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Escape to the great outdoor gems surrounding Stuttgart
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Staatsgalerie The Staatsgalerie’s home is itself a work of art. Its new building, seen here, was tied for fifth in a 2010 survey to find the most important structures completed in the previous 40 years
Schlossgarten An open-air relaxation event takes place in one of the lawns of the Unterer Schlossgarten.
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By Bardia Khajenoori U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart
Due to the uncertain conditions surrounding COVID-19 and the possibility of changing restrictions, this month’s Culture Corner focuses on parks and other outdoor areas in Stuttgart where the entire family can get outside and enjoy the fresh spring air. MUSEUMS
Stuttgart offers a diverse museum landscape covering everything from cars, art, and local history to dinosaurs, wine, and streetcars to name just a few. Open rain or shine, though typically not on Mondays, they offer unique experiences and welcome respite from unpleasant weather. As of press time, museums in Stuttgart are open by prior appointment, but this may change. For descriptions of more than a dozen museums in the Stuttgart area, visit stuttgartcitizen.com
your preferred mapping application to find one, if needed. PARKS Wilhelma
The only combination zoo and botanical garden in Germany, Wilhelma has its origins as a royal bathhouse but is now home to nearly 1,200 animal species, making it one of the most diverse zoos worldwide. Should the zoo be closed, certain animals in mostly-outdoor enclosures (such as camels, bison, and alpacas) can be seen from the other side of the fence, at the north edges of Rosenstein Park.
center. The “Unterer Schlossgarten” (nearest to the U-Bahn stops of Stöckach, Metzstrasse, and Mineralbäder) has playgrounds, a mini “mountain biking” area for children, lakes, grilling areas, biergartens, and tree-covered pathways. Max-Eyth-See
Stuttgart’s largest lake was created during the canalization of the Neckar River in 1935, and the rolling hills and wide open green spaces surrounding it are one of the area’s most picturesque leisure spots. Although boats can be rented to go on the water, swimming is not permitted. Weissenburgpark
Killesberg
This 123-acre hillside park hosts, between its numerous grassy lawns, a free-standing observation tower, swimming pool (Freibad), mini train system (the Killesbergbahn), petting zoo, playgrounds, historic fairground area with antique rides, and more.
The Bopser U-Bahn stop provides the easiest transit connection to this park, which is known for its panoramic viewing platform near an open-air cafe and historic “Teehaus.” A picnic would be welladvised, but come early if you hope to find a spot on the lawn ahead of sunset. Karlshöhe
PLAYGROUNDS
There are numerous playgrounds in and around the city for children of all ages, including in the urban center (for example, on Kronprizstrasse), in parks, in forests, and along the Neckar River. Nearly all Biergartens, when open, will have large playground areas as well. Search “spielplatz” in 12
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Württemberg/ Grabkapelle Looking out toward Untertürkheim and the city center from the Württemberg Mausoleum over the vineyards of Rotenberg, Stuttgart.
April 2021
Schlossgarten
Officially divided into three parts, this 600-yearold park area stretches from Schlossplatz to Bad Cannstatt, where it meets Rosenstein Park and continues the “Green U” — a corridor of about five miles of interconnected parks in the city
This park, on a ridge in the west of the city, offers a fantastic vantage point as well as a popular biergarten. Nearby is the Städtisches Lapidarium. Städtisches Lapidarium
A cross between a park and an open-air museum,
