Beautifully set between the Swabian mountains and the Black Forest, Stuttgart is the home of Porsche and Mercedes. One highlight of the city is the fascinating Daimler-Benz Automobile Museum (the Mercedes-Benz factory is in the nearby town of
Sindelfingen). In Stuttgart, listen for the Swabian music from the glockenspiel at the Rathaus (city hall) and visit Schillerplatz and its Collegiate Church. The Alte Staatsgalerie (collection of Rembrandts, Rubens and others) and the Neue Staatsgalerie (20th-century art) are two fine museums. Stroll the Killesberg Park, the Schlossgarten and the botanical gardens. Other sites of interest include the Altes Schloss, the baroque-style Neues Schloss and the zoo. The huge baroque gardens and buildings of the Ludwigsburg Palace are about 10 mi/16 km north of Stuttgart.
Stuttgart can easily be seen on foot, and urban trekkers may want to take in the City Walk, which begins at the central train station, or the Historic Stuttgart walk, which starts at the Altes Schloss at Schillerplatz. Yellow signs direct the walker to many modern and historical areas. Mineralbad Leuze, Berg and other spas offer a wide variety of therapeutic pools and health facilities.
As a side trip, try the lovely and friendly spa resort of Bad Urach in the mountains near Stuttgart—it is remarkably quiet in winter. Sights include the mineral springs, waterfall, mill and the late-Gothic Church of St. Amandus. The Residenzschloss houses the world's largest collection of baroque sleighs. Be sure to taste mell, a delicious honeyed wine drunk warm or cold.
Also close enough to visit from Stuttgart is one of Germany's most important and famous university towns, Tubingen, which was built on a hillside above the Neckar River. The city itself dates from 1078, and the university was founded in 1477. For a picturesque view over the city, stroll along the Planatenallee, the tree-lined island park in the middle of the river. Sights in the city include the market square and the 15th-century half-timbered town hall. Tubingen has its own gondoliers, called stocherer, who stake their boats along the Neckar River and recite famous German poems. (Note that Friedrich Holderlin, one of Germany's most famous poets, spent the second half of his life in mental derangement in the yellow tower on the river bank.) Be sure to make reservations if you plan to stay overnight there—the town is always busy. Stuttgart is 100 mi/160 km south of Frankfurt.
