Germany’s 16 states: Baden-Württemberg

• Travel destination Baden-Württemberg

  The cuckoo clock is the souvenir of choice

  This has become a symbol for both Baden-Württemberg and the Black Forest: the cuckoo clock. It still has the same traditional design as it did in the mid 19th century. You can find the biggest examples of these clocks in the towns of Schonach and Triberg, where they reach over 15 meters (about 50 feet). The Black Forest cuckoo clock remains a popular tourist souvenir.

• Travel destination Baden-Württemberg

  The Feldberg, a favorite among tourists

  The Black Forest, with around 23 million overnight stays every year, is Baden-Württemberg’s most visited region. Its highest peak, the Feldberg, is 1,500 meters (almost a mile) high. It is also home to Baden-Württemberg’s biggest nature reserve and offers something for all seasons, from hiking to skiing.

• Travel destination Baden-Württemberg

  Freiburg, the Black Forest metropolis

  The idyllic town of Freiburg is surrounded by forested hills and home to almost 230,000 inhabitants. The gothic cathedral and the pretty old town center alleyways are definitely worth a visit. Enjoy a choice of numerous cafes and pubs offering excellent food. Recent environmental protection projects have also earned the city the title of being the German capital for ecological friendliness.

• Travel destination Baden-Württemberg

  Culinary culture: world-class wine growing regions

  The inhabitants of Baden-Württemberg are considered to be pleasure people. They love Spätzle noodles, Maultaschen pasta and delicious wine. In the wine-growing regions of Württemberg and Baden, from the Neckar to the Rhine rivers, top wines are cultivated. The Kaiserstuhl (photo) is the sunniest and warmest vineyard area in Germany.

• Travel destination Baden-Württemberg

  Stuttgart, the state capital

  With over 600,000 inhabitants, Stuttgart is the biggest city in Baden-Württemberg. The city center lies in a valley basin nestling between vineyards, offering a daily physical challenge for locals, who have to climb or descend the more than 400 steep flights of steps around the city. One of the many attractions in the town center is the “New Castle,” former residence of the kings of Württemberg.

• Travel destination Baden-Württemberg

  Made in Stuttgart: the hub of the car industry

  Baden-Württemberg is seen as the home of inventors and innovators. With his universal combustion engine, Gottlieb Daimler created the basis for the automobile. Today, the Mercedes Benz museum traces the history of the automobile, from the early days to the current prototypes and test vehicles. And if sports cars are more your thing, then you should be sure to head to the Porsche Museum.

• Travel destination Baden-Württemberg

  Heidelberg and its romantic charm

  Many artists have immortalized this city, among them Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Mark Twain. The Heidelberg Castle is the landmark of the town. What once served as the residence of rulers still towers above the old town center and the Neckar river. Heidelberg University has also left its mark on the city. Founded over 630 years ago, it is the oldest university in present day Germany.

• Travel destination Baden-Württemberg

  Back to nature in the Rheinau wetlands

  Baden-Württemberg’s Rheinau wetlands offer floodplain forests, vast meadows and a network of intertwined river arms, where the Rhine still flows unrestrained through nature. The ever changing water level is the life blood of the floodplains, benefitting rare animal and plant species. These are best seen from a flat barge, a boat used by local fishermen to navigate the ancient Rhine tributaries.

• Travel destination Baden-Württemberg

  Holiday destination: Lake Constance

  Lake Constance is the third largest lake in central Europe. Its shorelines lie in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, as well as Switzerland and Austria. The climate is so mild that palm trees and hibiscus grow here, making visitors feel like they have traveled far south. Another highlight is the island of Mainau, where over a million flowers bloom every year.

• Travel destination Baden-Württemberg

  Steeped in history: Hohenzollern Castle

  The Hohenzollern Castle is located in the foothills of the Swabian Alps. With its many turrets, battlements and vaults, it is regarded as a prime example of Gothic Revival Architecture. The castle still belongs to the Hohenzollern family, the former German imperial house. It attracts over 300,000 visitors every year.

  Author: Elisabeth Yorck von Wartenburg

Three become one: The state in southwestern Germany is the only one created by a referendum. In 1952, the states of Württemberg-Baden, Baden and Württemberg-Hohenzollern merged. From that point on, the Black Forest and Swabian Alb, Heidelberg and Stuttgart, Black Forest gateau and Spätzle noodles belonged together — as well as the people of Baden and Swabia who inhabit this land: Baden-Württemberg.

Germany’s blue wonder

Lake Constance is Germany’s largest lake, so big that even neighboring countries Austria and Switzerland get a share of it. Framed by the Alps, wine thrives on its shores protected from wind and cold. On the island of Mainau, even palm trees soar into the sky. No day at the lake is like the other: the colors of its water change between turquoise green, petrol and blue. The best way to experience it is to take a trip across Lake Constance.

Heidelberg

Year after year, Heidelberg has reported new visitor records, counting 13 million guests in 2019. There seemed to be no end in sight to this growth, until the coronavirus arrived. In the summer of 2020, foreign guests stayed away and tourism collapsed. Here’s a snapshot from summer 2020 with Check-inpresenter Nicole Frölich.

Baden-Baden

Magnificent buildings, distinguished people and hot springs: Baden-Baden, on Germany’s southwestern border, at the edge of the Black Forest. This spa and festival town has been drawing guests from the world over since the 19th century. Even today, the spa architecture of “Europe’s summer capital”, as it’s known, reflects the glory of the Belle Époque at the turn of the 20th century.  

