Beat the summer heat in Stuttgart’s reopened museums

Story and photos by Bardia Khajenoori U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart

From modern art to luxury cars and dinosaurs to local wine, Stuttgart’s museums offer something for everyone. They’re not only great places to explore local history, but also to escape some of the hottest summer days— well, just not on Mondays (the museums are closed).

Most are welcoming back visitors for the first time in months after having spent months closed due to COVID restrictions.

Visits may require pre-booking a timeslot and/or proof of vaccination or negative test result, so check the museum’s website and call ahead for the most current requirements before making a trip out.

You may also be asked for personal details like a phone number or an address for the purposes of contact tracing.

All museums are located in Stuttgart unless otherwise noted.

AUTOMOTIVE

Mercedes Benz-Museum

Covering the development of not only the brand, but the automobile itself, its nine levels provide plenty of engaging information even for people who may not normally be interested in a car museum.

It weaves in social, political, and technological changes happening globally alongside design innovations, and integrates exhibition themes into the building itself; for example, the display area showcasing new safety features has walls made of airbag material.

Porsche Museum

A striking building directly adjacent to an S-Bahn station (Neuwirtshaus – Porscheplatz) houses dozens of Porsche vehicles from all periods of the company’s history, including early models and modern racecars.

Focus is placed on design and technical innovation. Around 80 cars are on display at any given time, as well as a number of interactive experiences.

Outside of COVID times, both companies offer guided factory tours.

HISTORY/CULTURE

City Museum Stuttgart (Stadtmuseum Stuttgart, in the StadtPalais)

The permanent exhibition at this free museum tells the story of Stuttgart and its people from the 1700s through the present day. English translations are abundant in the exhibition. The building itself, centrally located at Charlottenplatz, was formerly the home of the last king of Württemberg, and functioned as the city’s postwar library until 2011.

An interactive display at Stuttgart’s city museum allows visitors to delve more deeply into the history of specific topics, buildings, or traditions of their choosing.

Linden Museum

The city’s museum of world cultures has various permanent exhibitions revolving around a multitude of artifacts from different eras and civilizations. A special exhibition running through next year examines connections between colonialism, the region of Württemberg, and the museum itself. Audio guides available in English.

Württemberg State Museum (Landesmuseum Württemberg)

Housed in Stuttgart’s Altes Schloss (Old Castle), the origins of this free museum date back to the “cabinet of curiosities” maintained by 15th-century dukes. Various pieces of antiquity present the history of the region dating from the Stone Age to the Kingdom of Württemberg. An English audio guide is available.

A special exhibition on fashion (subject to an entry charge) has been extended through April 2022 and is also available to explore for free on the museum’s website and the Google Arts and Culture website/app.

Concerts and other events are often held in the striking courtyard of the Altes Schloss.

ART

Staatsgalerie Stuttgart

The collection of the State Gallery spans thousands of works from the fourteenth century to the present day, with a diverse array of styles. Everything from Renaissance art to French impressionism and American pop art can be found within its walls.

The Staatsgalerie is home to 800 years worth of art, with this triptych standing just rooms away from pieces by Claude Monet and Jackson Pollock.

Entry to the permanent collection is free on Wednesdays. Its “new” building, completed in 1984, is itself a work of art—it was tied for fifth in a 2010 survey to find the most important structures completed in the previous 40 years.

Kunstmuseum Stuttgart (Modern Art Museum)

Those with a preference for modern and contemporary art will feel right at home at the Kunstmuseum, housed in the distinctive glass cube at Schlossplatz, the main square. Find an excellent view of the square and surrounding area by going to the top floor, near the entrance to the restaurant (no ticket required).

Schauwerk Sindelfingen

A beautifully repurposed former production facility of a Sindelfingen-based refrigeration and air conditioning multinational plays host to a large collection of contemporary art. A special exhibition by acclaimed British sculptor Anthony Gormley, entitled “Learning to Be,” opens in mid-June.

Museum Ritter (Waldenbuch)

Chocoholics may be disappointed to learn that the Museum Ritter, located at the Ritter Sport complex, houses an impressive collection of geometric abstract art rather than tributes to their favorite sweet.

Nevertheless, a relatively small but enjoyable free exhibition about the history of Ritter Sport and the chocolate making process is housed above the factory store in the same building. A specially marked pathway from the museum provides a short hike into the tranquility of the adjoining Schönbuch Nature Park.

NATURAL HISTORY

The State Museum of Natural History

Stuttgart is housed in two locations on opposite sides of Rosenstein Park: the Museum am Löwentor (identifiable by the large dinosaurs outside) is home to the well-known paleontology collection, while Schloss Rosenstein focuses more on general natural history, biology, and ecology.

OTHER/NICHE

Carl-Zeiss Planetarium

The Planetarium, located next to the main train station, offers a selection of mostly science and education-focused presentations, along with music-related special events. Their website offers schedules, contact information, and an updated list of sold-out presentations, as reservations are highly recommended.

Presentations can be simulcast in English with the use of a receiver and headset that can be borrowed at no charge, or through a downloadable mobile app with your own headphones.

Viniculture Museum (Weinbaumuseum)

Stuttgart is a winemaking town, and the history and unique characteristics of the region’s viniculture is on full display at this museum located in the small hilltop district of Ulbach. Of course, tasting opportunities are also available.

A visit to the museum should also include a stop at the nearby Württemberg Mausoleum (Grabkapelle auf dem Württemberg).

The tombs of the area’s longest serving and most influential king, Wilhelm I of Württemberg, and his wife, Grand Duchess Katharina Pawlowna, are located inside the monument, which is perched on an exposed hilltop above a sea of vineyards.

Pig Museum

One of Stuttgart’s most unique museums, and located inside the former administration building of the city’s main slaughterhouse, the Pig Museum is home to 25 themed rooms and more than 50,000 pig-related exhibits from around the world. An onsite restaurant and biergarten naturally offers a mix of pork dishes, as well as other Swabian delights.

Tram Museum (Strassenbahnwelt)

Explore more than 150 years’ worth of local transportation history at the Tram Museum in Bad Cannstatt (a converted depot) amidst dozens of trams from different periods of history, some of which can be entered or viewed from underneath.

The Streetcar Museum, seen here during an anniversary event in 2018, offers a ride through local public transportation history.

Among the souvenirs for sale at the front desk are socks in the style of the Stuttgart U-Bahn seat pattern. On Sundays, a historic tram operates between the TV tower (Ruhbank Fernsehturm stop) and the Tram Museum. Ticket prices and schedules are found at the museum website.

Weissenhof Museum in the Le Corbusier House

Anyone with an interest in architecture and design will enjoy a visit to this home designed by Le Corbusier, which enjoys UNESCO World Heritage status as one of his 17 most innovative works across the globe. The house itself is one of several surviving buildings of the Weissenhof Estate, created for a 1927 building exhibition with contributions from some of the most well-known architects and designers in history.

This overview is provided as a courtesy to help community members explore local culture and does not imply federal endorsement.