Germany is not only about the beer festival and Berlin electro clubs. 3 hours and 50 minutes by train from Paris, Stuttgart is renowned for its wines, Mercedes, Porsche and museums. Cradle of the German automotive industry, the historic capital of the Baden-Württemberg region is no less rich in green spaces and can easily be explored by bicycle.

Traces of the past

Although completely (or almost) rebuilt after the war, modern Stuttgart has a few gems from the past. The first center of attraction in Stuttgart and a major crossroads, the castle square (Schlossplatz) stands in the heart of a lush garden. At the origin of the castle project (Neues Schloss, rebuilt in the 1950s), Duke Carl Eugène of Württemberg wanted to make it a second Versailles.

Designed in a Baroque style, the castle is steeped classical and rococo of influences over the course of its construction, between 1746 and 1807. Place of residence of the kings of the state of Württemberg until the mid-19th century, it now houses the government departments of the Land of Baden-Württemberg.

Another illustration of the Duke’s architectural ambitions, the Solitude castle (Schloss Solitude) was built in 1763 in a Rococo style. Built as a place of performances of theater and ballet, he was the heart beating of the court life of the 18th century. Now it hosts the Schloss Solitude Academy, which offers residences and exhibitions for young artists.

Cultural life and museums

Side pictorial art, the Staatsgalerie in Stuttgart is one of the largest museums of Germany. The permanent collection traces the history of European art, with paintings from the Italian Renaissance (Vasari) and Flemish primitives (Rubens, Memling) in particular. But, above all, it includes a magnificent collection of works by avant-gardes of the 20th century: the “blue rider” movement of Wassily Kandinsky, the expressionist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, and also Pablo Picasso or Salvador Dalí, to name a few they.

The Kunstmuseum takes over with more contemporary collections. Architectural masterpiece, it was built in a transparent cube of 5,000 m2, in the heart of Königsstrasse, the main artery of Stuttgart. Over 250 works by the German painter Otto Dix, known for his sharp caricatures of Germany in the 1930s, are found there.

A veritable cultural showcase, Stuttgart is also famous for its large tripartite performance hall, which brings together opera, ballet and theatre. Finally, there is its long tradition of classical music and the Jazzopen, its jazz festival which takes place every summer.

Mercedes, Porsche & co

The first architectural construction of this type, the audiovisual broadcasting tower (Fernsehturm), 216 m high, is the emblem of Stuttgart. It symbolizes the tradition of research and invention that is the pride of the city.

In 1886, it was here that Gottlieb Daimler invented the first four-wheeled motor vehicle, the car in the modern sense of the term. As we retrace a myth, the Mercedes-Benz museum (photo) tells the fascinating story of the invention of the automobile, from its earliest beginnings to the present day. A thrilling crossing, during which we discover the variety of vehicles that are the pride of the firm, from the Papamobile to the red SL of Lady Di.

After this visit, a jump to the Porsche museum is essential. With futuristic architecture, it was inaugurated in 2009 on Porsche Square, where the famous sports cars have been produced for over 50 years. The exhibition presents more than 80 different models, from the first hybrid constructions to the emergence of innovative designs, which have established the brand worldwide.

And for enthusiasts, come to the Meilenwerk, a forum for discoveries and meetings devoted to automotive culture.

Stuttgart green

Do you dream of being in the heart of the city and yet right in the countryside? In Stuttgart, it’s possible! Very airy, the urban space is dotted with parks and large green spaces. True oases of peace, which allow you to recharge your batteries at any time.

First tourist site of the city, the zoological and biological garden Wilhelma, located within the royal gardens built by Guillaume I, is absolutely splendid. Immersed in a tangle teeming with tropical plants, we are invited to discover an amazing plant and animal diversity.

The figures speak for themselves: 6,000 species of plants and more than 9,000 animals, which belong to 1,000 different species, are at home there. And then, the surroundings of Stuttgart are dotted with forests, wine-growing sites, and nature reserves to discover.

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