WELCOME TO SOUTHWEST GERMANY THE BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG VACATION GUIDE WELCOME p. 2–3 WELCOME TO SOUTHWEST GERMANY In the heart of Europe, SouthWest Germany Frankfurt Main FRA (Baden-Württemberg in German) is a cultural crossroads, c. 55 km / 34 miles bordered by France, Switzerland and Austria. But what makes SouthWest Germany so special? Mannheim 81 The weather: Perfect for hiking and biking, NORTHERN BADENWÜRTTEMBERGJagst Heidelberg from the Black Forest to Lake Constance. 5 Neckar Kocher Romantic: Some of Europe’s most romantic cities, 6 Andreas Braun Heilbronn Managing Director such as Heidelberg and Stuttgart. Karlsruhe State Tourist Board Baden-Württemberg Castles: From mighty fortresses to fairy tale palaces. 7 Pforzheim Christmas markets: Some of Europe’s most authentic. Ludwigsburg STUTTGART Karlsruhe REGION Baden-Baden Stuttgart Wine and food: Vineyards, wine festivals, QKA Baden-Baden Michelin-starred restaurants. FRANCE STR Rhine Murg Giengen Cars and more cars: The Mercedes-Benz 8 an der Brenz Outletcity and Porsche museums in Stuttgart, Ki n zig Neckar Metzingen Ulm Munich the Auto & Technik Museum in Sinsheim. MUC SWABIAN MOUNTAINS c. 156 km / 97 miles 5 81 Hohenzollern Castle Value for money: Hotels, taverns and restaurants are BLACK FOREST Hechingen Danube Europa-Park BAVARIA7 well-priced; inexpensive and efficient public transport. Rust Real souvenirs: See cuddly Steiff Teddy Bears Danube and cuckoo clocks made in SouthWest Germany. Freiburg LAKE CONSTANCE REGION Spas: Perfect for recharging the batteries – naturally! Black Forest Titisee-Neustadt Titisee Highlands Feldberg 96 1493 m Schluchsee 98 Schluchsee Shopping: From stylish city boutiques to outlet shopping. Ravensburg Mainau Island People: Warm, friendly, and English-speaking. Konstanz Friedrichshafen Lake ConstanceFDH Weil am Rhein Zurich ZRH Here at the Baden-Württemberg State Tourist Board, c. 55 km / 34 miles Basel Rhine AUSTRIA Bregenz we are always ready to help and to answer any questions BSL SWITZERLAND 0 20km at anytime. Do get in touch! We look forward to welcoming you to the Sunny Side of Germany! > 100.000 Berg mit Höhenangaben 50.000–100.000 Autobahn 20.000–50.000 Landstraße / Bundesstraße < 20.000 Eisenbahn Andreas Braun Managing Director State Tourist Board Baden-Württemberg CONTENTS SOUTHWEST GERMANY’S GREAT CITIES & HISTORIC TOWNS Page 6 SOUTHWEST GERMANY’S GREAT OUTDOORS Page 14 CULTURE & TRADITION Page 19 GERMANY’S BEST SHOPPING Page 25 WELCOME TO CAR COUNTRY Page 26 WINE & DINE Page 28 ATMOSPHERIC CHRISTMAS MARKETS Page 30 MUSIC FESTIVALS Page 31 SOUTHWEST GERMANY’S WORLD-CLASS SPAS Page 33 YEAR-ROUND FAMILY FUN Page 35 HOW TO GET HERE Page 36 USEFUL INFORMATION Page 37 PUBLISHING DETAILS Page 38 MAP Page 39 CITIES | TOWNS CITIES | TOWNS p. 6–7 SOUTHWEST GERMANy’S Great CITIES & HISTORIC TOWNS Urban pleasures are easy to find in SouthWest Germany. Museum collections range from world-class art to glamorous cars; the food scene caters to traditional and contemporary tastes, in cozy taverns and stylish restaurants; the region’s wines are known to connoisseurs; and the shopping includes specialist boutiques as well as international names. But part of the fun is doing what locals do – strolling in the parks, admiring centuries-old churches, checking out the markets and stopping at a café for coffee and cake. Best of all, most of the ancient streets in city and town centers are pedestrian-friendly! CITIES | TOWNS CITIES | TOWNS p. 8–9 Stuttgart BADEN-BADEN HIGHLIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS Mercedes-Benz Museum Covering the 125-year story of the automobile, Casino with 160 glamorous cars. James Bond would feel at home here. www.mercedes-benz-classic.com Remember to carry your passport. Porsche Museum www.casino-baden-baden.de One of Germany’s leading-edge museums, The Friedrichsbad and Caracalla Spa showcasing 80 glamorous models. The Friedrichsbad is a unique experience; the Cara- www.porsche.com/museum calla has pools (indoor, outdoor) and treatments. The Stuttgart State Gallery (Staatsgalerie Stuttgart) www.carasana.de One of Germany’s great art collections: Museum Frieder Burda Rembrandt, Picasso, modern works. Excellent modern art, with works by Picasso, www.staatsgalerie.de Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko. www.museum-frieder-burda.de SouthWest Germany’s capital has it all, Stuttgart State Theater (Staatstheater from grand palaces and expansive parks Stuttgart), home to ballet, concerts “Elegance” and “sophistication” are grand hotels, chic shops, gardens and the to leading-edge architecture – and two and, of course, opera. As for shopping, bywords for this five-star resort city on 19th-century casino, with its chandeliers, world-famous automobile museums. the Königstrasse is Germany’s longest the edge of the Black Forest. Bad (mean- gilt and red velvet. Stroll in the Lichten- Strolling is a pleasure in the compact shopping street, stretching for nearly one ing baths) is the old-fashioned term for a taler Allee, a riverside