Stuttgart

Home / Places / Stuttgart

Stuttgart

in Places

 

Stuttgart: The one for the Cars and Heritages

Magnificence would be an understatement when one begins to describe the German city of Stuttgart. There are so many things to see and understand, take for instance the – architectural marvels, immense cultural diversity and festivities bound by traditional integrity.

The city of Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg. The city is a delightful place to visit and offers its visitors with the true German way of living along with everything else that is worth of a large, metropolitan city. It has some of the most beautiful parks, wooded areas, and complexes of historically significant buildings. All in all, it is rightly referred to as the “paradise of Swabia”.

In addition to all its offerings, the city at its very core has always maintained a higher standard of living for its residents. Moreover, the people of the city are true embodiments of the legendary German hospitality.

As far as the highlights of the city are concerned, the top 5 places to visit include: the Mercedes-Benz Museum – it is truly the one great attraction of Stuttgart; the Porsche Museum – automobile lovers have another treat to devour visually and this time it is the Porsche Museum. All those who love cars not just for their physical attributes, but for the sheer historicity and passion, they should definitely head over to this museum; the Burial chapel Württemberg – it is popularly known as the romantic burial chapel or the Grabkapelle which was erected by King Wilhelm I; the Wilhelma – it is a unique botanical zoo; the Stuttgart State Gallery – it is Germany’s foremost art museums.

About the city

The rest of Germany holds a somewhat stereotypical opinion of Stuttgart and its people. Residents of the city have often been compared with hooligans who go speeding on the Autobahn, they are also known to present sly like qualities among other things. All of this indeed seems slightly strange but surely they might have their reasons. As far as you, the visitor is concerned the best information is always the one which you yourself experience.

As far as what the real city of Stuttgart is, there is a lesser amount of ambiguity indeed. It is like any other growing city with its own share of affluence and hardworking individuals. The city also has its very own and special vineyards and its unique brews are a matter of pride and renowned globally. Residents of the region also associate a certain kind of piety with respect to the city and its surroundings. Stuttgart is honest and does not lie about any of its realities.

What’s more…?

To further introduce this charming city, Stuttgart, it is important to understand the regional charm that Germany is so proud of. It is centrally located in one of the largest wine-growing regions of Germany. Stuttgart is a vibrant metropolis in every respect. Visitors come here from all around the world. It is also the capital city of Baden-Württemberg and a swell of a delight to its tourists. This is not only due to its virtuous magnificent panorama that it offers but also the much more culturally bound and impressive gardens, its city squares, glorious palaces, and numerous old and modern buildings.

The region of Stuttgart itself carries an interesting geological structure. It is shaped in the form of a basin-shaped valley. It then goes on to open up right in the Neckar. There are mountainous terrains that are dominated by vineyards and forests. The eastern and the southern sections of the region are dominated by conurbations. On the other hand, in the west and the northern sides fertile plains dominate the landscape.

Origins of the city go back as far as the 10th century. As far as the region itself is concerned, it was populated even before the Roman first came into the region. In the year 1219, Hermann V. von Baden gave Stuttgart its status of a city. Furthermore, slowly and steadily the importance of Stuttgart also grew and then in the 15th century it became the seat of the Duke. The city reached its heights in 1806 when it became the capital of the Kingdom Württemberg.

Today Stuttgart has turned into a major hub of politics and culture within the region of Baden-Württemberg. In addition to that, it has also transformed itself into a major industrial centre. Likewise in the same regard, the city provides with immense scopes for trade and commerce in the form of trade fairs and finance. One of the curators of the industrial prowess of the city and a big draw for visitors is the magnanimous Mercedes-Benz World and as well as the beautiful Porsche-Museum. Both of these centres are like heavens for car lovers and indeed millions of people flock to the city just to witness the historiography of the automobile industry.

Alongside these modern, industrial marvels there are many traditional festivals that are equally enjoyed by the numerous tourists. The city is at all times open for all those who want to celebrate life and German culture.

