Stuttgart

Perhaps not as well known as some of Germany's other big centers, Stuttgart is one of the four main metropolitan areas of the country - and also sits in the center of mainland Europe. The area is known for many things, to some its the green forested hills of the surrounding Black Forrest, to others it's known the cradle of the automobile - home to Mercedes-Benz, Maybach, and Porsche. Historically part of many kingdoms and states, the region is full of palaces and castles of dynasties of the past and present. Stuttgart is a great place to see Germany, the grand and the charming, the old and the new.

1	2 The main square in central Stuttgart: Schlossplatz (Palace Square).	3 Königstraße - Germany's bussiest shopping street cuts right through the center of Stuttgart.	4 The "New" Palace of Stuttgart, right off the main square is a fantastic 18th century Baroque palace.
5	6 Stuttgart from above: green, surrounded by smaller towns, cities, and rolling hills.	7	8
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33	34	35 Stuttgart is the only major city in Germany that grows wine within the city limits - here in the top right corner you'll see the vineyards.	36
37	38 I took the overhead shots from the Stuttgart Fernsehturm - In 1956 it was a remarkable as the first reinforced concrete obvservation tower built - the prototype for future towers around the world.	39	40
41	42	43	44 Hohenzollern Castle: still owned by the Prince of Prussia, built in the 19th century for the Hohenzollern Dynasty
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49	50 Bebenhausen Abbey - 12th century monestary in the forrested surroundings of the Stuttgart area.	51	52 bedroom views in the rural Stuttgart region.
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57 Ludwigsburgh Palace known as the "Versaille of Swabia" has 452 rooms and dates back to 1704.	58	59	60 Mercedes-Benz Museum
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