Another trademark of Stuttgart is a penchant for innovative architecture. The city's art museum and the 1927 Weissenhof settlement were built based on the designs of Bauhaus architects like Le Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe.

Adventurous architecture has followed Stuttgart throughout the ages - starting with the Old Palace, or Altes Schloss, which was built during the renaissance, to the Art Nouveau market hall and on to the post-modern art museum, the Neue Staatsgallerie. The architectural contrasts bring the city to life. And recently, Stuttgart 21, a planned project to put the railway station underground caused controversy that made headlines.

There are also two spectacular showrooms for fans of Stuttgart's most famous products - the Porsche and Mercedes Benz. Here, visitors can see a silver matt Porsche 356/1 Roadster or a Mercedes 300 SL Coupé with red leather upholstery.

Outside the city, vintners invite visitors to tasting sessions in the vineyards while tasty dishes - like the Gaisburger Marsch casserole - tempt the taste buds.

From Visit Germany
Editor: Sue Cox