| Population: |
100,000 |
| Federal State: |
Rheinland-Pfalz |
| Airports: |
Frankfurt Rhein-Main Airport |
| Origins: |
The Royal Court of Lutra was first mentioned in an official document dating back to around 830. The conferment of market
rights by Emperor Otto III in 985 and the construction of an imperial palace by Emperor Frederick I (Barbarossa) in 1152 heralded
significant changes in the development of the village of Lutra. After the end of Napoleonic rule, the city and the entire
Palatinate became a province of Bavaria. Midway through the 19th Century, the Fruchthalle was built, where the post-revolution
government of the Palatinate assembled in 1849. Kaiserslautern has since developed into an attractive and modern city. |
| Football Clubs: |
FC Kaiserslautern (Bundesliga) |
Kaiserslautern is a "city in the woods" in the midst of the Palatinate Forest, one of Germany's largest forest areas. Kaiserslautern
is also a city with a long history. Traces of the city's past can be found all over the historic town centre. Count Palatinate
Johan Casimir erected a renaissance castle here in 1571.
Construction of the foundation church commenced in the second half of the 13th century. St. Martin's Church was built by
the Franciscans at the beginning of the 14th century. But the cultural history of the city extends back to the fifth millennium
B.C. The historical origin of today's city is assumed to have been in the 4th century AD. The earliest available documented
indication of the city's existence is from around 830, and the first document mentioning it dates from 882.
Emperor Otto III granted Kaiserslautern the right to hold markets in 985, and in 1152 Emperor Barbarossa had the imperial
palace (Kaiserpfalz) named after him erected there. In 1848 the city was connected to the railway system. This marked the
beginning of its ascent as a centre of industry (textiles, ironworking and machine construction). After World War II the Americans
used Kaiserslautern and the surrounding region as a major military base. Even today, more than 40,000 U.S. soldiers and their
families are stationed here, making the military community of Kaiserslautern, which extends to Ramstein airbase, the largest
U.S. forces military base outside of the United States.
Kaiserslautern is a football city. Its team, 1. FC Kaiserslautern, has made the city famous throughout Europe - and not
just in recent years with its successes under coach Otto Rehhagel who brought the "Red Devils" back into the Bundesliga just
after they had been relegated in 1996 and led them to victory as German Champions in 1998. The team from the Betzenbergstadion
had already won the championship in 1991, and were German Cup winners in 1990 and 1996.
And then there are the unforgettable achievements of the 1950's with Fritz and Ottmar Walter, when the Kaiserslautern team
formed the backbone of Germany's 1954 World Cup winning team with five players. The club was German Champion in 1951 and 1953.
30,000 registered members in more than 100 sports clubs are a clear indication that sport is very much alive here. There are
40 club-owned sports facilities with 70 pitches and 56 sports, gymnastics and multi-purpose centres. The centre of sporting
life is the ultra-modern Fritz-Walter-Stadion, formerly the Betzenbergstadion.
Major Events at the Kaiserslautern
Fritz-Walter-Stadion
- International football matches
- Final of the European Women´s Football Cup 1995
- Home of the Bundesliga club 1. FC Kaiserslautern with European Cup and Champions League matches
