Stuttgart Travel Guide
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203km (126 miles) SE of Frankfurt, 222km (138 miles) NW of Munich, 126km (78 miles) SE of Heidelberg
Unlike many large, prosperous industrial centers, Stuttgart is not a city of concrete -- two-thirds of the land inside the city limits is devoted to parks, gardens, and woodland. Yet Stuttgart is one of Germany's largest manufacturing cities, the home of Mercedes and Porsche, Zeiss optical equipment, and other industrial concerns. It's also the site of international trade fairs and congresses.
As a cultural center, Stuttgart is without peer in southwestern Germany. The Stuttgart Ballet is known throughout the world; its State Opera and Philharmonic Orchestra are also highly regarded. In addition, Stuttgart boasts an abundance of theater groups, cultural festivals, and museums, and is also the largest wine-growing city in Germany.
The name "Stuttgart" comes from a stud farm owned by one of the dukes of Swabia, son of Emperor Otto the Great; a horse is in the city's coat of arms. By 1427, Stuttgart had become the capital and residence of the counts of Württemberg. The city grew and prospered under the reign of Kaiser Wilhelm I (1816-64). At the turn of the 20th century, it had a population of 175,000. By the beginning of World War I, Stuttgart had reached out to embrace several districts, notably ancient Cannstatt, so that its landmass extended to the Neckar River.
During World War II, bombing attacks leveled 60% of Stuttgart's buildings. Not one of its landmarks or historic structures survived intact. After the war, Stuttgart became the capital of the newly formed state of Baden-Württemberg (many still call it by its former name, Swabia). Stuttgart's population today is about 600,000.
