Ludwigshafen am Rhein is just across the river from Mannheim, and it's evident that these cities have a good chemistry. For it is home to the chemical industry! Ludwigshafen (Ludwig's Harbor) on the Rhine is a young city with a mixed past, having belonged to Bavaria, Baden and Palatine in its time. First established as a landing stage for ships in 1811, it was given to the kingdom of Bavaria in 1815 after the Congress of Vienna and was promptly renamed Ludwigshafen in honour of King Ludwig I of Bavaria. The most famous son of this city is Ernst Bloch, one of the great German left-wing philosophers of the 20th century, and the former German right-wing chancellor Helmut Kohl.
Today, Ludwigshafen am Rhein is known for being the home of BASF, the world’s largest chemicals company, and for far more. It has become an easy-going city with a passion for the arts, especially modern arts. The oldest district of the city, Hemshof is evidence of this. Admire the larger-than-life mosaic adorning the exterior facade of the Wilhelm-Hack- Museum opened in 1979. The building itself was created by Joan Miró and includes a vast collection of masters such as Kandinsky, Roy Lichtenstein, and Andy Warhol. It was the result of a donation from businessman Wilhelm Hack of his vast private art collection to the city. Enjoy a stroll on Ludwig's Square and soak up the atmosphere of this young and friendly city.