Exploring Downtown Stuttgart

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After a week of in-processing, yesterday (Saturday) was the first full day Tom and I had to venture around Stuttgart.  We decided to try out the bus and train system and go downtown.  There was a market we were particularly interested in finding.  The Markethalle is an indoor market that features goods from 38 international vendors.  We found this historic landmark but unfortunately it and all the other shops downtown were closed due to a national holiday.  So Tom and I just walked around exploring some of the parks and pedestrian streets.

After arriving at the Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof (main railway station) we started walking and soon came to the Palace Square and the New Palace.  It's known as Palace Square because it was once part of the ducal garden.  Duke Carl Eugen commissioned the building of the New Palace starting in 1746.


The Palace Square was redesigned as a public park in the 19th century.  The Jubilee Column that you see in the picture above was designed and erected to celebrate the 25th anniversary of King Wilhelm I's reign in 1841.  Additions were made in the early 1860s with the goddess of harmony, Concordia, set on top of the column, and two basin fountains.  

Here's a self portrait of Tom and me.  He is so good at lining up these photos.



Here is the base of the Jubilee Column. 



Below you'll see the New Palace behind the fountain.  Stuttgart is the state capital of Baden-Wurttemberg.  That is something new I've learned in preparation for this move.  Before when I thought of Germany, I always thought of one big country with no division.  But similar to the U.S. there are states within the country and each state has a capital city.

The palace is where state visitors are received.  Don't be too struck by the structure or think it is really old because it is a facade.  The original palace, built between 1746 and 1807, was destroyed by fire during WWII (probably the fate of many historic buildings in Germany) and its ruined remains were to be demolished.  Tens of thousands of Stuttgart citizens signed a petition that saved the palace and it was rebuilt using reinforced steel construction and with a historic facade.  Tom and I did not go in but we'll have to check some other time to see if they do tours.  Two banquet halls and an ornate staircase were restored to their former glory.    


A bit further down from Palace Square is the Collegiate Church, erected some 1,000 years ago.  Near one of the church's doorways was a representation of Jesus Christ and his 12 disciples.  There was something that looked like chicken wire secured over this entire section.  I assumed it was to keep the birds off of the statues.  



















Next door to the church is the Fruchtkasten (The Old Granary).  It's the building with the pointed gable.  Originally it was ducal wine and grain store but today it is an exhibition room for the Wurtemberg State Museum.  Tom and I will have to go back and visit it.


















The final picture I'll leave with you for now is not of downtown Stuttgart.  Okay, I'll actually leave you with two photos.  The installation we are staying on has a small section of the Berlin Wall.  I've been told that very few remnants of the Wall remain in Berlin.  I asked Tom to take a picture of me with the section and the warning sign.  I'm also including a picture of me and the boys (Smokey and Bear) hanging out in our room.





































We're not in a large room but it is comfortable enough.  Tom and I saw one apartment last week and we have appointments to see 5 others this coming week.  I'll keep you posted on how the house hunting goes.

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