Stuttgart

It's not the first name that springs to mind when you consider the many great cities of Germany, but Stuttgart should certainly be added to that canon. Behind its staccato and somewhat guttural name lies a city of surprising charm.

Like other German cities Stuttgart manages to blend the traditional architecture and old world atmosphere of a market town with the trappings that come with being a modern city in one of Europe's economic powers. Located in the beautiful Neckar Valley, Stuttgart has always been a city of artists, philosophers, poets and inventors. Through the Middle Ages it was a very influential city-state, and the many medieval castles and buildings in and around the city bear testament to Stuttgart's wealth and power. Gottlieb Daimler (the pioneer of petrol engines) and Robert Bosch (who invented the spark plug) both came from the city, and in the late-19th century the city was revolutionised by the automotive industry.

As an industrially important city, Stuttgart and its surroundings were heavily bombed during World War Two. However, the city recovered more rapidly than many of the cities further north, and was able to rescue its historical heart rather than be forced to demolish it. In the post-war years the city's enthusiasm for innovation didn't diminish, and Stuttgart's Fernsehturm (TV tower) was the first of its kind - still looming 217-metres over the centre.

Although heavy industry has declined, Stuttgart has successfully reconfigured itself to a more modern age. Newer, mobile technology industries have moved in and brought wealth to the shopping streets of the city - including ultra-chic Calwer-Strasse. However, amidst this modernity are interspersed traditional cameos. The Baroque-style Neues Schloss (New Palace) sits near to its medieval relative, the Altes Schloss (Old Palace), while the surrounding vineyards and rustic villages of Baden-Württemberg are charming for tourists to investigate.

Porsche Museum
A vision becomes reality. Immediately next to the headquarters of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, you can today find one of the most spectacular car museums in the world. The Porsche Museum. Be inspired by over 80 vehicles on our 5,600 square metre exhibition area. In order to travel to the Porsche Museum by car, take the Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen exit off the A81. Parking is available in our underground car park.

Mercedes Benz Museum
Take a journey through more than 125 years of fascinating automotive history – and on into the future. Visit the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart and you will be entering the only place in the world capable of documenting the unbroken history of the automobile from its very beginning. Transporting you to a height of 34 metres, the museum lift will take you on a journey back in time – to the year 1886. For this is where the legend begins, with the pioneering invention of Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz – the automobile. Few inventions have made such an impact on the human world. Two interlinked museum tours guide the visitor through the spectacular architecture of the building and the eventful history of the Mercedes-Benz brand – combining the key moments in contemporary world history with super sports cars, Silver Arrows and Gullwings. The two tours lead to the same end point: the innovations of the present. Here in the Fascination of Technology exhibition you will gain an insight into the latest topics from the worlds of research, design, development and production. Over an area covering 16,500 square metres on nine levels, the exhibition presents 160 vehicles and over 1,500 exhibits, divided into Legend rooms and Collection rooms. The Legend rooms document the history of the Mercedes-Benz brand and are subdivided into themes and epochs. The Collection rooms offer a thematic presentation of the wealth and diversity of vehicles made by the brand.
Relive the history – and at the same time you will be afforded an informative glimpse into the future. Where do we go from here?