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Stuttgart, the capital of the prosperous Land of
Baden-Württemberg in Germany’s southwest corner, is a
beautiful city in a beautiful setting, surrounded by
forest-covered hills, vineyards and orchards which open
out to the east on to the River Neckar, one of the
loveliest valleys in Germany.
The Stuttgart region offers the most amazing diversity –
everything from thriving business and industry to the
idyllic rural retreats of nearby wine villages, with
their snug little inns. The wine and beer of this area
is famous, and even Germans from other parts of the
country tend to admit that some of Germany’s finest food
is to be found in the region. Try, in particular, the
delicious “Maultaschen”, a kind of German ravioli.
Stuttgart is one of Germany’s main cultural centres,
with musicals “Miss Saigon” and Disney’s “Beauty and the
Beast”, both performed in the unique leisure centre
“Stuttgart International SI-Centrum”, and the new
“Friedrichsbau Varieté” offering a world-class
programme. Not to forget the world-famous Stuttgart
Ballet and International Bach Academy etc. The new
Gallery built by the architect James Stirling is
regarded as one of the prime examples of “post-modern
architecture” and shows renowned collections (Picasso).
Motoring enthusiasts will fancy the Mercedes-Benz and
Porsche Museums, full of old automobiles and new ideas,
and there is also the beautifully laid out Wilhelma
Zoological Botanic Gardens, one of the largest and most
beautiful in Europe.
Stuttgart is a city of festivals to suit all tastes, for
example the popular “Stuttgart Wine Village” (30 August
- 10 September), the “Cannstatter Volksfest” (23
September - 08 October), one of the largest beer
festivals, and one of the most beautiful Christmas
markets in Europe (01 - 23 December).
The city also makes an ideal base for exploring the
whole of south-west Germany, including Heidelberg,
Baden-Baden and the Black Forest. |
