my
Hometown :Stuttgart....
Take a little
time and stroll with me trough my hometown Stuttgart.
let me show you some of the beautyful places
where I spend almost my lifetime
and try to understand why I love this City more then any other
place in the whole world.
To start,
I will try to tell you a little more about the backround
and how Stuttgart became to be what it is today.
everything started with a "Stud farm ",called Stuotgarte
witch the Duke of Schwaben is supposed to have set up around
950.
the horse in the coat-of-arms as well as its name refer to Stuttgart's
origines.
From a market
town it first developed into a royal seat,
then blossomed into the center of a kingdom.
Stuttgart,population about 600.000,has been the capital of Baden-Wuerttemberg
since 1051.
Friedrich Schiller,a famous writer,wrote
his first play here,
Georg W.F.Hegel and the Hauff brothers were born here.
Johann Friedrich Cotta gave the printing trade a big boost in
1810
now nearly 160 publishing Houses have their headquarters here.
The City was influenced by industrial pioneers such as Gottlieb
Daimle and Robert Bosch,
who laid the corner-stone for international firms.
Woods and Wine also contribut to the town's growth.
And,of course,Culture:
ballet,musicalsand chamber orchestras are major attractions.
Stuttgart's centerpiece is the "new
Castle"
one of the last great town palaces in southern Germany.
Duke Karl Eugen had the late baroque palace built by Leopold
Retti,
Philippe de la Guipiere and Nikolaus Touret
from 1746 - 1807.
the three wing complex is modelled after french edifices of
the 17th century.
The classical
royal Building forms the western boundary of "Schlossplatz"
an imposing colonnade composed of 34 pillars is a
characteristic element of the complex dating from 1860
Schlossplatz is " garnished" by two Fountains,
whos sculptures are reminiscent of Wuerttemberg's main rivers
as well as by the "Jubilaeumssaeule"
this granite Monument was erected upon the 25th anniversary
of rule by KIng Wilhelm I in 1841
The roots
of the "old Palace " go back to the 10th
century
In the middle of 16th century Duke Christop
had the place converted into a prestigious Renaissance edifice
which also include the "palace chapel,"
one of the oldest Protestant rooms of worship in southern germany
showpeace however,is the inner courtyard with pergolas,
archways and circular staircases ..
today still a splendid setting for summer evening concerts.
Duke Friedrich
I had a spacious square laid out on the former farm of the Old Palace
where grand buildings form
a fascinating ensemble in the city center."protestant
collegiate church"
when doing
a shoping tour trough Stuttgart,
you should begin at the railwaystation where the underground
"Klett-Passage" spreads out
its treasures.
It is the only
shopping arcade in Germany whose stores are open till 10pm.
One floor up is the beginning of the city's main shopping street
"Koenigstrasse "
From leather goods tp porcelain,from perfumes to antiques,
the selection of goods leaves no wish and dream
unforfilled.
It is enjoyable
to shop in the midst of historical backdrops.
at the site where the "Crown Prince Palace " once stood
there is now a terrace structure, "kleiner
Schlossplatz"
with boutiques,jewelry and fashion stores that attract window-shoppers.
also modern artists as shown by this Calder sculpture.
.a great place to find all you need is "Karls-Passage"
opend in 1989 at Breuninger department-store.
shopping in
Stuttgart is just plain fun.
a spacious pedestrian zone makes it possible to walk and look
around
in the open air without beeing disturbed by trafic.
the so called "Schwabenzentrum"
offers an attractive selection of merchandise.
in "Calwer Passage",one of
the most enchanting of its kind in Germany,
the weather doesn't matter
it is built similarly to the iron structures of the 19th century
and is the site of exclusive retail shops.
when you leave
the glittering shopping world of Calwer passage,
you will suddenly find yourself set back in time.
"Calwer Strasse"
is an impressive example of reconstruction
of a complete row of 15th to 19th century houses.
it offers a marvelous place for taking it easy over a cup of
coffee or a glass of beer.
In the "Market-Building"
you can immerse yourself in the world of exotic odors.
International specialities,spices,fruit,fish,meat and flowers
are offered
a look from the outsite is also worthwile,
the facade is richly decorated with frescoes.
"Schellenturm" ,dating from
1564,is all that is left of the historical town fortifications.
after the Tower was destroyed during the war,
a nonprofit organisation lent its support so that it could be
rebuilt,including the extension.
Today it accommodates a popular tavern for wine connoisseurs.
many a road
in Stuttgart unexpectedly turns out to be
a romantic path.