park, and you walk INFormation INFormation downtown, where pedestrians have mile (1,200 m); nearby is the legendary spa and the hot, healing mineral waters in the footsteps of Queen Victoria, Napo- priority. The elegant New Palace (Neues Breuninger, the luxury department store, Stuttgart-Marketing GmbH here have been popular for 2,000 years. leon III and 19th-century Russian author, Baden-Baden Kur & Tourismus GmbH Schloss) dominates the main square; in as well as designer boutiques. Relax Rotebühlplatz 25 In what looks like a small palace is the Dostoevsky. With its fine acoustics, the Solmsstrasse 1 the city’s historic heart is the Old Castle in cafés; eat in traditional taverns or 70178 Stuttgart historic Friedrichsbad, with its ”Roman- Festspielhaus (Europe’s second largest 76530 Baden-Baden (Altes Schloss), whose Renaissance contemporary restaurants; and taste the T +49 (0)711 22280 Irish” baths; by contrast, the Caracalla concert hall) stages 300 world-class T +49 (0)7221 275200 courtyard hosts concerts in summer and local wine, produced in vineyards just F +49 (0)711 2228217 Spa (Caracalla Therme) is modern. In the events every year. Within easy reach are F +49 (0)7221 275202 E [email protected] E [email protected] at Christmas. Often rated as Germany’s outside the city! W www.stuttgart-tourist.com old days, Baden-Baden was a favorite of vineyards and wine taverns. W www.baden-baden.com “Opera House of the Year” is the beautiful the nobility; now everyone can enjoy the HEIDELBERG FREIBURG HIGHLIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS The Castle (Schloss) Freiburg Cathedral (Freiburger Münster) Part atmospheric ruin, part impressive palace, In the West porch, spot the carving of the devil, with a 14th-century pharmacy. dressed as a knight. www.schloss-heidelberg.de www.freiburg.de The Old Town (Altstadt) Augustinermuseum Wander down narrow lanes past old houses, See centuries-old carved stone statues and stained historic churches and coffee houses. glass close up. www.heidelberg-tourismus.de www.museen.freiburg.de Student Jail (Studentenkarzer) Schauinslandbahn cable car The 500-year-old university jail has its original Germany’s longest gondola run (2.2 miles/3.6 km). fixtures and graffiti! Rise 2,500 ft/750 m in 20 minutes. www.heidelberg-tourismus.de www.bergwelt-schauinsland.de “Romantic” is the only way to describe on up to the Königstuhl (King’s Throne), Germany’s southernmost major city outstanding art works by Lucas Cranach Heidelberg. It is a photographer’s delight, with wide-open views to the Rhine has a warm, sunny climate. At its heart and Matthias Grünewald, all beautifully from the 18th-century Alte Brücke, the valley. Down in the Old Town, students is the 500-year-old Freiburg Cathedral presented. But, Freiburg is also one of the red sandstone bridge on the Neckar River, from Germany’s oldest university (1386) (Freiburger Münster). Climb the West world’s leading “eco-cities” – rated for its INFormation INFormation to the castle that dominates the city. Built add a buzz, while the Heiliggeistkirche Tower (381 feet/116 m) to appreciate the public transport, pedestrianized center, Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe as a medieval fort and then converted (Holy Spirit Church) was actually shared Heidelberg Marketing GmbH skill of the medieval stonemasons and to solar power and even green hotels. The GmbH & Co. KG into a residential Renaissance palace, by Catholics and Protestants for more Ziegelhäuser Landstrasse 3 enjoy views over the medieval rooftops to university is one of Germany’s finest; Rathausgasse 33 this is a must-see, with walls, gates and than 200 years. Relax on a narrated 69120 Heidelberg the handsome Old and New Town Halls. nearby are award-winning vineyards; and 79098 Freiburg a moat – let alone the grand views from river cruise; buy the traditional gift for T +49 (0)6221 5840200 For a wider vista, ride the gondola up the city makes an excellent base for trips T +49 (0)761 3881880 the 400-year-old terrace gardens. Ride a sweetheart, a Student’s Kiss chocolate F +49 (0)6221 5840222 the Schauinsland Mountain and walk the into the Black Forest, and also into neigh- F +49 (0)761 38811498 E [email protected] E [email protected] the funicular to the castle, then carry that is still handmade after 150 years at W www.heidelberg-tourismus.de forest trails. In the excellent Augustiner- boring France and Switzerland. W www.freiburg.de/tourismus Knösel (Haspelgasse 16). museum, originally a monastery, see CITIES | TOWNS CITIES | TOWNS p. 10–11 MANNHEIM PFORZHEIM HIGHLIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS Water Tower (Wasserturm) Museum of Jewelry (Schmuckmuseum) Standing 200 feet/60 m high, this symbol of Beautifully-displayed jewelry in a modern building Mannheim is a classic Art Nouveau design. overlooking a park. www.mannheim.de www.schmuckmuseum-pforzheim.de Reiss-Engelhorn Museums Worlds of Jewelry (Schmuckwelten) The “rem” complex offers everything from World The practical side of jewelry and jewelry making, Cultures to Photography.