur Alten Mühle, easily accessible by S-Bahn. This trout restaurant and fish farm offers freshwater fish prepared in various ways. Go for the Forelle Blau (cooked trout in broth) paired with a glass of Sekt or Champagne. Visiting during a full moon? The Baumwipfelpfad attraction located up the hill in Bad Wildbad offers a midnight moon walk, providing a strong yet simple experience. However, reaching there without a car may take some time.

After breakfast, take a stroll through the Kurpark before returning to Pforzheim. Once there, switch to the Kulturbahn at Pforzheim Hbf station and head into the Nagold Valley for fresher air. The first stop on this route is Monbach-Neuhausen. Go for forest bathing after breakfast and explore the most picturesque valley in the area: Monbachtal. Walk for about thirty minutes and return the same way to the train station.

The second stop is Calw, where you can enjoy the full Ornamenta Lust program and capture a photo in front of one of the charming Fachwerkhaus. From Calw ZOB, find a cab to the healing cave of Neubulach, where philosopher Makan Fofana and curator Yasemin Keskintepe collaborated on an audio play to accompany the breathing exercises in the cave. Return to the train line and proceed to your final ORNAMENTA 2024 destination, Nagold. At this prosperous town, discover the Aphrodisiac Garden, developed by Céline Baumann with Q-Prints & Service gGmbH and the German Naturopathy Association.

Travel from Karlsruhe to Baden-Baden to visit attractions such as Kunsthalle Baden-Baden, Museum Frieder Burda, Friedrichsbad, and Casino Baden-Baden.