Depending upon the month of your visit, the following information can be extremely crucial and therefore must be on top of the “Things to Do” list:

  • January: The weather in Germany and across Europe is dominated by heavy snowfall and bone-chilling winds. Hence, you must carry a heavy stock of woollens and umbrellas. In this month the region of Stuttgart on an average receives a rainfall of about 92.4 mm and the maximum temperature scales as high as 11.6 degree Celsius. On the other hand the minimum averages at 1.1 degree Celsius.
  • February: The weather remains almost the same as it was in January however towards the end of the month it calms down. In any case, the minimum temperature just manages to increase by a single degree as opposed to the previous month. The maximum temperature also increases and averages at 14.3 degrees Celsius.
  • March: Pleasant weather begins to ascend over Stuttgart by the time the third month of the year comes through. The winds still remain quite chilly with frequent rainfall. The average maximum and minimum reach as high as – 18.8 and 6.7 degree Celsius respectively.
  • April: The weather is still colder when April comes about but one can observe local German nationals shedding their heavy woollens and moving to the lighter options. In this month the maximum temperature reaches as high as 23.8 degree Celsius and the minimum is at a pleasant 11.4 degree Celsius. April is also like the wettest month of the wettest month of the year.
  • May: Even though the weather is pleasant you will be required to carry lighter woollens and an umbrella. The maximum temperature in the month of May reaches 27.9 degree Celsius whereas the minimum remains at 16.4 degrees and the precipitation rate is pegged at 112.4 mm.
  • June: The weather remains beautiful but you could carry light woollen clothes and an umbrella. The maximum temperature around this time averages at 33.8 degree Celsius and the minimum remains averages at 22.7 degree Celsius.
  • August: The month of August provides you with the best weather which is suitable for people from all regions of the world. Maximum temperature is about 34.1 degree Celsius and the minimum temperature averages at 22.1 degree Celsius.
  • September: Similar to August, September also offers the most amazing weather. On an average the maximum temperature remains at 30.2 degree Celsius and the minimum reaches at 17.9 degree Celsius.
  • October: The weather remains pleasant but the temperature begins to drop at around this time. The maximum temperature drops to about 24.6 degree Celsius and the minimum on the other hand goes down even further at 12 degree Celsius. Rain fall increases slightly at 105 mm.
  • November: Weather gets colder and tourists are required to carry heavy woollens. The maximum temperature reaches 17.4 degree Celsius and the minimum goes down to 6.3 degree Celsius. The rate of precipitation also increases and reaches 121.6 mm therefore do carry an umbrella.
  • December: The weather gets much colder and you are required to come equipped with heavy woollens and an umbrella. The maximum temperature reaches 12.5 degrees and the minimum reaches quite close to zero. The rate of precipitation remains at 118.5 mm.

Travelling to Stuttgart

Reaching the city is not all that difficult. There are many ways through which you can easily find your way right up to Stuttgart. Following is an illustration of how you can do it:

  • Air travel: The only airport of Stuttgart is located in Leinfelden-Echterdingen. You can find numerous small and budget airlines that suit your purpose here along with other airlines that connect the city of gardens with German and European cities. Booking of tickets is much easier if you are travelling from the rest of Europe than what other people say. As far as the fairs are concerned they do not differ much irrespective of the city of travel you choose to land in. Say for example, even if you land in Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg or Stuttgart, it is going to cost you nearly the same.
    Lufthansa airlines in the recent past were able to sign an agreement with the Deutsche Bahn or the German rail network. Through this particular agreement commenters are given multiple options. That is, in case of any problems with your flight, you can take a train ride from a city like Frankfurt directly to Stuttgart without indulging in to any bureaucratic processes. In the same regard, it will be more convenient if you are heading for Stuttgart CBD.

Delta Airlines is another such American airline that offers non-stop travel service from the city of Atlanta directly to Stuttgart. On the other hand, there is also American Airlines that offers a kind of codeshare service beginning from the Frankfurt Airport. This journey is then undertaken on the ICE high-speed train and it concludes at the Hauptbahnhof or the ZWS. It is also a better option because the fairs of such services are considerably cheaper than flight tickets if you are solely travelling to Frankfurt.

The train services will directly take you to the central region of Stuttgart which is any way better than being stranded on the airport itself. Now, for traveling elsewhere in Stuttgart you can take the public transport which from being much cheaper is also safe and clean. To further illustrate, on the S-Bahn line you can take the S 2 and the S 3 that will take you to the centre of Stuttgart in less than 30 minutes. For further references and clarification you must check the local train timetable. There are ticket vending machines from where you can purchase your tickets and they are placed on the airport itself. For validating the tickets you will have to go to the orange boxes that can be found on the platform. Remember, you must validate your tickets before boarding the trains. Additionally, there are many bus lines as well that you can take for travelling to other destinations.