"Eugenstrasse" is an example
of this.
"Charlottenplatz" forms one
of the most important traffic junctions.
here the multi-level underpasses for cars,
trams and pedestrians ensure smooth functioning of the city's
transportation routes.
The "state
legislature" of Baden Wuerttemberg
has its home in a glazed reinforced steel building since 1961
the "Town Hall" ,whose architecture is reminiscent
of the 20th century
also presents an austere appearance.
the 1955 edifice is oriented,however,
to the historical composition of its neo-Gothic predecessor,
witch was built in 1905 and fell victim to the incendiary bombs
of second world war.
Located in
Stuttgart,"Hohenheim" is an agricultural university,rich in tradition.
The center of the campus is the 200- year - old "Castle
Hohenheim"
surroundet by botanical and exotic gardens.
At present the university possesses 33 natural sience,agricultural
and economic institutes and five faculties.
Stuttgart's international "
Airport " is the sixth largest in germany.
Its greatest attraction is Terminal I.
the airy new construction completed in 1991 with interior beams
that stretch to the ceiling like trees was designed by a Hamburg
architect's office
and was awarded two prices -
for its steel constructure and for the superb use of natural
stone
Visitors can walk on 17.000 square meters of Austrian marble.
it is thanks
to a trip to Italy on the part of Crown Prince Karl
that the summer seat was built for him and his wife,Olga,
in roman and Tuscan Renaissance style.
"Villa Berg" is created
in the middle of a splendid park in 1853
the slogan of the "Villa " today is action !
for the South german Radiostation and its broadcasting studios
are now located behind the cast-iron candelabras from Paris.
With their
design of the "Railway-station"
in 1927
Bonatz and Scholer managed to construct the most modern edifice
of their era.
the monumental reception and administration building made of
muschelkalk square stone blocks
at the north end of Koenigstrasse is 160 meters long.
the-,at that time-,pioneering structure is dominated by a 58-meter-high
tower
whose rotating Mercedes star is a welcome reference point for
every visitor.
Nothing has
influenced the international reputation
of The "Wuerttemberg State Theater"
more than the
Stuttgart Ballet Company.
it's fame began in 1961 with the appointment of
JOHN CRANKO,
whose "Romeo and Juliet" performances
made history.
Since 1973 the company has successfully continuied this tradition
under
MARCIA HAYDEE
the neo-classicist building from 1912
was designed as a double-theater complex for theater and Opera
at the beginning of the 60's the former "small house" was replaced
by a modern
new edifice after its destruction during the war.
The passion
of King Friedrich I for collecting works of Art
laid the cornerstone for the "old State
Gallery"
in 1843 the classicist edifice was officially opened.
Today paintings from the Middle Ages to the 19th century can
be seen here.
The "Liederhalle"
Cultural and Congress Center was opened in 1991
together with a predecessor dating from the 1950's,
the modern building complex forms an ideal setting for balls,
conferences and congresses.
Five rooms offer sufficient space to hold events for up to 6000
persons.
The " Planetarium
" ,built in 1977,is one of the most modern in Europe.
the unusual stepped pyramid attracts about 200.000 visitors
a year.
its large dome-shaped room holds 277 stargazers .
The late Gothic
"Leonhardskirche" a church from
the middle of the 15th century
has also
withstood the ravages of time.
when Aberlin built the "Hospital Church"
in the 15th century,
he dit not foresee that a Dominican Monastry
with a three-wing extention would be constructed on at its side
a short time later.
despite severe destruction during the war and reconstruction
in 1960,
a great treasure remained intact. :
the late Gothic crucifixion group created by sculptor Hans Seiffer.
while the
plague was ravaging Stuttgart during the Thirty
Year's War,
the " Hoppenlau Cemetery" was
laid out in 1626
today it is the City's oldest cemetery and a green refuge between
the rows of houses.
when walking by gnarled trees and impressive tombstones
dating from the 18th and 19th century,
you will also discover the graves of poets and artists.
The "New
State Gallerie" is considered to be an architectural event
of the century.
Works of art of the 20th century moved into the spectacular
building
designed by the english-man James Stirling.
in 1984.
the Picasso Collection,one of the largest on German soil,
represents the brilliant high point.
Major works of European and American art form a transition to
works of the 80's.
Do "The
three Graces" feel at home in Stirling's ambiente ?
if you prefer a cultivated,classical athmosphere,
you should try the Old State Gallery.
The focus of its collection is on early Swabian paintings,
Dutch paintings from Rubens to RembrandT as well as
masterpieces
by Renoir,Monet,Gauguin and Corinth.
