When I think of Stuttgart, what always comes to mind first are the festive Christmas market and the 215-meter high television tower. But Baden-Württemberg’s capital actually has much more to offer…
Despite its half million inhabitants, Stuttgart still has something of a bucolic feel to it. This is probably due in part to the numerous parks and green spaces scattered throughout the city. But it could also be the easygoing Swabian temperament that makes you feel like you’re not in a hectic (big) city.
Nevertheless, the Swabian metropolis radiates an urban lifestyle with lots of fine restaurants and impressive sights. Stuttgart also has a good deal to offer in the way of culture. Ms. Gerken of Stuttgart Marketing took us on an entertaining guided tour to show us the typical highlights and more…
Stuttgart – Culture, lifestyle and innovation
Stuttgart center lies in the “cauldron, “as Stuttgarters like to say, being surrounded by vineyards and valleys, hence also the slogan “Between forest and vines”.
Cultural attractions abound in the city. However, the Schlossplatz (Palace Square) is at the very heart of the city and must of course be included in any stroll through the city. It is lined with magnificent buildings and heritage sites that are easy to explore on foot. Among the most important are two palaces with a great past : the Old Palace and the New Palace and then there is the State Theatre and Opera House .
But the capital of Baden-Württemberg can be worthwhile even for non-culture hounds. For one thing, Stuttgart is a shopping paradise without equal. From Königsstrasse through the Königsbau passage on to the Breuninger department store – every shopping heart will find its object(s) of desire here…
Under no circumstances should you miss the Markthalle covered market place! Feast your eyes on the lively market place activity, savor the wonderful aroma of oriental spices or even buy some of the fresh regional products or exotic delicacies… it’s a fantastic place!
And, of course, the subject of the automobile is everywhere in the air in Stuttgart. In the Porsche Museum and the Mercedes-Benz Museum, the city has two spectacular automobile-centered exhibitions. With their world-class products, the two legendary automakers still today continue to set the standard for innovative technology and functional elegance here.
We described the unique experience we had driving the first automobile ever made at Stuttgart’s Mercedes-Benz Museum here in word and video.
Steigenberger Hotel Graf Zeppelin in Stuttgart’s Center
On this trip to the city, we lodged right in the heart of Stuttgart in the Hotel Steigenberger Graf Zeppelin. The location could not be better; the already-mentioned points of interest as well as the U-Bahn subway and S-Bahn rapid transit trains are just a few minutes’ walk away.
Along with an opulent smoking lounge by Davidoff, the lobby lounge also invites guests to linger and enjoy; in the afternoon, they serve supremely seductive small tortes along with the coffee…
The 5 star luxury hotel was completely renovated in 2011 and now has 155 elegant, modern rooms, a rooftop terrace with indoor pool and a day spa wellness center, including a terrific Spa Suite!
As expected, they have hotel slippers for their guest. I always appreciate it very much when these come not just in universal size (+/ – shoe size 41!) but smaller as they do here at the Steigenberger for the rather more diminutive female feet.
The guests’ physical well-being is further looked after in the OLIVO gourmet restaurant, where they will spoil diners with French and world cuisine, while in Zeppelino’S various grill combinations are on this restaurant’s menu. And anyone who wants to stay “close to home” can savor Swabian specialties in the “Little Zeppelin Room”.
More images taken at this noble hotel are on view in our Flickr photo gallery:
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The Cube Restaurant – The restaurant on top of the Art Museum
In the heart of the city the imposing glass cube – situated on the Schlossplatz – draws all eyes to it; the Stuttgart Art Museum. On the building’s top floor is where you find the glass-wrapped Cube Restaurant.
The atmosphere is correspondingly unique and you have a fantastic view of Stuttgart’s center. On offer are tasty daily lunch menus and they serve coffee and cake in the afternoons. The doings in the evening after the museum doors have closed are supposed to be still more exclusive. For our part, in the evening we let ourselves be treated to delightful cuisine at the Mercedes-Benz Nights of the Stars. Click here for a detailed gourmet report and the interview with star Chef René Bobzin.
By SBB train to Stuttgart
We took the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) train in comfort and arrived relaxed in Stuttgart. The direct Intercity train (IC) departs Zurich several times a day for the 3:05 hour trip to the Swabian metropolis.
Stuttgart’s own transport system is efficient, with many S-Bahn trains, tram and bus lines that make getting around in the city on public transit very easy. However, the central train station is currently a large construction site and has achieved notoriety because of a rail project to turn the present rail terminus into a mere through station. There are still weekly demonstrations in protest against the controversial decision.
Actually, the 56 meter tall train station tower with the rotating Mercedes star on it is another symbol of the city… like “my” TV tower back home, currently closed for fire safety improvements, and not slated to reopen until early summer of 2015.
After this weekend, we had to admit to ourselves that Stuttgart is completely underappreciated. The city and its region present themselves with a versatility that deserves better than just a single trip – even if it’s not Christmas market season!
Our thanks to……
Oliver Sefrin, head of Press and Public Relations of the German National Tourist Board (DZT) in Zurich und Sandra Nörpel with Stuttgart Marketing for the invitation and flawless organizing of the trip!
Many thanks also to the Steigenberger Graf Zeppelin Hotel, andCarolin Münch for the informative tour of the hotel, and Ms. Gerkens for the interesting and entertaining city tour!
And last but not least, we thank “our” SBB for the punctual and comfortable train journey, the insane panorama of the Rhine Falls, and the delicious “Latte Macchiato”! I know – it’s not to be had on the train, but with double cream, a little good will and the spiffy service, it was so much like the real deal you almost fooled even me ;-)
