Ludwigshafen, Germany

Capital City

With a population of just 176,110, Ludwigshafen is an industrial workhorse, not a quaint German idyll. The city's rapid growth has brought problems - its postwar buildings are in constant need of maintenance, and the bureaucracy is a persistent headache. While the chemical giant BASF provides steady employment, the occasional industrial disaster, like the deadly Oppau explosion of 1921, is a reminder of the risks. Ludwigshafen is a functional, if unglamorous, place best suited for those drawn to its affordable real estate and reliable, if uninspiring, job opportunities.