Stuttgart Travel Guide

Palace Square (Schlossplatz)

The symbolic heart of Stuttgart, the Schlossplatz or Palace Square, is a popular meeting point for locals and travelers alike, the beautifully baroque New Palace providing a majestic backdrop. The former residence of kings, the New Palace was built between 1746 and 1806 and is now a base for the state government of Baden- Wurttemberg. If the New Palace feels a bit French it's because the Duke Carl Eugen of Wurttembergwanted to create a Versailles in Stuttgart. The König Wilhelm Jubilee Column, rising in the fore, was erected in 1841 in honor of King Wilhelm's silver jubilee (25 years of reign), and the statue of Concordia, the Roman goddess of harmony at the pinnacle, added in 1863. The two fountains were built at the same time, the eight cherubs each representing one of Württemberg's rivers.

Old and New State Gallery

Built between 1838 and 1843 under King Wilhelm I of Wuerttemberg, the Old State Gallery features a presitigous range of paintings, drawings, sculptures, watercolors and prints from the 14th to the 19th centuries, with Jerg Ratgeb, Canaletto, Memling and Rembrandt taking center stage. Connected to the Old State Gallery on the same level is the New State Gallery, dedicated to the art of the 20th century. Looking at important schools within various art movements like the Fauvism, German Expressionism, Die Brucke and Cubism, works by masters such as Picasso, Beckmann, Schlemmer, Beuys, Kiefer and Klee, can be found here.

Kunstmuseum Stuttgart

Centrally located, Kunstmuseum Stuttgart is a work of art in itself. Its modern cuboid design transforms from a glass hexahedron during the day to reveal a colorful skeletal interior when lit up at night. Opened in 2005, the Kunstmuseum Stuttgart is renowned for its prestigious collection of work by Otto Dix, the renowned German artist remembered for his realistic depictions of Weimar society and the brutality of war. The colorful and abstract art of Willi Baumeister and the mixed media work of contemporary artist Dieter Roth are also on display at the Kunstmuseum Stuttgart, along with ever changing international exhibitions. Don't miss the museum shop and bookshop, or have a light snack at the onsite restaurant.

Mercedes-Benz Museum

Opened shortly before the start of the Football World Cup in Germany, the impressive Mercedes-Benz Museum is housed in a slick, contemporary building, an icon of modern architecture. With an exhibition space of almost 182,986 ft² (17,000 m²) covering seven storys, the museum takes visitors on a chronological journey through the history of the Mercedes automobile. Combining world events occurring at the same time as Benz breakthroughs and displaying over 160 different vehicles from racing cars and concept cars to the pope mobile and airplane engines, there is much for the automobile aficionado to see.

Wilhelma Zoo

Europe's only combined zoological and botanical garden, the Wilhelma Zoo never fails to leave a lasting impression on the hearts and minds of all who explore her confines. Initially built as a Moorish garden for King Wilhelm I in the 19th century, the beautiful botanical garden is extraordinary all year round. Countless exotic plants, a range of climatic biospheres in magnificent greenhouses, a petting zoo, insect exhibit, aquarium with crocodile hall, modern ape house, bear facilities, walk-in bird flight facility and wild animal enclosures are some of the exhilarhating sights to be enjoyed. Ideal for children and adults, there are a host of ice cream stands, cafeterias and playgrounds to keep the whole family entertained for the entire day. The Wilhema Zoo is home to 8,000 animals, including polar bears and elephants, and 5,000 different species of plants.

Mineral Baths

Sitting on one of the largest mineral water reserves in Europe, the inhabitants of Stuttgart have been enjoying its liquid vitality for more than two millennia. Relaxing in a hot, steamy mineral bath is a good way to spend some of your down time in the city. Das Leuze, Mineralbad Cannstatt and Mineral Bath Berg all feature hot and cold mineral baths, saunas, hot tubs and swimming pools. Das Leuze is geared toward families with its playground, childrens pool and bright colors, while Mineralbad Cannstatt caters more for adults looking for a haven of relaxation. Mineral Bath Berg is a 1950s gem, its iron-rich waters recognized by the state as a 'heilbad' for its medicinal properties.

Porsche Museum

Just like their cars, the 'small but good' Porsche Museum in Stuttgart is a retrospective of more than 75 years of Porsche engineering and memorabilia. The

20 or so exhibits from the first Porsche-branded car to series cars and the Formula 1 champions of the mid 1980s; the various Porsche models are switched several times a year. Following in the footsteps of other automobile titans, the Porsche Museum is turning over a new leaf with construction on a 60,277 square feet (5,600 square meters) architectural landmark to house some of its 300 strong collection. The new museum will be inaugurated toward the end of 2008, boasting the latest in automobile exhibition technology and quadrupling the number of pristine Porsches on display.