Travel guide Stuttgart, Germany

Germany's second most expensive city

Who are you, Stuttgart?

Stuttgart is the 6th largest city in Germany, located in southern Germany, with almost 600,000 inhabitants, and is the capital of the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, but also of the historic region of Schwabenland. In Swabian, the city's name is Schduagert. A connection with Romania can also be found, if we consider that near Stuttgart, in the Black Forest Mountains, are the sources of the Danube...

Transportation to / in Stuttgart

Stuttgart is a pleasure to drive to by car on the A8 on what's called Autobahn in German or autostrada in Romanian and it looks like what such a visiting road should look like. In Germany there is no speed limit on the autobahn, only on certain stretches of road, but even if you drive on the wrong side of the road you learn the lesson - education through fines, which are paid! . The A8 connects Muenchen to Karlsruhe, with 6 exits to Stuttgart.

Another pleasure is driving in Germany by train with DB a.k.a. Deutsche Bahn - German Railways. DB is an industry in itself, a solution based on comfort, quality, punctuality and an enviable network. The Stuttgarter Hauptbahnhof (abbreviated Hbf, translated as Stuttgart main station) handles 300,000 (!) passengers a day. There are direct trains to Zuerich, Paris, Amsterdam, Prague, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Salzburg, Vienna, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Vienna.

By plane Stuttgart's airport, 20 km away, is connected to the city center by 2 S-Bahn (rapid rail) lines within minutes. 55 airlines fly to Stuttgart, including Lufthansa and German Wings.

To travel to Stuttgart you can of course call the public transporta dream, usually running around the clock. The fastest means of transportation in this category are the S-Bahn (fast train), which also reaches the cities and towns around the capital of Baden-Wuerttemberg, and the U-Bahn (underground). By the way on the return route to the airport I caught for the first time (I've been to Stuttgart about 10 times) a situation that caused the trains to be late, but it was announced over the loudspeakers at each station with details updated every few minutes. There was a consistent delay of 20 minutes generated by traffic disruption from infrastructure works. Thus the S-Bahn required 50 minutes to get from the station to the airport instead of 30. I would like to point out that even such a situation was handled with elegance and professionalism and did not generate booing, anger, uncivilized demonstrations. For the S-Bahn and U-Bahn public transport network, tickets are bought from ticket machines or season ticket machines located at stations. They are easy to use, accessible in several international languages, have clear and schematic maps and require nothing more than entering the station of arrival and departure and ... euros. There is also the StuttCard in 6 variants with different prices and validity from 1 to 3 days. This is a ticket for public transportation, which also allows free entry to all museums, discounts on city tours, free drinks and desserts, etc. The city tour can be done by guided double-decker buses.

Famous Stuttgart

Near Stuttgart, in Marbach am Neckar, the German writer was born Friedrich von Schiller. As I mentioned the Neckar, this is the name of the river that flows northeast through the city. Famous names born in Stuttgart include the philosopher Hegel and the inventor Daimler. Stuttgart is where Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach invented the motorcycle and the four-wheeled automobile. To the world, Stuttgart is birthplace of the modern automobile and the starting point of the world car industry, the city where the prototype of the famous Volkswagen Beetle was built.

211TPTP3T of Stuttgart's employees work in high-tech industries (1st place in the whole EU), which is not surprising considering that more than 4 billion (!) euros are invested here annually in research and development. Big names like Bosch, Daimler Mercedes and Volkswagen have their roots here, and Hewlett Paccard, Stihl and IBM also have roots or subsidiaries in Stuttgart. This makes Stuttgart Germany's second most expensive city after Muenchen.

Recreation. Belvedere.

Apart from the famous Wilhelma Zoo, other parks are those near castles, and a special one is the Weissenburgpark. The parks confirm Stuttgart's green city label. Another special place is Eugensplatz, which offers a superb view of the city and is considered Stuttgart's most beautiful spot.

Stuttgart Fairs

Near the airport is Stuttgarter Messe, where several international exhibition events are organized and attract thousands of visitors from all over the world. The topics on show are diverse - from technology, cooking, innovation, gardening, creativity and comedy.

Healing

Near Stuttgart, in Esslingen, is the Merkel'sche Schwimmbad, a huge thermal pool. The thermal baths here were gifted to the community by the manufacturer Merkel in 1907, and since the 100-year jubilee they shine in their ancient grandeur, with original glass, columns, fountain figurines and ceramic tiles. The pool has a maximum depth of 200 (!) meters and the thermal water temperature measures 34 degrees Celsius. Today, the old base is completed with a sports center and a wellness oasis. Other baths in the area are: Das Leuze Mineralbad with two powerful carbonated springs (3300 square meters in extent), located right in the town or Mineral Bad Cannstatt, Boeblingen and Bad Berg.

Beer and wine

Germany is the world's largest beer producer. Stuttgart is part of that picture. The local beer is Schwaben Braeu, which has several brands Das Herbe, Original and Helles Bock. Stuttgart is also one of Germany's important wine-growing areas. Here you can come in to savor the atmosphere in a Weinstube.

