Need for Speed: Stuttgart, a Car Lover’s Dream

August 9, 2017

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Stuttgart is a city famous in the automotive industry, often referred to as the ‘cradle of the automobile’. It was here that the first car was designed and built by Karl Benz in 1885 – a carriage powered by a small combustion engine. It was also in Stuttgart that the car industry really took off in later years, and today it’s still home to the headquarters of both Mercedes-Benz and Porsche.

For car enthusiasts this makes it a tantalising place to visit, with fantastic museums and historical sites from the automotive industry.

 

Mercedes-Benz Museum   

This distinctive museum traces the 130-year history of the car manufacturing industry, right from the first motorised vehicle invented by Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz up to the modern day, the only museum in the world to do so. There are 160 different vehicles displayed across nine floors, providing a two-hour experience for visitors as they travel through the timeline of car manufacturing. The museum is closed on Mondays, and is open between 9am and 6pm the rest of the week.

 

Porsche Museum  

Another big name in the automotive industry, Porsche’s headquarters are in the north of the city and the company also has its own landmark museum. Around 80 vehicles fill the exhibition spaces, charting the history of the company’s design and engineering expertise, from the early 20th century to the modern day. Most of the cars on display are drivable, with exhibits changing throughout the year. There are also interactive displays and sound installations that bring the history of Porsche and car manufacturing to life. The museum is open from Tuesdays to Sundays between 9am and 6pm.

 

Gottlieb Daimler’s Birthplace

Schorndorf to the east of Stuttgart is home to the birthplace of Gottlieb Daimler, the pioneer of the automotive industry. Born in 1834, Daimler grew up the son of a baker, later entering the gunsmith trade and attending college in Stuttgart. He invented a highly successful petrol engine intended for general use, but particularly for use in transportation, pioneering motorised automobiles. His home is now open as a museum, with personal items and fascinating exhibitions about his life. It’s generally open from 2pm on weekdays except Mondays, and from 11am at weekends.

 

Motorworld Region Stuttgart

A must-visit for classic car enthusiasts, Motorworld is where collector’s pieces and rare models are bought, sold, and restored. Events are held throughout the year, and there’s a restaurant and beer garden, car repair shops, showrooms, and even a themed hotel with classic cars made into beds, and rooms designed to look like fuel stations. Check out the latest events held at Motorworld here.

Our Dover to Dunkirk ferry route gives you the best option for travelling to Germany by car from southern parts of the UK, or our Newcastle-Amsterdam route for the North and Scotland.

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