Stuttgart is the capital of Baden-Württemberg in southwestern Germany. It is a typical modern industrial city that attracts countless car enthusiasts every year. It’s not just an industrial city, but also a city of art, architecture and shopping. Stuttgart originated from the German horse racecourse. In ancient times, it was once the horse racecourse of the royal family. Now it is one of the most developed cities in Europe with the highest per capita output value. The Stuttgart Christmas Square which has more than 300 years of history is now the oldest, best and largest Christmas plaza in Europe with more than 200 booths per year. These wooden stalls at Schiller Square with chic roofs are accompanied by Aromas of fragrant wines and cinnamon plaids, which attracts the visitors.
1. Mercedes-Benz Museum
The iconic double helix of the building modeled after human DNA presents the brand’s history and classics. As the elevator goes up, the sound you hear changes from the whistle to the sound of the horseshoe. Slowly descending from the top, you will see how the car is moving toward a faster, more streamlined and more environmentally friendly direction. A brand represents an industry and is the epitome of the entire world economy.
The double helix on the museum building brings a unique visit of “two” tour routes. There are seven “legendary districts” along the first line telling the history of the Mercedes brand in chronological order. You can learn about the whole history of Mercedes-Benz from the pioneers of car manufacturing to the logo of motorsport. The second tour includes five collection showrooms to show various applications from cars to heavy commercial vehicles. In addition, you can learn about the daily work of Mercedes-Benz employees and the future of the car in the “Technology Charm” independent exhibition area.
2. Hohenzollern Castle
Hohenzollern Castle is located in the southeast of the town of Hechingen that is 64 km from Stuttgart. The castle is private to the Hohenzollern family that once ruled Germany but it’s open to the public. The castle was built in the 11th century and rebuilt in the 19th century. It is comparable to Neuschwanstein Castle in the scale and importance of the construction. Hohenzollern Castle is full of heroic masculinity which can represent the glorious history of the Prussian dynasty. The castle displays the relics of Frederick the Great, the treasures of King Prussia, his crown and so on. The castle is still the home to the descendants of the last Prussian emperor William II.
2. Stuttgart City Library
The Stuttgart City Library is one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. The library has a square shape with a length and width of 44 meters and a height of 40 meters. It covers an area of 11,000 square meters. The light at night is blue and the library looks like a huge and complex Rubik’s cube of two colors. The library was designed by a German Korean designer. The cube structure was inspired by the Pantheon of ancient Rome. The library is very beautiful and quiet with the geometric form, clean color and pure space.
4. Porsche Museum
When you come to Porsche’s hometown, you must visit the Porsche Museum that looks like a pink building. The exhibits and photos in the museum tell people about the history of the European automotive industry, which is memorable. The assembly of the Porsche sports car is mostly done by hand. No automatic device is used throughout the assembly process. The process is carried out in groups of four or five people. They work every two hours and take a rest of ten minutes. After the completion of the six or seven steps, the inspector executes a rigorous inspection. After passing the test, it can be transferred to the next process. Porsche has a distinctive character that is a beetle-type car. The rear-mounted engine and excellent performance make it a well-known car.
5. Palace Square
The Palace Square was built in 1350 AD. It was originally the garden of the ancient palace. After repeated renovations, it is now the largest square in the center of Stuttgart. As an iconic building in the city center, there are a variety of landscapes such as fountains, concert halls and monuments in the square. Here, visitors can look out at the new Stuttgart Royal Palace of the Baroque style, the old palace of the Renaissance, the old court of the Middle Ages, the modern art museum and many other buildings. Various gatherings and festivals are held in the square such as open-air concerts, and Christmas Market and outdoor ice rinks.
6. Wilhelma Zoo and Botanical Garden
The Wilhelma Zoo and Botanical Garden is a large-scale park with more than 1,000 species of animals and more than 7,000 plants from around the world. More than 2 million visitors a year visit it and it is one of Stuttgart’s most popular attractions.
It was originally built as the summer residence of King William I of Württemberg. In 1892, people found hot springs here and the king ordered to construct the hot springs, greenhouses and gardens next to the summer palace. The designer adopted a Moorish style inspired by the Alhambra Palace in Granada. To this day, many locals have called the Wilhelma Zoo and Botanical Garden as the Alhambra Palace on the Neckar River.
7. Schiller Square
Schiller Square is named after the famous playwright Schiller whose statue stands in the middle of the square. Schiller is a poet, philosopher, historian and playwright. Schiller Square is said to be the horse breeding house of the year and it’s the real birthplace of Stuttgart, which is the only square restored exactly after the war in Stuttgart. Schiller Square is surrounded by the Old Palace, the King’s Mansion, the Abbey Church and the Museum of Musical Instruments.
8. Wurttemberg State Museum
The 13th-century castle was expanded in 1316. It’s remodeled in 1553 and 1578 in accordance with the German Renaissance architecture. The Royal Palace was built in 1562 and is the earliest church in southern Germany. The gorgeous inner court is still considered to be the most beautiful Renaissance building in Germany today and creates an extraordinary atmosphere for the opening of the annual Christmas market in Stuttgart. The Old Royal Palace has become now the Wurttemberg State Museum with a large number of meaningful collections. The exhibits range from the ancient Celtic culture to the rich collection of the royal jewels of Wurttemberg. On the bell tower in the courtyard, the deer will hit each other with a horn at the punctuality.
9. Stuttgart New Palace
The new palace is full of French style. The palace was originally a royal palace for sleeping and the central part of the palace is now the venue for state government events. There are the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Culture, and the White Hall that is one of the most beautiful indoor concert halls in Stuttgart.
10. Stuttgart Art Museum
The Stuttgart Museum of Art was opened in 2005 with a focus on the 20th century and contemporary art including the masterpieces of Otto Dix, Dieter Roth and Willy Bowmert. The museum’s exhibition focuses on the works of the Swabian Impressionist painter Adolf Holzl and his friends, as well as contemporary art from the region. The most prominent collection is the work of the German painter and printmaking Otto Dix. The museum is the place that collects the most works of Otto Dix.
During the day, visitors can enjoy the beautiful views of the city and surrounding hills along the glass veranda. In the evening, the entire building stands on the Palace Square like a charming light sculpture.
