Stuttgart is a great destination to spend a few nights to learn about European history and to try delicious German cuisine.
You’ll love it even more if you’re visiting around Christmas: the markets are fantastic!
They offer a great variety of Local produce, souvenirs, Christmas decorations, the whole city centre is glittering with lights and rides, with the main Square being decorated with Porsche and Mercedes Benz statues amongst many others (see above). And their Nativity scene was just the next level: there were real sheep and a donkey!
We also had an absolutely delightful dinner at Weinstube Kachelofen trying traditional Swabian and German in general cuisine.
1. Palace Square and the New Palace
Schlossplatz, or the Palace Square, is the main square of Stuttgart, and of course you should visit it! It’s a home to the New Palace, a grand Baroque palace built in the 18th-century. In winter, there is a large Ferris wheel standing right in front of it.
Another landmark not to miss is the 30 metres high Jubilee column, or Jubiläumssäule column, with a statue on top featuring goddess Concordia. It was erected to mark important events in the life of William I of Wurttemberg: his 60th birthday and 25 years of his reign. The Württembergischer Kunstverein Stuttgart art centre is located on the square as well.
Schillerplatz nearby is another square of Stuttgart named after famous poet and playwright Friedrich von Schiller whose life was closely connected to this city. Spot his statue here! Altogether with the Königstraße, or the King Street, the main street of Stuttgart which runs through the Palace square, and the zone around the Opera House this is a large pedestrianised area with shops and restaurants.
During Christmas festivities, all the squares and the streets nearby were filled with the market stalls, illumination and decorations!
2. Old castle
And of course, there is not only the New palace, there is an old palace too! The Old Castle is located nearby and is a large gorgeous building with pretty towers and courtyard: now it hosts a collection of the Landesmuseum. In the past, it’s been the stronghold of the House of Württemberg. First fortress was built by Duke Liudolf of Swabia, a son of Emperor Otto the Great, on this site in 950 and gave a name – from Stutengarten – to the whole city.
A few centuries later, in 1311, the castle became the property of the Württemberg family. In the late 19th century it was turned into a museum. You can also visit the Württemberg royal crypt there! To the side of the castle, we also saw a flea market.
Large monument featuring the cubes – Mahnmal Stauffenbergplatz – commemorates Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg who plotted to kill Hitler in Operation Valkyrie together with other Germans but unfortunately failed.
3. Collegiate Church
The Stiftskirche, or the Collegiate Church, is another unmissable landmark of Stuttgart. It’s located close to the Old Castle.
The oldest parts of it date to the 10th century however what you see today is a modern rebuilt church because it suffered greatly during WWII when Stuttgart was bombed by Allies in 1944. You can still see some inserts of the older surviving church parts such as the statues and burials of Counts of Württemberg.
4. Mercedes-Benz Museum
Stuttgart is famous for not one but two astonishing museums for car enthusiasts: Mercedes-Benz Museum and Porsche museum! We chose to go to the first one.
It covers the history of automobile making up to our days within the frame of world and German events: the whole museum is united by a timeline starting from the birth of Daimler, Benz and Maybach to the Brexit and Pandemic.
The museum is really well made and it certainly gives the vibes of a museum of the future (contrary to the Dubai museum I’ve recently talked about). The special sections are dedicated to the racing cars, cars of famous people including Princess Diana and the Japanese Emperor, and cars – helpers such as police, fire engines etc.
5. Wilhelma Zoological and Botanic Gardens
Wilhelma Zoological and Botanic Gardens are located on the territory of a royal bathhouse and residence of King William I of Württemberg, and now it’s been turned into a zoo!
With Christmas upon us, we opted to go to the zoo not during the daylight but after the sunset instead to attend their light show called Christmas garden (something like a Christmas trail at Kew).
It was an absolutely magical experience, and we could still spot some animals (although many were sleeping), and they also have a family friendly restaurant Amazonico with German cuisine and a good shop.
6. Public Library Stuttgart
If you’re looking for hidden gems, the Public library of Stuttgart, or Stadtbibliothek Stuttgart, is a place for you! This new space was designed by Eun Young Yi and became a home to the book collection in 2011.
