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Stuttgart, Germany:
The exceptional city of Stuttgart has become a symbol of present-day success. The lively capital of the Baden-Württemberg enjoys the highest living standard of all German or even European cities. The city is a famous hi-tech centre, home to Daimler-Benz or Daimler-Chrysler, Porsche and Bosch. Stuttgart was founded in the 10th century as a small stud farm, called in German “Stuttengarten”, from which word derives the present city name. By the 14th century it was already known as a town. In the following centuries Stuttgart was shadowed by the prosperous independent German cities in the region. In the 19th century Napoleon Bonaparte changed the situation, subjugating the Free Imperial Cities and making Württemberg a kingdom with Stuttgart as a capital. Although it has been in this role for no more than a century, it became a prosperous urban centre. Do not expect to see many historic monuments in Stuttgard, but the city is very rich in various museums, galleries, intense cultural and night life. And it also enjoys a very picturesque location in a hollow, surrounded by soft hills, covered by vineyards and lovely gardens. The main advantage of the relatively late urban development from the 19th century onwards is the compact and easily manageable centre, you can not find in any other large German city. The excellently organized public transportation provides easy access to all other major sights, scattered in the suburbs. One of the main streets - Königstraße, leads from the central railway station Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof to the modern Cathedral (Dom), which is a not very attractive, even slightly dull church. A few more steps along the same street and you will reach the central square Schlossplatz. This is a spacious open area, an ideal place to relax after the hectic bustle of the cosmopolitan city centre. But be careful as the square is also a favorite place for many alcoholics and tramps, a strange sub-class in the city with one of the highest living standards. The eastern side of the Schlossplatz is occupied by the Neues Schloss - a monumental Baroque palace, where various events are held. Only the cellars of the palace are opened for regular visits. They keep the Römisches Lapidarium, displaying a considerable collection of ancient Roman stone works. The exposition is focused around remarkable fragments of the huge Jupiter Column (Jupitersäule) from Hausen an der Zaber near the town of Heilbronn. Right opposite the Neues Schloss is the Königsbau - a pretty Neoclassical building with a long façade, lined with many attractive shops. The centre of the Schlossplatz is adorned by a memorial column - the Jubiläenssäule, erected to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the coronation of King Wilhelm I of Württemberg. Next to the northern side of the square is situated the Kunstgebäude where temporary displays of works by Württemberg’s artists are organized. Diagonally across the Schlossplatz you will find the impressive modern building of the city's gallery (Galerie der Stadt Stuttgart). The space south of the square is occupied by the Altes Schloss. It is a gorgeous Renaissance palace built in the mid-16th century on the site of an earlier 14th-century moated castle, which one wing is well preserved. The palace’s plan was created by the famous architect of the time - Aberlin Tretsch. It has a wonderful triple-tiered courtyard where concerts of classical music are held during the warm summer months. The Schlosskapelle or the palace chapel is one of the earliest examples of the Protestant religious architecture, which put more emphasize on preaching than the sacraments. It has a regular rectangular plan with three gallery sides and an elevated pulpit, as prominent as the altar itself. The larger part of the Altes Schloss houses the Württembergisches Landesmuseum. The museum displays one of the richest and most varied art collections in Germany, which is focused around the Kunstkammer of the House of Württemberg, exhibited in on of palace’s corner towers. On the first storey are displayed small bronze sculptures. The second storey is designed in a style representing a typical Renaissance curio cabinet, showing an interesting set of Gothic playing cards. The top storey has an impressive display of 19th-century crown jewels, including the necklace with the famous 22-carat Harlequin diamond and an exquisite gold service imported from Russia. A special attention is given to archeology. Many of the exhibited ancient artifacts have been excavated in Stuttgart and the surrounding region. An entire room is separated for the objects from the rich burial site of a Celtic prince, found in Hochdorf. Other intresting exponents include a Roman cameo of Jupiter and Swabian votive sculptures made of wood. The larger part of the Altes Schloss houses the Württembergisches Landesmuseum. The museum displays one of the richest and most varied art collections in Germany, which is focused around the Kunstkammer of the House of Württemberg, exhibited in on of palace’s corner towers. On the first storey are displayed small bronze sculptures. The second storey is designed in a style representing a typical Renaissance curio cabinet, showing an interesting set of Gothic playing cards. The top storey