About half the city was destroyed in the Second World War, but some of the beautiful traditional stone buildings in the center, such as das Alte Schloss (the Old Palace), die Stiftskirche (the Apprentices Church), das Haus der Wirtschaft (the Chamber of Commerce) survived and have been restored.

 

The rest of the center of Stuttgart is a modern mix of busy shops, restaurants and parks with a unique flavor of local tradition mixed with a French influence and international flair. During the reconstruction of the town, careful attention was paid to the important role of parks in city life.

 

 

A view on shopping...

 

Nowhere else can one find the mixture of hills, steps, parks and fountains, the modern, glass buildings side by side with 500 year old stone masterpieces and vineyards leading virtually to the city center.

 

The main street, die Koenigstrasse (the King's Road), is a 2 km tree-lined pedestrian area leading from the main railway station. In the middle of the Koenigstrasse is der kleine Schlossplatz (Small Palace Square), which is actually a park itself in front of das neue Schloss (the New Palace).

 

 

Schloss Solitude

 

Overlooking der kleine Schlossplatz is the Stuttgart Stock Exchange and to the east the impressive Dresden Bank building. The Old Palace with its quiet courtyard is to the west.

 

 

Koenigstrasse

 

Behind the bustling shops, just one block away from the Koenigstrasse lies a park, der Schlossgarten (the Palace Garden), which runs through the city towards the roman mineral baths of Bad Cannstadt before turning up the hill towards and past the Wilhelma Zoo (the second most famous zoo in Germany after the Berlin Zoo) towards the Killesberg Park, a flower garden of international reputation.

 

 

Wilhelma Zoo

 

From Killesberg the park turns into a wood, which leads to the 100 km square nature reserve containing the Schloss Solitude, which offers panoramic views to the north of Stuttgart, and the Baerenschloessle (Bear Palace), which overlooks the beautiful Baerensee (Bear Lake). The well-maintained paths are ideal for cycling, walking or jogging through woodland, open grass areas and along the lakesides. Even in the summer these areas retain their peaceful nature, despite their popularity.

 

The real spirit of Stuttgart can be best appreciated on a spring evening, leaving the rush of the evening shoppers on the Koenigstrasse through one of the side passages into the quietness of the Schlossgarten. Walking by the ducks and swans at the fountain, past the Opera House and the Parliament in the warm, twilight, one can hear the rush hour traffic faintly in the distance. The setting sun illuminates the houses and the vineyards on the hillside south of the city, where the television tower stands as a landmark for the region.

 

 

Calwer Passage

 

Leaving the park and walking into the old Bohnenviertel (literally translates to Bean Quarter), one finds cobbled streets with bars, small shops and restaurants. Crossing the main market square and the Koenigstrasse again one arrives at the Calwerstrasse (Calw is a local town in the Black forest), which is part of the large, continuous pedestrian zone in the city center. Here the three and four story, colorfully painted houses have been turned into restaurants and bars providing dishes for all tastes from Mexican, to Spanish, Italian, Greek and more... For more information on Stuttgart...