Not everyone knows that Stuttgart has the second largest number of mineral water pools in Europe, with famous spa centers such as Das Leuze. Or that the world’s first automobile was built here in 1886, the work of Karl Benz, which is exhibited in the modernist Mercedes Benz Museum.
This German city, capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg, is the sixth largest in the country, with just over 600,000 inhabitants. Considered the gateway to the Black Forest (the mountainous massif in southwestern Germany), Stuttgart has a beautiful historic center, majestic palaces and charming neighborhoods such as the bohemian Bohnenviertel, known as the bean district.
Other attractions to see in Stuttgart are: the Castle Square, the pedestrian street Königstrasse, the TV Tower or the Stuttgart State Gallery.
Castle Square
One of the essential places to see in Stuttgart is the Castle Square or Schlossplatz. It is the nerve center of Stuttgart, a large esplanade with flower gardens in the center of which stands the Jubiläumssaüle, a granite column of 30 meters that was erected between 1841 and 1846.
Shlossplatz is governed by the Neues Schloss, or New Castle, a three-winged royal residence (inspired by Versailles), of baroque and neoclassical complexion, which now houses various government offices. The Castle Square is a very quiet place to lie on the lawn and have a picnic on sunny days. In this space of beautiful gardens different annual festivals are celebrated and in winter one of the most picturesque Christmas markets of Germany is mounted.
Königstrasse
Königstrasse is the most important commercial artery of Stuttgart, a 1.2 kilometers long pedestrian street where the main stores of the city are located. It starts at the Hauptbahnof train station and runs all the way to Rotebühlplatz. In addition to the numerous stores and being crowded all day long, Königstrasse has nice sunny terraces where you can sit and relax or, perhaps, taste traditional Teutonic dishes such as spätzle, an egg pasta, accompanied by schnitzel (an escalope of veal or pork) and sauerkraut.
Television tower
The Stuttgart TV Tower was the first in the world to be built in reinforced concrete, between 1954 and 1956. It rises up to 217 meters high and at 150 meters of its structure it has a nice cafeteria and restaurant from where sensational views of Stuttgart are achieved.
Mercedes Benz Museum
The inhabitants of Stuttgart are known to be fanatics of motoring; in fact, it is often said that they always drive at the speed limit. Undoubtedly, the passion for cars runs through the veins of the people of Stuttgart, since the world’s first vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine was built in this city in 1886, the work of Karl Benz, whose model was called Benz Patent-Motorwagen.
That is why one of the places to see in Stuttgart for motor lovers is the Mercedes Benz Museum. It exhibits the Benz Patent-Motorwagen and a large number of models and reproductions that the automobile industry produced throughout history, including the famous Lightning Benz, which in 1909 broke the world speed record (it reached 228 kilometers per hour).
A total of 160 vehicles spanning 120 years of history are on display in a striking futuristic building. One of the rarities is a limousine that was made for the emperor of Japan or the first armored vehicle (the Popemobile) in which Pope Paul VI traveled. The museum, which is located in the Obertürkheim district, is open from Tuesday to Sunday. Those who show up at the entrance between 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. can get a 50% discount.
Porsche Museum
Visitors to the Mercedes Benz Museum should not miss the Porsche Museum. In this building, which looks like a white flying cube about to be ejected, almost a hundred models are exhibited in a space of 5,500 square meters. One of the most notable cars is the 911 GT1 that won the Le Mans Prize in 1998.
Both Mercedes Benz and Porsche have their headquarters in Stuttgart. In the case of the Porsche Museum, visits to the factory can also be arranged, although this must be done well in advance. Touring the assembly lines of these powerful vehicles is an unforgettable experience for motor enthusiasts.
Bohnenviertel district
Bohnenviertel is the oldest area of Stuttgart, a neighborhood with cobblestone streets and bohemian air, with art galleries, jewelry shops of small artisans, antique stores, bookstores, taverns and a varied offer of bars and restaurants. Most tourists visit Bohnenviertel because here you can breathe the medieval history of the city (anchored mainly in the fourteenth century), mixed with an avant-garde side.