has an impressive display of 19th-century crown jewels, including the necklace with the famous 22-carat Harlequin diamond and an exquisite gold service imported from Russia. A special attention is given to archeology. Many of the exhibited ancient artifacts have been excavated in Stuttgart and the surrounding region. An entire room is separated for the objects from the rich burial site of a Celtic prince, found in Hochdorf. Other intresting exponents include a Roman cameo of Jupiter and Swabian votive sculptures made of wood. The west side of the Old Palace (Altes Schloss) is flanked by the Schillerplatz. This is the oldest and most picturesque square in the city, deriving its name from the pensive Schiller's statue by Bertel Thorwaldsen, erected in the middle of the open space. The square is surrounded by 3 wonderful Renaissance architectural monuments: the Old Chancellery, the Prinzenbau and the gabled Granary, which has successfully preserved its 14th-century heritage, except for the later façade. It houses the Landesmuseum's rich collection of historic musical instruments. South-east from the Schillerplatz is situated the Markthalle. Right next to it is the Stiftskirche with its impressive octagonal tower based on a square foundation. The present-day appearance of the church was created in the 15th-century by the skillful city's architect Aberlin Jergs. Inside the Stiftskirche keeps one of the most famous German Renaissance sculptures - the ancestral gallery of the 11 Württemberg's counts and dukes, lining the church choir. The exquisite figures with very individual features were carved by the sculptor Sem Schlör. The gilded Gothic pulpit and the relief depicting Christ Sheltering Humanity are also worth visitor's attention. South-east of the Schillerplatz, on the Hauptstätter Street, is located the Leonhardskirche. This is another historic church, reconstructed during 15th century by Aberlin Jerg. In its chancel is buried the famous Renaissance humanist and scholar - Johannes Reuchlin. The eastern boundary of Stuttgart's city centre is the modern and elegant Konrad Adenauer Street. North-east of it is the Bohnenviertel or the Bean Quarter, taking its name from the many vegetable gardens which existed in the area in the past, kept by the artisans who lived here at the time. Today, the quarter is known for the presence of many of the Stuttgart's famous Weinstuben. North of the Bean Quarter, on the Konrad Adenauer St. is found the Wilhelmspalais, a splendid Neoclassical palace, which used to be the residence of the last kings of Württemberg. At present-day it keeps the municipal library and archives. Across the street fro the palace, right behind the Neues Schloss, is situated the Akademiegarten - the most southern extension of the 4 km long Sclossgarten, which spreads to the banks of the River Neckar. In this park, between the Konrad Adenauer Street and the Hauptbahnhof are located the Staatstheater and the Planetarium. On the other side of the same street, overlooking the Akademiegarten and Staatstheater, lies the Staatsgalerie. The art gallery is housed in one of the most impressive buildings of the city centre. It is a splendid Neoclassical architectural monument with a new, modern extension, designed by the talented contemporary British architecture James Stirling and built in 1984. But not only the building is impressive - the gallery exhibits a magnificent and very rich collection of paintings. The earliest of them date back to the 14th and 15th centuries and are created by the Bohemian and Swabian schools. Among the most stunning art pieces in the gallery is the Herrenberg Altar, painted by Jerg Ratgeb. This art work will impress you with its violent expressiveness. Here you will see some of the best old German masters too, including Hans Holbein the Elder and his “Grey Passion”, as well as and group of paintings by the exclusive Master of Messkirch, a prominent follower of Dürer. The oldest exponent in the Italian section of the Staatsgalerie is “The Apocalypse”, created by the so called Neapolitan master around the middle of the 14th century. The famous Venetian Renaissance masters are superbly represented by Bellini, Carpaccio and Tintoretto. But the most celebrated paintings in this section are several sketches by Tiepolo, part of his study for the frescoes of the monumental central staircase of the Würzburg Residenz. The Low Countries' famous artists are well represented by Memling and his voluptuous "Bathsheba at her Toilet", some rare mannerists, including the Joachim Wtewael's animated portraits of "The Four Evangelists". Here you can also see one of the earliest works by Rembrandt - "St Paul in Prison", as well as his gentle "Tobit Healing His Father's Blindness". The gallery has a separate hall, entirely devoted to the impressive cycle of paintings "The Legend of Perseus" by Edward Burne-Jones, considered one of the finest works, representing the Pre-Raphaelite art movement. Other remarkable 19th-century artists shown in the Staatsgalerie include Friedrich and Johann Heinrich Dannecker. The modern extension of the gallery displays works dating back to the 20th century onwards. Here you can see monumental bronze works by Matisse, works by Oskar Schlemer, Mondigliani and Dix. The gem of the exposition is one of the two richest Picasso collections kept in Germany. |
