Stuttgart

Home to Porsche and the Mercedes Benz, along with an extremely friendly population of 2.6 million, Stuttgart, the regional capital of Baden-Wurttemberg in Germany was originally founded in the 10th century. Located within a basin of a hilly region, Stuttgart is one of the greenest urban areas found anywhere in Europe. Heavily damaged during World War II, several historic squares, churches, buildings, towers and scenic outlooks still decorate the city skyline. Featuring a fascinating Carl-Zeiss Planetarium, the Wilhelma Zoo and Botanical Gardens and several museums, including the Porsche and Mercedes-Benz technical museums, Stuttgart is most famous as the cradle of a flourishing automotive industry.

About an hour’s driving distance from the Black Forest and the Swabian Jura, Stuttgart nestling between vineyards and woodlands, is spread across 207 square kilometers of lush greenery. Regarded as one of the safest cities in Europe, Stuttgart celebrates several seasonal festivals every year, including a large Christmas Market during December and a huge 10 day Wine Festival in early September.