Walking is my main source of exercise these days as it's an activity that I enjoy and one that my beagle will actually take part in. (We quickly found out when he was a puppy that running was out of the question after about five minutes.) I wrote a post last fall about some of my favorite walks in and around Stuttgart, and I'd like to continue that post with three more walks that I've found since then.
And so here are three more walks that I've come to enjoy in and around Stuttgart (again, in no particular order and continuing from where I left off):
7. Weinsteige - I know that I listed the Weinsteige under number five for my last post, but I've since realized that there's another way to get down to the city center from Degerloch that's much more scenic. Instead of following the road called Weinsteige down from the Weinsteige U-bahn station, you should get off at the Degerloch U-bahn station, cross the street and take Rubensstraße one block, then turn right at Helene-Pfleiderer-Straße. From there, walk down the stairs and turn right until you get to the little park where the Schimmelhüttenweg begins. (I know the directions sound a bit complicated, but just Google Schimmelhüttenweg Stuttgart and you'll find it.) This long, winding path takes you through the scenic vineyards around Degerloch with a gorgeous view of the city. Be sure to check out some of the names and dates on the vineyard stones along the pathway down for a little bit of Stuttgart family history. The path meets up with the Marienhospital, and you can take it all the way to Marienplatz for a bite to eat or for a train ride home.
8. Birkenkopf - This hill to the south-west of the city center is the tallest in Stuttgart at 511 meters -- and it's topped off with a monument of rubble. After World War II, about 45% of the city was destroyed, and all the rubble was moved there. You can still see the cornices of old buildings and statues there, as well as a metal cross and plaque dedicating the site to the victims of the bombings. Though the memorial is humbling, the hill offers a nice, gently sloping walk with another sweeping view of the city. The easiest way to get there is to take the U-bahn to Hederplatz and begin walking up. As a little incentive, stop at the Mövenpick Weinkeller for a glass of wine when you're finished.
9. Grabkapelle & Esslingen - This walk is one of the longer weekend walks that we take, but also one of the nicest. It starts at the Grabkapelle in Rotenburg, which is just a short bus ride from the Untertürkheim U-bahn station. The Grabkapelle is a mausoleum that was built by William I of Württemburg on the death of his young wife Catherine -- with whom he was deeply in love if the inscriptions around the building are anything to go by. You should definitely go inside while you're there to see the elaborate marble interior and listen to the incredible acoustics in the crypt below. From there, you can walk along the same vineyards where the Collegium-Wirtemberg hold their wine walk every year in the spring. If you stay up high, you can walk the full seven kilometers to Esslingen. However, if you get lost and end up going down the hills (as we've done on occasion), then you can still check out the Collegium-Wirtemberg Weinkeller and wine museum in Uhlbach before hopping on the S-bahn to head home.
Have you found any other great walks around Stuttgart? Share them in the comments below.