From Schillerplatz to the Cannstatter Volksfest
Discover the history, beauty and allure of Stuttgart. From Schillerplatz to the Cannstatter Volksfest.
Famous for its luxury motor industry, Stuttgart is a car enthusiast’s dream destination. With headquarters for both Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, each of them contains museums that hold a fascinating collection of some of their most memorable and historic productions. For those of us who are not that interested in cars except for the fact that they get us from A to B then Stuttgart boasts a wonderful array of culture, history and beauty that is more up our strasse.
If, like me you love animals, make sure that you take a trip to the Wilhelma Zoo. The only zoological botanical garden in Europe and with such a mixture of animals, plants and historical buildings truly marks the Wilhelma as extraordinarily unique. The stunning Moorish architecture alone is enough to entice you but with some of the cutest and most adorable animals you will ever see, along with the natural beauty of the gardens makes the Wilhelma such a memorable experience.
For families, couples or tourists who just love swimming and the outdoors, take a visit to the Badepark Ellental in Bietigheim-Bissingen. Situated in breath-taking hilltop surroundings, this outdoor swimming park boasts a 158m long slide for thrill seekers like me, a wave pool, a temperature pool and non-swimmers pool for those of you who just want to relax. The water park has an array of activities for all and is a must for anyone visiting Stuttgart during May to Autumn.
One of the evocative and scenic parts of Stuttgart Schillerplatz is a quaint little square drenched in history. An assemblage of historical buildings surrounds the square; the Stiftskirche, the Altes Schloss and the Alte Kanzle; and in the centre a monument to Friedrich Schiller. I was captivated by the abundance of history within Schillerplatz. If you arrive on a Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday mornings, you can wander the flower market that takes place in the square. If you are travelling here at the end of August, the square becomes part of the Stuttgart wine village and in December it is transformed into Christmas markets.
During my travels to Stuttgart I visited the Cannstatter Volksfest that is held over a 17-day period during the end of September and start of October. The Volksfest is traditionally a harvest festival in Stuttgart that has been going strong for nearly 200 years. Now one of the biggest festivals in Baden Württemberg and also Europe’s largest funfair it displays a wide variety of activities for everyone; from rollercoasters, traditional carousels and the chandler’s market, where you can find a host of curiosities!
If you arrive at the opening of the Cannstatter Volksfest as I did, make sure you get to see the traditional keg tapping ceremony; it surely is something very unique. On the first -Sunday of the festival there is the Volksfest Parade where you can see wonderful horse-drawn brewery wagons, traditional costume and folk dancers etc…
A visit to Cannstatter Volksfest would not be complete without a trip to the many beer tents that are available. Each of the tents will also have their own timetable of events and activities so make sure to check these out before you go. From my experience, I would advise that you get there early as the tents can get very crowded.
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I love to travel the world, exploring new places and experiencing new cultures. I want to share my experiences with others in the hope that I will inspire their wanderlust.
“To travel is to live” Hans Christian Anderson