Cities & Culture
Stuttgart: the perfect combination of culture and cars
There are cars you drive... and then there are cars you dream of. Stuttgart is one of the world's best places for both – and not just because the world's best cars are made here. Automotive history comes to life here like nowhere else on Earth.
The car has many fathers, but just one place it calls home. So it should come as no surprise that the Mercedes-Benz Museum is the only museum in the world to present the history of the automotive industry from start to finish. The motoring legends in the Porsche Museum also make heads turn. Every spring, classic car enthusiasts from around the world descend on Stuttgart for Retro Classics, Germany's best-loved motor show. Back in the present day, a tour of the Mercedes-Benz plant in Sindelfingen offers an in-depth look behind the scenes at a state-of-the-art car factory.
The surrounding wine region, one of the largest in Germany, plays a significant part in some of the locals' other passions: exquisite food and fine wine. The perfect starting point for a sightseeing tour is the Schlossplatz square: In virtually no other city does a palace dominate the centre to such an extent as it does here. Those who have spent the day admiring the exceptional collection of modernist and contemporary art in the Art Museum Stuttgart can then enjoy a relaxing evening at the Stuttgart State Theatre, the world's largest multi-genre theatre. Visitors can browse the world-class stores on Königstrasse and Calwerstrasse at their leisure. And take the time to discover the much-loved Wilhelma Gardens. These remarkable zoological and botanical gardens are home to around 8,000 animals, making this one of the world's most biodiverse zoos.