To really
get a good " view of the City",you must go to
Bobser.
Since 1956 the city's landmark has stood at this site .
the 217-meter-high "Television Tower"
of the architect Fritz Leonhard.
the Tower Resaurant provides a marvelous view of Stuttgart,
the vine-yards of the Neckar-valley up to Black Forrest and
Odenwald.
Excellent
wine,a lovely location on the " Neckar-River"
and healing springs were of no help :
Bad Cannstadt dit not make the jump to becoming a royal seat
despite the warmest recommendations to the ducal court in the
17th century.
But the people
of Stuttgart took a liking to it:
in 1868 they set up the first horse-drawn- streetcar connection
to the neighboring town and incorporation followed in 1905
the stream of pilgrims to Cannstatt's mineral springs
has never endet until today.
providing 22 million liters,
daily,
they are most productive in Europe after Budapest-Hungary
you can quickly
turn your back on the hustle and bustle.
when strolling trough "Bad Cannstatt's
Kurpark"
it is worthwile taking a look at the small museum in
which
Gottlieb Daimler
maintained his workshop.
But Stuttgart
also offers contemplative spots.
"Schlossgarten" with its grand
plane tree avenue and fountains
is certainly among the favorites
it was laid out at the beginning of the 19th century and is
almost four kilometers long.
Many have
succumbed to the morbid charm of the "summer-house-ruins"
built in the ducal garden at Schlossplatz in 1593,
the pretty building enjoyed glittering periods as an Opera house
and royal theater.
until it burned down in 1902
the fragments of an arcade with two staircases were finally
set up in Schlossgarten
and now give an Idea of the former splendorbof the royal house.
Hundreds of
grapevines had to make room for a "Country House"
for King Wilhelm I over the Neckar in Bad Cannstatt
Salucci builted the classisist Castle Rosenstein,
whose reflection is cleverly cought in an adjacent lake.
The garden is considered to be significant example of english
horticulure
and not only attracts present-day strollers taking a promenade
The State
Museum of Natural History inside the palace provides an additional attraction
a great spot
of my Hometown,
the Moorish "Wilhelma-Castle"
was originally constructed as a site for
noble festivities put on by King Wilhelm I.
the imaginatively laid out complex with oriental-looking buildings,
colonnades,greenhouses and fountains was first expanded to include
a botanical garden
and then a zoo in 1950
the "Wilhelma" is now Germany's only zoological and botanical
gardens
and fascinates visitors,particularly in spring.
besides viewing tropical marine fish,kiwis,rhinoceros and cacti,
you can also take a walk in Europe's largest magnolia grove.
The way to
green Areas in Stuttgart is often upward.
Number one on the list ,however,is "Killesberg"
Park,
whos flowery splendor displays itself at an altitude of 350
meters
Killesberg includes an children's zoo,
outdoor theater,outdoor swimmingpool and variety theater.
One of the
most beautyful barock summer residences in Germany
is located on a wooded elevation west of the City
Despite empty state coffers,
Duke Carl Eugen gave the green light to built "Castle
Solituede"
he wanted brilliance,
not quality.
so that the estate can continue to display its breathtaking
effect.
it had to be resored joint by joint from 1975 -1983
Today Castle Solituede,
compleated with great drudgery by hundreds of farmers and soldiers
in 1767,
is a popular excursion point.
The "swabian
Versailles" in Ludwigsburg,
near Stuttgart contains over 452 rooms and is unparalleled.
the atrtistic garden show,called ""bloosom Barock"
enjoys an international reputation just as the valley of Birds
voices
and the Fairy Tale Garden,were children in particular love to
be enchanted.
the extensive park surrounding Castle Ludwigsburg offers
an incomparable setting for concerts and fesivals of lights.
the grounds include the hunting and summer lodge,"Favorite"
built in 1723
and once witness to a new era
.People in
Swabia also know how to celebrate :
every year in Year in september the Cannstatt "Folk-Festival"
attracts millions of guests from all over the world.
it's second big Fesival after Oktoberfest in munich.
quess I shall stop right here,
you must be tired dear visitor from walking and strolling through
my Hometown,but....
when ever I start talking about this lovely City,I can't stop
anymore.
hope you understand why,after this little "sightseeing-Tour"
thank you for beeing patient with me
and I hope,as time goes by,
we will meet again and maybe
I pull out my car and drive over the country with you,
because there are wonderful places I can offer to you,ok?
so.. hope to see you again dear Friend....good bye and
"greetings"
from beautyful Stuttgart
elfie