City Hall and citizens

It's funny that while I was writing this article, a program about models of European mayors was on TV, and more specifically a report about the institution of the mayoralty of Stuttgart! Yes, here, the mayor involves the population in city projects! How? Just like that. As an example, the way of informing the citizens of the city by inviting them to a construction site was presented. In this way they were informed about the benefits of the project for the city community, they were aware of the discomfort generated by the construction site, which would later generate advantages or benefits for the city, but they could also participate, on the construction site, in a show with music, sausages and beer. When I stayed in Stuttgart, I saw something similar, and in the Hauptbahnhof area there is an information center for citizens who can come to consult the projects and suggest their wishes. And all this without paying, which is normal German!

Route map

(click on objectives for extended version)

1. Schloßplatz (Palace Square)

Any visit to Stuttgart must start in Palace Square, center of cultural life and the hub for most of the city's attractions. Here are organized festivals, fairs and exhibitions that raise the pulse of city life. The best known is the Spring Festival, but also popular are the Christmas Fair, the Chocolate Festival, the Chocolate ART, the Beer Festival.

In Palace Square and around the square are the Statue of Christoph Wuerttemberg, Jubileaumssaeule (Jubilee Column), Neues Schloss (New Palace), Altes Schloss (Old Palace) and Stiftskirche (Stiftskirche Church). It is the most easily accessible and most visited perimeter by tourists.

Duke K. Eugen of Wuerttemberg

Jubilee Column - Palace Square

Fatana from Palace Square

2. Königsstraße, Schillerstraße

The highest concentration of Stuttgart's landmarks is in the central area of the city, where starting from the Hauptbahnhof (main railway station), along the pedestrian street Koenigsstrasse (King Street). In Stuttgart ask for Koenigsstrasse. This is a street with shopping centers on the left and right where you can go shopping in name-brand stores at prices to match, but you can also find restaurants and terraces where you can grab a bite to eat on the go or just pass by, have a wine or a beer. In the middle of the street there's a spherical fountain illuminated at night in three colors, where a duck also splashes. Further on, you pass the Catholic Skt. Eberhard dome. The street itself is a rich offer to go for a walk, a movie or a theater. On the street you meet a lot of street hawkers, non-professional ad-hoc artists earning a living, people of all nationalities, but also beggars. The police patrol discreetly, but go very firmly into action at any alert; I saw such a situation a few years ago.

Fountain on Koenigstrasse

Koenigsstrasse

3. Hauptbahnhof

Hauptbahnhof (Stuttgart Train Station) Built between 1914 and 1927, the station gave the city a new, contemporary face, giving Stuttgart's city center a classic ambience.

Hauptbahnhof - train station

4. Municipal Library

Representative for Stuttgart are also Municipal Libraryas well as the old Neue Staatsgalerie. It uses the natural slope of the land to symbolize the transition from the classical art of the Old Gallery to the modern art of the New Gallery.

5. Wilhelma

Wilhelma (botanical zoo). The famous Wilhelma was the idea of King Wilhelm I Wuerttemberg to create a park made available to visitors by royal decree in 1880. After the destruction of the park during World War II, it was restored and developed into a zoological and botanical garden.

7. Neues Schloß

Neues Schloss (New Palace) it was the residence of Duke Carl Eugen von Wuerttemberg - it is built in French rococo style and early classicism started in 1746, completed over 60 years and renovated in 1957 with modern interiors, today it houses public institutions, it is not visitable.

The Stag of the Neues Schloss

The Lion at the entrance of the New Palace

Neues Schloss - New Palace

8. Altes Schloß

Altes Schloss (Old Palace) - Most of the palace dates back to the 15th century, its style being Renaissance. The Altes Schloss was rebuilt after World War II. Today it houses a museum. It takes over an hour and a half to visit, I come back with very detailed information.

Tower of the Old Palace

Altes Schloss - Old Palace

9. Markthalle

Markthalle (Market Hall) is one of the most attractive markets in the world. Architect Martin Elsaesser built the market between 1911-1914 to replace a vegetable warehouse erected by King Wuerttemberg in 1864. During World War II, the market was destroyed and then rebuilt.

Commercial galleries and passages

10. Fernsehturm

Fernsehturm (Television Tower) Stuttgart stands at an impressive 217 meters high, located on the Bapser Hoher, has been recognized as a symbol of the city for more than 40 years. The tower was inaugurated on February 5, 1956.

Television Tower

11. Stiftskirche

Stiftskirche Church dates back to the 12th century, changed to Gothic style in the 15th century, and since 1534 it has been a Protestant church. After the Second World War the Stiftsckirche church was rebuilt - a detailed presentation follows.

Stiftskirche Church

Invitation

Visit Stuttgart, the capital of Baden-Wuerttmeberg, a city with a mixed offer of history, innovation, art. It requires, as you can probably deduce from this article, some time or a serious selection of places to visit. I will come back with details on some of the sights.

All the best!

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