These streets were once the poorest in Stuttgart; in fact, this area is known as the bean quarter because its inhabitants barely fed themselves with these legumes. Today Bohnenviertel is full of houses with gardens and small parks. It is worth noting that there is also a mini red light district, which occupies only two streets of the neighborhood.
Stuttgart State Gallery
Created in the 19th century, another impressive place to see in Stuttgart is the State Gallery. It has one of the most important art collections in Germany, with transcendental works by painters such as Modigliani, Picasso, Miró, Klee, Matisse, Kandinsky and Monet.
This gallery is located in a very beautiful neoclassical building, designed by British architect James Stirling, which receives temporary exhibitions of the last 800 years of art history.
In the museum category, it is worth mentioning the Kunstmuseum, which is housed in a fantastic glass cube. This gallery is renowned for its abstract art and for exhibiting the collections of the famous Alfred Hölzel, Wili Baumeister and Otto Dix.
Rosensteinpark
The Rosensteinpark is one of the most peaceful places to see in Stuttgart. It is a gigantic English garden three kilometers long, the largest in southwest Germany, built during the 19th century. Several attractions are concentrated in this extension, such as the Museum of Natural Sciences and the Rosenstein Palace, which dates from the beginning of the 19th century.
One of the must-see corners of the park is the Wilhelma Zoological and Botanical Garden, where nearly 9,000 animals of 1,000 different species are congregated. The botanical garden’s collection of orchids and magnolias is a spectacle not to be missed. There is also a café area and a beer garden.
Stuttgart’s swimming pools
Stuttgart has a worldwide reputation as the second city in Europe with the most mineral springs (it has 19 in total). Four kilometers northwest of the center of Stuttgart is Leuze, where one of the most important spa complexes in the world, called Das Leuze Mineral Spa, is located. This place has 8 heated pools of mineral water (with very rich properties for health) and 14 saunas, in a space of 1,700 square meters.
Old Castle
Very close to the Schlossplatz square is another of the historical sites to see in Stuttgart, the Old Castle (Altes Schloss), which houses the National Museum of Württemberg. The Altes Schloss was built in the 10th century, although it suffered a serious fire in 1939 and had to be rebuilt after the bombings of World War II. This was the residence of the powerful Würtemberg family during the 14th century and nowadays it gathers in its museum several treasures of great historical importance, such as the Würtemberg crown jewels. The entrance fee is 8 euros.
Ludwigsburg Palace
Few palaces have the elegance of Ludwigsburg Palace, one of the most impressive in Germany and one of the most famous places to see in Stuttgart. Baroque and rococo in style, it was the permanent residence of the kings of Württemberg and has more than 450 rooms in 18 buildings, framed by beautiful gardens and ponds. It also houses the oldest theater in Europe and the Museum of Art, Costume and Baroque Porcelain. The entrance fee is 8 euros.
Stuttgart is undoubtedly a palatial city. In addition to the Ludwigsburg Palace and the Altes Schloss, the following must be mentioned: the New Palace Neues Schloss, the Solitude Palace, the Rosenstein Palace, the Favorite Palace and the Monrepos Palace, the latter two in Ludwigsburg. All of them were built between the 17th and 19th century.
Markthalle Market
Located in the center of Stuttgart, Markthalle is the oldest market in the city. In this art nouveau building are concentrated fifty stalls with typical products of the region and the world, from cold cuts and cheeses to wines, flowers and the famous German sausages.
On the upper floor of the market there are several restaurants that provide a glimpse of the bustling and chaotic lower floor. The present building was built in 1914 and covers an area of 5,000 meters. Historical records show that there was previously a market here as early as 1300, where merchants, artists and food vendors met.
Hohenzollern Castle
Another of the great attractions to see in Stuttgart is the Hohenzollern Castle. It is one of the most splendid in Germany and is located only 70 kilometers from Stuttgart. The castle stands majestically on the summit of Mount Hohenzollern, 855 meters above sea level.
The foundations of the castle date back to the 11th century, although most of the structure was erected during the 15th century and served as the permanent home of the Hohenzollern dynasty. Inside you can visit the old furniture and, among other objects of great historical value, discover the precious crown of Wilhelm II, also known as the Hohenzollern Crown.