Freiburg

Fairly old, fairly green, and mostly sunny. With the most hours of sunshine in Germany, Freiburg is one of its warmest cities, and last year it celebrated 900 years of city history. With a special solar-powered energy supply and environmentally friendly transport policies as examples, this major city on the edge of the Black Forest is considered to be a pioneer in ecological development. Check-in presenter Lukas Stege explores this city on the edge of the Black Forest — sustainably! 

Stuttgart

Stuttgart is known for its automotive history, with Mercedes and Porsche. But it’s not just the museums of the motoring world that make the state capital attractive — also some icons of modern architectural history!

• Germany from A to Z: Stuttgart

  Cars, cars and more cars

  Stuttgart is a top destination for car fanatics. Although subject to opinion, it is widely accepted that the first automobile was invented by Karl Benz in Stuttgart in 1886. Visitors can learn about the inception and development of the car in the Mercedes-Benz Museum, and the Porsche Museum takes guests on a journey through the history of the brand.

• Germany from A to Z: Stuttgart

  City of palaces

  The kings of Württemberg once ruled in Stuttgart, and the many palaces in the area bear witness to this time. The New Palace is in the city center, and during summer the square is a popular hangout for locals and tourists alike. The building is now used by the state ministries of finance and education.

• Germany from A to Z: Stuttgart

  Weissenhof Estate

  The buildings of Stuttgart’s Weissenhof Estate are a feat of architecture. They were designed by the famous architects Le Corbusier and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in 1927 as an exhibition on modern living. Both buildings by Le Corbusier (pictured) were declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2016, together with several of his other works in seven different countries.

• Germany from A to Z: Stuttgart

  Take to the stage

  Stuttgart’s theaters have something for everyone. There are six large, private theaters, around 20 smaller establishments and the multiple award-winning Stuttgart State Theater with opera, ballet and drama productions.

• Germany from A to Z: Stuttgart

  Museums and galleries

  The city boasts 11 large museums, plus 30 smaller exhibition buildings and special collections. The Schweine Museum, for example, is about the art and cultural history of the pig. Among the classics is the Staatsgalerie with paintings and sculptures from the 14th to the 21st century. The architecture is a wonder in itself — a postmodern building combined with traditional building elements.

• Germany from A to Z: Stuttgart

  City life among the vineyards

  Stuttgart lies in a valley surrounded by vineyards. The winemaking industry has more presence here than in any other big German city, and a number of hiking trails take visitors through the vineyards. The tradition dates back 1,000 years, and the wine-growing museum (Weinbaumuseum) provides information about viticultural and oenological history.

• Germany from A to Z: Stuttgart

  Swabian cuisine

  A glass of Swabian wine goes hand in hand with some hearty Swabian food. Maultaschen, for example, are pasta pockets filled with minced meat, spinach and parsley. Visitors can sample Swabian cuisine in one of Stuttgart’s many restaurants or in a “Besenwirtschaft” — traditional Swabian wine taverns that operate without a license for a maximum of four months a year.

• Germany from A to Z: Stuttgart

  Stuttgart Market Hall

  The ingredients for a traditional Swabian meal can be found in all their forms at Stuttgart Markthalle. Even the most discerning foodies will be in their element here, and top chefs also come here to buy their produce. It’s worth a visit just to see the Art Nouveau architecture, which is now listed as a historical monument.

• Germany from A to Z: Stuttgart

  Cannstatter Wasen Festival

  The people of Stuttgart certainly know how to eat and drink … and party! The Cannstatter Volksfest, which normally takes place twice a year in spring and fall, is a huge festival with tents, stalls and fairground rides. This year, both events were canceled due to the coronavirus restrictions.

• Germany from A to Z: Stuttgart

  Stuttgart’s landmark

  The best place to view this “Swabian paradise” is from the TV tower. It soars 217 meters (712 feet) above the houses and vineyards, and on a good day you can see the mountains of the Swabian Jura. Looking out from the tower at sunset, it’s easy to understand why many people still see Stuttgart as paradise on Earth.

  Author: Elisabeth Yorck von Wartenburg (nr)

Mountain delight

The Feldberg is Baden-Württemberg’s most famous mountain. The Belchen is one of those who can compete with it. At 1414 meters (4639 feet) high, it offers its visitors a fantastic panoramic view of the Rhine Valley, the Vosges and, with good visibility, even as far as the Alps.

Black Forest in 360-degree-videos

With nearly 23 million overnight stays in 2019, the Black Forest is more popular than ever before. Known for the famous cake that bears its name, the Black Forest gateau, also famous for cuckoo clocks, Bollenhut pompom hats and of course its endless forests. They are a hiking paradise in summer, in winter skiers glide down its slopes.The capital of the Black Forest is Freiburg with its 800-year-old Gothic cathedral in the city center. 

Use the mouse on your computer or your finger on your smartphone to choose what you want to see. Click on the video and drag the image sections wherever you want. If you have VR glasses, you can watch the video in virtual reality.

Specialties from Baden-Württemberg

Every trip also includes sampling the local cuisine. Since you can’t travel to Germany at the moment, let us bring you a speciality from Baden-Württemberg home to you with a recipe to cook for yourself: the famous Black Forest gateau.

Your trip to Germany

Are you looking for recommendations for your visit to Germany? We’ve got them: Tips for Germany — state by state.

Article source: https://www.dw.com/en/germany-s-16-states-baden-w%C3%BCrttemberg/a-45148057?maca=en-rss-en-ger-1023-xml-atom