  • Train Travel: Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof is the name of the main railway station in Stuttgart. It is centrally located therefore is also much more convenient because travelling elsewhere within the city becomes much easier. With respect to the timetables and other booking related details you will have to refer to Deutsche Bahn AG’s website.
  • Travelling by car: The city of Stuttgart is located on the upper right corner of the Stuttgarter Kreuz that is created by the intersection between the highways – A 8 and A 81. Now, if you wish to reach the central section of the city by road then simply follow the Stuttgart Zentrum sign. Also keep an eye for the surrounding suburban districts which might confuse you while you are on the road. The entire region seems to fuse together instantaneously therefore travelling on the road might get difficult. In any case you can ask the local residents, they will be obliged to assist you in any manner possible.

Now, for travelling from the central region to the outer peripheries you take any of the following – B 10 or the B 14 or the B 27. B 10 for instance will lead you in the eastern direction to the regions of Esslingen and Göppingen. The B 14 on the other hand will lead you in the south-west of Stuttgarter Kreuz, taking you further in the region of Sindelfingen and Böblingen. Finally, there is the B 27 that will take you in south of the crossing into the Tübingen and Reutlingen and also will lead you northwards to Ludwigsburg.

This clearly shows that the region is well connected with the road network, but there are certain instructions that you will be required to follow. Refer to the following list:

  • Like any other metropolitan city, the above mentioned roads also get clogged during rush hours. Therefore, you might want to avoid the subsequent time slots: in the mornings – 7:30 to 9:30 hours, and in the evenings: 16:30 to 18:30 hours.
  • Highway number A 8 that stretches between Stuttgart-Karlsruhe is highly prone to traffic jams during work hours therefore you might as well avoid it.
  • Another trouble maker is the road near Pragsattel. During rush hours it becomes a mess and will end up ruining your day.
  • Most importantly do not trust your navigation system. They can be a life saver but they can also lead you straight into jams.

Getting around in the city

The city is well connected internally with all sorts of public transportation networks. Mainly there are two – the S and the U – Bahn. If you require transport for shorter distances, in that case busses are the ideal means. On the other hand, for longer distances you can take S-Bahn, which is the fastest of all the above.

The best part about public transport system in Stuttgart and largely Germany is that the tickets are available easily, mainly though the vending machines and you can use them on a variety of systems – busses, trains or trams.

Also remember that between Sundays and Wednesdays the public transport system takes a halt at 1 am in the night. Moreover, during the weekdays the S-Bahn remains available on all the lines. There are special busses that run during the night hours and all of them begin from the centrally located Schlossplatz. Particularly on Thursdays the night busses run on the following hours – 1:20, 2:30, and 3:40. Now, if you have to catch an early plane, in that case have something prepared because during the weekends there are no connecting services in the mornings between 1 and 5.

Furthermore, if you plan on staying in the city for more than a day, in that case the best way to travel would be by taking a 3 day ticket or the 3-Tage-Ticket, as it is otherwise known. One can get hold of such a ticket from most hotels or the airport, or from the tourist information centre.

There is a speciality of the public transportation system. That is, the rack-railway located between the stations of – Stuttgart-Marienplatz and Stuttgart-Degerloch is classified as Germany’s only urban rack-railway system. In addition to all of the above, there are old cable cars as well. To access them you will have to look for the Seilbahn. It runs between the Stuttgart-Heslach to the cemetery.

Additionally, bikes and cars are easily available on rent and can solve a lot of your problems which come along public transportation. But, one must keep in mind that Stuttgart has a basin like a setting. There is approximately 250 metres worth of altitude difference when one compares the highest and the lowest parts of the city.

            What to see…?

Prior to the destruction of World War II Stuttgart was quite impressive. Just about a handful of buildings remain which date back to the interim period. However, most of the reasonably damaged buildings have been repaired and could be visited simply because of their historical significance. Among them that you must see are as follow:

  • Altes Schloss or the Old Palace,
  • Stiftsfruchtkasten, or the Collegiate Storehouse,
  • Alte Kanzlei, or the Old Chancellery,
  • Prinzenbau, or the Princes’ Building,
  • Neues Schloss, or the New Palace,
  • Solitude Schloss Solitude, or the Solitude Palace,
  • Wilhelmspalais, King William’s Palace,
  • Königsbau, or the King’s Building,
  • Markthalle, or the Market Hall,
  • Staatstheater, or the State Theater,
  • Hauptbahnhof, or the Main Railway Station,
  • Weissenhofsiedlung,
  • Weissenhofsiedlung,
  • Liederhalle, it is the Culture and Congress Centre,
  • Staatsgalerie, or the State Gallery.

