Stuttgart: Das neue Herz Europas (The new Heart of Europe)
After “München mag dich”, Easter #2 is Stuttgart.
Schwabenmetropole (Swabian Metropolis), as the Swabian natives call it, is probably most well-known for Mercedes Benz! But hey, they don’t have the city’s name on their logo, unlike Porsche! And if you’re a chocolate lover, you have to know that Ritter Sport is from Stuttgart too!
Coming here on a Monday meant that the Porsche and Mercedes Benz museums were out of bounds. No worries though as the city sure has enough to keep you occupied for a day. From the Königstraße shopping street, to the museums and the beautiful Schlossgarten… maybe one day wasn’t enough.
Which is why I’ve decided to head back! For more Ritter Sport!!!
While chewing onto some Ritter Sport, these are the stories from Stuttgart.
Quadratisch. Praktisch. Gut
(Written on 29th May 2014)
Starting off with Königstraße with the iconic Hauptbahnhof tower in the background. The main shopping street of Stuttgart is perhaps the equivalent of Orchard Road back in Singapore, only that it's pretty much a pedestrian-only street. It literally means "King Street" and is said to be Germany's longest pedestrianised street.
Das Neue Schloss (The New Palace) and Schlossplatz. Built in a late-Baroque style, it was badly destroyed when the Allies bombed the place during WWII but was restored during the early 1960s. It is now home to the State's Education and Finance Ministries.
Altes Schloss (Old Castle). If there's a Neue Schloss, there has to be an Altes Schloss. Like the Neue Schloss, it was subjected to Allied bombing damage but was restored in the late 1960s. It stands just adjacent to its "successor". Here is Count Eberhard on his horse just after the bells go off at noon. The Old Castle runs along Karlsplatz and there is a museum there dedicated to Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, best remembered for Operation Valkyrie.
The Stiftskirche (Collegiate Church) is an Evangelical-Lutheran church. Unfortunately, like the two castles, it was subjected to the same treatment from the Allies and has been gradually restored since the 1950s. It's Romanic style makes it stand out from most churches.
The Stuttgart Rathaus (City Hall). It's modern outlook comes as a surprise because it has been the way it is since the mid-1950s. The bells in the clock tower plays Swabian folk songs at very unique timings daily (11:06, 12:06, 14:36 and 18:36).
The Leonhardskirche (St. Leonard's Church), the 2nd oldest church in Stuttgart.
Staatliche Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Stuttgart (State University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart) This new main entrance building was designed by Brtish architect, James Stirling who also designed the acclaimed Neue Staatsgalerie just a short walk away from here.
Museum der Bildenden Künste (Museum of Fine Arts) is the Old State Gallery, a part of the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart which also includes the Neue Staatsgalerie.
As part of Stuttgart 21, many reconstructions and changes have been initiated. While the pretty flowers blossom in Spring, this photo clearly disguises the protests against the project where posters were put up all over the place around the HBF.
Consider the flowers of the field, how they grow: they neither labour or spin. And if God cares so wonderfully for the flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, He will certainly care for you...
...Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Kultur- und Kongresszentrum Liederhalle (Culture and Convention Center) where there are 5 halls, of which 4 are in here, with the names of each hall in memory of these great musicians.
Hospitalskirche (Hospital Church): a Medieval church built as a three-aisled Gothic hall. Restoration efforts saw this tower (along with its bronze bells) added to the main building.
To feed my obsession over the Stuttgart HBF, Ching had taken over at least 2 dozen photos for me. Had to return him the favour, even if it were just this one.
After a big roundabout around the city, it's a return to Schlossplatz where the rainclouds from the morning have departed.
RITTER SPORT!!! Was initially harbouring slim hopes of a return to Stuttgart to get more. But I'm most certainly going back now! Yay! More chocolates! :P
This is the tool you use to measure chocolates!
Selected by UNESCO for inclusion into the World Cultural Heritage list, the Stuttgart 21 project threatens to demolish parts of the complex. The fact that the Mercedes-Benz star sits atop the 12-storey tower probably shows how important it is to the city of Stuttgart. I've only caught a glimpse of Stuttgart and I'm looking forward to coming back here next week! But that's a story for another time.
For the continuity of the Easter stories, it's time to go along the River Neckar and head to Heidelberg!
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