It’s open for all visitors, has fantastic architecture, there’s a cafe on the top floor with amazing cakes, and the rooftop is probably open in a better weather! What can be better?
Close by, there is a large shopping mall called Milaneo.
7. Stuttgart Television Tower
On the horizon, you can spot the 217-metre high Stuttgart Television Tower sitting high in the hill! It was opened in 1956 and was a major architectural breakthrough back in time.
Now you can observe it from the side or visit the viewing platform open to visitors: anyway, pay homage to this important historical landmark.
8. Church of St John
The Church of St John, or Johanneskirche, is a Protestant church designed by Christian Friedrich von Leins in Gothic Revival style in the second half of the 19th century. Unfortunately, it’s been severely damaged during WWII but now it’s been serially rebuilt and now is kept as a monument of the events.
It seats beautifully on the pond shore with its reflection being disturbed only by the ducks and swans. I’m not sure whether it’s open to visitors (it’s been closed and covered in scaffolding during our visit), and there was a large Christmas tree market and tables for playing chess just outside of it.
9. Hegel House
The Hegel House is a museum in an old house where the famous philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel was born in 1770 and where he lived for 18 years.
You can learn here about his life (and his beret!) and the development of the most important concepts of idealism.
Other museums you might want to see in Stuttgart are the Staatsgalerie, Porsche Museum, the Pig Museum, – and you might also want to visit Ludwigsburg Palace! Important: absolutely all museums are closed on Mondays! Bear that in mind when you plan your visit.
10. Markthalle
Markthalle, or the Market Hall, is a beautiful two floor indoor market with glass roof which offers lots of fantastic food options from Germany, Italy and France: meats, cheeses, vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, olives and more.
It was opened in 1914 – and you can spot amazing Art Nouveau decorations there.
11. Rosensteinpark
Rosensteinpark is a gorgeous park dating to 1824-1840 in the style of an English park. It’s a great place for strolling, and it has a wonderful collection of plants – some were blooming even in mid-December!
The State Museum of Natural History and Rosenstein Palace are located on its grounds too.
12. Calwer Passage
The Calwer Passage is an absolute gem of Stuttgart. This is a covered arcade created in the early 20th century by Theodor Fischer who used elements of Art Nouveau style in it. The passage looks magnificently modern, and there are lots of small business shops and cafes in it.
13. Stuttgart Town Hall and Marktplatz
Rathaus, or the Stuttgart Town Hall, is a modern Town Hall located on the Marktplatz – the old one was destroyed during WWII and only the tower of it survived although it’s been given a new look. It’s 56 metres high and was erected in 1956.
It was also a great place to wander around the Christmas Market stalls and enjoy some mulled wine and sweet delicacies!
Head to the Marktplaz for souvenirs, gifts, and of course chocolate covered fruits, mulled wine, Christmas ornaments, giant Nutcracker and unusual wood nativity scene!
14. Opera House
The Opera House is a very picturesque piece of architecture. It was built in 1909-1912 by Max Littmann, and it sits by the lake filled with geese – the reflections there are insane especially in the evening! The New Palace is located nearby too.
15. Mittlerer Park
The Mittlerer park is a nice green massive with a lake, fountains, and sculptures that surround the main train station of Stuttgart and keeps going up to the Rosensteinpark mentioned above.
We really loved strolling there! Besides that, spot the ruins of Neuen Lusthauses built originally in the late 16th century for Duke Ludwig and transferred here in 1904. The planetarium is also located here.
Where to stay in Stuttgart
We stayed in Le Meridien: it’s a luxury hotel across the road from the Planetarium and the main train station, and the city centre is very close.
The staff was very friendly, their Christmas tree was magical and the breakfast had a fantastic range of German meats however overall the hotel was lacking: the views of our room were on the sad enclosed courtyard, and the room was pretty average and the shower was leaking into the bathroom in a few spots. If you choose to stay here, stay for the location, not for the hotel experience itself!
You might also like
Cologne
Munich
Berlin top-10
Berlin Wall
Freiburg
I hope you liked my blog,
Yours,
Anna xxx
