Baedeker Baedeker Verlag Karl Baedeker, founded by Karl Baedeker on July 1, 1827, is a German publisher and pioneer in the business of worldwide travel guides. The guides, often referred to simply as "Baedekers" (a term sometimes used to refer to similar works from other publishers, or travel guides in general), contain, among other things, maps and introductions; information about routes and travel facilities; and descriptions of noteworthy buildings, sights, attractions and museums, written by specialists. 1827−1859: Karl Baedeker (see article) had three sons, Ernst, Karl and Fritz and after his death each, in turn, dictated by events, took over the
Karl Baedeker Karl Baedeker Karl Ludwig Johannes Baedeker (; ; 3 November 1801 – 4 October 1859) was a German publisher whose company, Baedeker, set the standard for authoritative guidebooks for tourists. Karl Baedeker was descended from a long line of printers, booksellers and publishers. He was the eldest of ten children of Gottschalk Diederich Bädeker (1778–1841), who had inherited the publishing house founded by his own father, Zacharias Gerhard Bädeker (1750–1800). The company also published the local newspaper, the "Essendische Zeitung", and the family expected that Karl, too, would eventually join the firm. Karl changed the spelling of the family name