Charmingly situated in the heart of one of Germany's largest wine-growing regions, this vibrant metropolis fascinates visitors from all over the world. The state capital of Baden-Württemberg delights tourists not only by virtue of its magnificent panorama, its impressive gardens and parks, its fine squares, splendid palaces and buildings in a wide range of architectural styles, but also by its cultural diversity.
Art plays a prominent role in StuttgART: heading the list is Stuttgart State Gallery, whose top-class art collection makes it one of Europe's most popular art museums. The classical architecture of the old building houses outstanding paintings from various eras from Gothic to Romantic. The adjoining New State Gallery, the postmodern masterpiece designed by the famous British star architect James Stirling, presents works of Classic Modernism, from Expressionism through to Picasso's later oeuvre, as well as contemporary art.
A further temple of arts is Stuttgarts Museum of Art, a filigree glass cube that floats above the Königstrasse by night like a light sculpture. It invites visitors to view the municipal art collection on an exhibition area of approx. 5000 sq.m. Its highlight is the largest public collection – over 300 paintings, drawings and graphics – of the works of Otto Dix, one of the leading representatives of the Neue Sachlichkeit (New Objectivity) movement.
Another big draw for visitors to Stuttgart is the sensational Mercedes-Benz World, which opened in May 2006. On a total area of approx. 17.000 sq.m. spread over 9 levels, the New Mercedes-Benz Museum shows around 160 vehicles on permanent display, including not only the earliest models – such as the Gottlieb Daimler Motor Carriage and the Karl Benz patent Motor Car, both dating from the year 1886 – but also the latest series production vehicles. One particularly impressive exhibit is the fully armour-plated luxury limousine formerly used by the Japanese emperor Hirohito. Autumn 2008 will also see the opening of another spectacular museum by Porsche, showing more than 80 serial vehicles, prototypes and racing cars.
The unique "Wilhelma", Europe's largest zoological and botanical gardens, is an enjoyable experience at any time of year. The combination of some 10.000 animals and plants and magnificent Moorish buildings set in a historical park will delight young and old alike. Also well worth a visit is the Carl Zeiss Planetarium, Europe's most modern planetarium. In addition, a host of highly interesting museums offer fascinating insights into other fields of knowledge: at the Württembergische Landesmuseum in the Old Palace you will not only find information on the history of the region but also gain an impression of life in Stone Age, Celtic and Roman times through to the present day. The Haus der Geschichte (House of History) documents the political history of southwest Germany during the past 200 years. The two state natural history museums, Museum Schloss Rosenstein and Museum am Löwentor, illustrate vividly the diversity and evolution of life forms, including long-extinct animals such as the dinosaurs of the Triassic period or the large mammals of the Ice Age. And the Linden Museum is without question one of Europe's leading museums of ethnology.
In the evening you can enjoy a performance of the famous Stuttgart Ballet or the award-winning, internationally acclaimed State Opera in the magnificent Opera House. And for theatre-lovers there is a huge range of events on offer at over 40 different venues. Stuttgart's orchestras are warmly received as musical ambassadors all over the world. The Stuttgarter Philharmoniker, the SWR Radiosinfonie Orchester, the Stuttgarter Kammerorchester and the Internationale Bachakademie are known for their impelling, top-class performances with a wonderful quality of sound and great artistic diversity.
The unique SI-Event-Centre offers a wide range of attractions. The fantastic musical 3 Musketeers is currently running and starting in novmeber “Wicked – the Witches of Oz” invite for a eventful evening. And in addition to these "musical" events, 19 theme restaurants, the Stuttgart Casino, and the Schwaben Quellen, with over 6.000 sq.m. of sauna and bathing facilities, will add to the enjoyment.
Those who appreciate the medicinal qualities of mineral spas can relax in one of the three mineral baths in Stuttgart's Bad Cannstatt district. Each day 22 million litres of invigorating mineral water gush from 19 springs – a natural resource which on this scale is unique in Western Europe.
Stuttgart's traditional festivals also enjoy world-wide popularity: the great Stuttgart Spring Festival, the elegant Summer Festival whose white pavilions, countless fairy lights and lanterns make it one of Germany's most delightful city festivals, and the Stuttgart Wine Village around the Old Palace, with some 120 lovingly decorated wine arbours. And at the end of September things really heat up during the 16 days of the Stuttgart Beer Festival, which originated as a harvest thanksgiving festival in 1818. Its numerous fairground attractions and the vast beer tents holding up to 5.000 visitors make it one of the world's biggest and best beer festivals. During the weeks of Advent, the Stuttgart Christmas Market opens its doors to visitors. First officially mentioned in 1692, it today enjoys a reputation as one of the largest and most attractive of its kind in Europe. Approx. 250 lovingly trimmed wooden stalls with their artistically decorated roofs tempt visitors to wander round in the nostalgic Christmas atmosphere. With its exclusive arcades, its elegant shops and attractive department stores, Stuttgart is also a shopper's paradise. And gourmets appreciate its excellent regional delicacies and exquisite, award-winning haute cuisine.
Source: Stuttgart-Marketing GmbH