Things to do in Stuttgart

The cityscape of Stuttgart is its foremost attraction, nestled in lush hilly landscape, with numerous vineyards reaching into the city centre. Stuttgart is probably the greenest city in Germany, while the region is renowned as having the largest natural mineral water source in Europe. Essential visits within the Stuttgart area include the Altes Schloss, Stiftskirche and Carl Zeiss Planetarium.

Old Palace (Altes Schloss)

The Old Palace originates from the 10th century and nowadays, houses the Württembergisches Landesmuseum and Musical Instrument Museum. The Palace was built in the Renaissance style, and is one of the most remarkable ancient palaces in Europe, offering summer concerts and regular theatre performances. The museum presents a wide-ranging collection of art, jewels, weapons and the Crown Jewels, while the castle’s towers are well worth exploring. Behind the castle, there are four granite blocks which were shipped from Brazil to form the Memorial to the Victims of Hitler. Website: www.landesmuseum-stuttgart.de.

Stiftskirche

Situated at Stiftsstrasse 12 and also known as the Collegiate Church, Stiftskirche dates back to the 12th century, and is considered a landmark of the Old City. The current building was originally constructed in the 14th century, but the nave was destroyed during WWII, in 1944. However, renovations were completed in the 1950s and further archaeological findings from the 10th century were uncovered. Inside, visitors can enjoy artworks that date from the 13th century.

Wilhelma Zoo

A more recent addition to Stuttgart, the zoo receives almost two million visitors annually. Germany’s largest zoological and botanical gardens can be explored on foot, with more than 10,000 animals and over a 1,000 different species. Also on-site are the Moorish Gardens, once part of King Wilhelm I’s Alhambra complex, and features include the Amazon, Greenhouses, a gibbon sanctuary and a restaurant. Phone: +49 711 5402 0; website: www.wilhelma.de/.

Carl Zeiss Planetarium

Willy Brandt strasse is a leading attraction, sporting the country’s most advanced planetarium technology, the Universarium, with an avant-garde projector. Visitors can enjoy an unforgettable show at the planetarium and view stars and constellations never seen from Europe. For example, the Southern Cross, the midnight sun in the Antarctic and an eclipse of the moon in Australia. Phone: +49 71 82 42 84.

Schloplatz

This is the crossroads of the city for meeting, relaxing and people-watching. By-passers can enjoy concerts, juggling, street-performers or just relax and feel the pulse of the city. The Jubilee Column was given to Wilhelm I in 1841, and crowned with the Concordia statue in 1863. This area is also one of the main big-screen locations for football games.

Bohnenviertel

Also known as the Bean Quarter, this is the oldest part of the city, dating back to the 14th century, when the town’s winegrowers, craftsmen and Jews populated the area. The district had a notorious reputation as a red light district, but extensive renovations have led to the establishment of stylish boutiques, wine bars and hotels along the cobbled streets; though a trace of the former notoriety is still in evidence along the southern alleyways.

Towers

The city’s towers are located throughout Stuttgart, enabling visitors to enjoy panoramic vistas of the city’s streets and surrounding countryside. Fernsehturm (TV Tower) on Jahnstrasse offers a panoramic café located nearly 150 metres high, and on clear days, views of the distant Swiss and Austrian Alps can be had, along with great coffee. Other viewpoints include the Hauptbahnhof Tower Café and Killesbergturm in Höhenpark. This tower is built on one of the city’s surrounding hills and offers remarkable views of the region. Website: www.fernsehturm-stuttgart.com.

Museums

There are museums abound in Stuttgart, with Staatsgalerie on Konrad Adenauer strasse being one of the city’s most noted art galleries, though the building itself remains the real attraction for many. Designed in the 1980s, the combination of classical and modern elements creates a remarkable fusion of styles. The 15 galleries of the Neue Staatsgalerie are a post-modern tour de force, and house the famed Steegmann Collection as well as works by Picasso, Giacometti and Klee.

Art aficionados will also enjoy the KunstNächte (Art Nights), when select museums and galleries remain open until midnight, on the first Saturday of every month. While those interested in alternative art, are recommended to visit the KunstMuseum, which offers an eclectic array of modern art.

The Weinbaumuseum, which presents a history of the region’s winegrowing, offers wine-tasting during the tour. The Mercedes-Benz Museum on Mercedesstrasse is also popular (tel: +49 7111722578). There are over 100 vehicles on display, and the tour relates the history of the legendary partnership between Daimler and Benz. Meanwhile, visitors interested in natural history should include the Schloss Rosenstein Museum on their itinerary, where natural habitats illustrate the entire history of evolution.