Stuttgart – Capital of Baden-Wuerttemberg
People from 180 nations live in the capital of Baden-Württemberg. Multicultural like its inhabitants are also the attractions the city has to offer. Stuttgart lures with a Mediterranean flair: marvellous parks, baroque buildings and life that happens outdoors, and that not only in summer. The city features many events, from the Cannstatter Wasen, to musicals, opera and ballet, from rock concerts to football.
Vineyards and woodlands border the city which is embedded in gentle hills. The castle square in the heart of the town is one of the nicest in Europe. Four cultural-historically important buildings rise around it: the old castle with the Württemberg Land Museum, the Museum of Art, art buildings as well as the new castle. Surrounded by the wonderful parks which are very close to the pedestrian zone, one can in summer relax in the castle‘s square after a shopping tour or in winter take a walk over the Christmas fair.
The architectural beginnings of the old castle go back till the year AD 1000. Today it accommodates one of the most important art and cultural historical collections in Europe. In the “Fruchtkasten” at the Schiller square, which is only a few steps away, you can see a collection of historical music instruments.
Castle Solitude, the former summer residence of Duke Carl Eugene, was built between 1764 and 1775. Lying in the west of Stuttgart on top of a wooded hill, it offers an extraordinary view. The interior and some pieces of furniture of its eleven rooms are still the original. Rococo meets Classicism, something natural in the upheaval phase when pieces of different styles were placed side by side. This popular destination has also a restaurant and accommodates today an academy of young artists.
TIP: Wilhelma is not only a zoo but the most popular attraction in the capital. More than two million visitors yearly visit animal and plant houses as well as an extensive open air area. The castle grounds with zoological and botanical garden were created in 1846 in the suburbs of Stuttgart, called Bad Cannstadt. On approx. 30 hectares live about 9000 animals from all over the world. With more than 1,000 species it is the second richest zoo in Germany regarding biodiversity. The wonderfully covered walkways connect numerous houses and make a visit to the zoo even in bad weather a very lovely experience.
For further information: http://www.stuttgart.de/en/
Photo: tichr/Shutterstock