Now, once you are done with exploring the architecture, you can go ahead and visit the following churches:

  • Domkirche St. Eberhard: It is the St. Eberhard’s Cathedral Church,
  • Grabkapelle Württemberg: Or the Burial chapel of Württemberg,
  • Hospitalkirche: The Hospital Church,
  • Leonhardskirche: The Church of St. Leonard,
  • Stiftskirche: The Collegiate Church. It was built in the year 1175 and then restoration work was conducted between 1999 to 2003,
  • Veitskapelle: The Chapel of St. Vitus,
  • Catherine’s Church, Stuttgart: It is the city’s only Anglican Church,

Among the gardens, the following must be visited for all their natural beauty and human craftsmanship.

  • Das Grüne U,
  • Akademiegarten, or the Academy Garden,
  • Schlossgarten, or the Palace Garden,

The city also plays host to numerous festivals. Refer to the following list to have an idea and if you happen to be in town make it a point to visit.

  • Huge wine festival: Celebrated along the early 10 days of September, one can enter this wine festival free of charge.
  • Huge Christmas Market: The Weihnachtsmarkt is one of the most amazing Christmas markets of the town and can be visited during the month of December.
  • Huge fun fair: Also otherwise known as the Volkfest, it takes place in late September and parts of early October. It is also known to be the second largest of its kind in the whole world. The experience at the Volkfest is said to be far more pleasing than the Oktoberfest.
  • Festival of Animated Film: It is known as the Internationales Trickfilmfestival in Germany and is observed each year either in the month of April or May.
  • Long Night of the Museums: The Lange Nacht der Museen is solely dedicated to astronomical observations and can be a life changing experience for some.
  • Stuttgart Jazz Open: This festival takes place in the month of July and lasts for about a week. The festival popularly features American, European and other international performers.
  • Hamburg Fish Market: It is a 10 day long festival that features some of the most exquisite seafood, beer, and famous vendors from the northern port city of Hamburg. This fish market is organised in mid-July and there are no entry charges.
  • Bohnenviertelfest: The Bean Quarter Festival is popular for its downtown street music. It is organised in mid-July and features some of the best in music, food, and drinks.
  • Stuttgart Summer Festival: The Sommerfest takes place in early August and is centred on music, food and drinks.

If museums are what you like then the following list should be considered while you are in Stuttgart, Germany.

  • The Mercedes-Benz Museum or the Mercedesstraße has to be on top of any such list. It can easily be reached by using the S-Bahn, all you have to do is get down on the Neckarpark.
  • Porsche Museum or the Porscheplatz is another such museum that curates the history of Porche. It can be reached easily through the S-Bahn.
  • Neue Staatsgalerie or the Modern Art State Gallery is located on Staatsgalerie Stuttgart, Konrad-Adenauer-Str. In this museum building you will find two exhibitions – Alte Staatsgalerie which date back to the period between 1500 and 1900; and the Neue Staatsgalerie which houses Modern art pieces. If you want to enter these exhibitions make sure it is either a Wednesday or a Saturday, this is simply ecause you get to visit them for free on these days.
  • Kunstmuseum or the Contemporary Arts Museum is another interesting place to visit and it is located in Kleiner Schlossplatz.
  • Württembergisches Landesmuseum or the Historical art museum is located near Altes Schloss, Schillerplatz.
  • Ethnological museum it is located in Lindenmuseum, Hegelplatz and features a one of a kind collection of masks. These artefacts have been sourced from the Pacific.
  • Musikinstrumentenmuseum or the Musical instruments museum is one that is located near the Stiftskirche in the Fruchtkasten. It is centrally situated in the city.
  • Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde or the Natural History Museum features two exhibitions – one of which deals with biology and evolution, whereas the second one deals with palaeontology and archaeology.

Stuttgart like most other German cities is quite well connected with its adjacent regions at the same time with the whole world. Moreover, there are also nearby places that offer scope and options for all sorts of adventures.

In the same regard one must keep in mind at days during winters are quite short and by the time it is 4 or 5 in the evening it begins to get dark. With whatever time you have in hand, the best of the places that can be visited are – Neuschwanstein, Salzburg, Innsbruck or Zurich. Though, a greater amount of your time will just be spent travelling in the train. Precisely because of this reason one could rent a vehicle and visit the Hohenzollern and Lichtenstein Castles.

If you have literary interests then you must take some time off your schedule and visit Marbach, the birthplace of Schiller, a famous German poet. On the other hand, if astronomy is what you fancy then you ought to visit the birthplace of Kepler, Weil der Stadt. Moreover, Schorndorf is another place which one can find of interest if automobile is what one fancies, it is the birth place of Daimler. All these three locations have dedicated museums to these personalities.