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Trendy fashions and tasteful elegance go happily hand
in hand in Stuttgart, the state capital of Baden-Wuerttemberg.
There are lots of tempting goods on offer, especially in the heart
of the city with its smart pedestrian precincts and shopping arcades which entice visitors to
stroll around and window-shop.
And afterwards the city`s restaurants,
bars and cafés have something to satisfy even the most critical palate
with their excellent selection of food and drink.
The Koenigstrasse - over a kilometre in length - is a busy shopping boulevard with specialist shops, department stores, international chains, cafés, restaurants and relaxation areas. One of Germany`s longest and finest shopping thoroughfares, it begins opposite the main railway station and runs right through the heart of the city. Other streets to the right and left of it, such as the Eberhardstrasse, the Stiftstrasse and the stylish Calwer Strasse with elegant shops and boutiques are equally inviting. If you`re looking for way-out fashions and up-and-coming designers, the Gerberviertel (Tanners` Quarter), is the place to go. A variety of arts and crafts, wonderful antique and collectors` shops, cosy wine taverns and lively pavement cafés are to be found in the picturesque Bohnenviertel (Bean Quarter).
Stuttgart`s pedestrian zones and shopping arcades serve street artists from all corners of the globe as an open-air auditorium for concerts and theatre performances. The bustling diversity of the Königstrasse is one of the reasons why visitors like to linger here late in the evening after the shops have closed, especially at the popular meeting place on the steps of the Kleiner Schlossplatz (Small Palace Square) next to the new Museum of Art.
A visit to the redesigned Koenigsbaupassagen (Koenigsbau Arcades)
is a must for all shopping freaks. This modern and spacious shopping complex,
with a sales area of some 27 000 sq.m spread over 5 levels, was created by Hascher & Jehle,
the architects of the adjacent Museum of Art. The Koenigsbaupassagen adjoin the classical Königsbau
and are now the latest haunt of lovers of modern design. Whether in the "Stilwerk"
store with its top names from the field of interior design, or in the
boutiques of "in" fashion designers - the new Koenigsbaupassagen have
something for every taste.
The name of Breuninger, Stuttgart`s leading
clothing store, has for many decades stood for top quality, a superior
and varied selection of goods, and competent staff to advise shoppers.
This large store on the Marketplace along with the cafés in
the "Karlspassage" is where to go if you want to see - and be
seen in - the latest fashion trends.
A visit to the beautiful Art Nouveau Market Hall will revive memories of holidays in southern climes. Here you`ll find all kinds of exotic delicacies, specialities, fruits and flowers from all over the world. This speciality market and gourmet`s paradise also houses an exceptional kind of store. Merz &Benzing, on the gallery of the Market Hall, sells an enticing and inspiring range of articles for the home and garden.
Phoenixbau (Phoenix Building) is a true shopping mecca covering some 10 000 sq.m.
With four sales and four office floors,
the Phönixbau is one more exclusive address in the Königsstrasse - with direct access to Stuttgart`s central park, the Oberer
Schlossgarten (Upper Palace Gardens).
The name of Hochland automatically makes one think of
Stuttgart. The Hochland coffee shops can be found on
many corners in the city centre.
The parent company
in Stuttgart-Degerloch has its own roasting house, where Hochland coffee was "invented".
Today, the company is managed by Martina Hunzelmann, the granddaughter of its founder. Apart from
coffee it also sells other delicacies, such as the cracknel biscuits known as "Stuttgarter Stäffele" ("Stuttgart Steps").
Some 35 kilometres from Stuttgart there`s a further highlight for those out for a shopping spree: the Outletcity Metzingen, with more than 40 factory outlets, including top designers, sportswear manufacturers and fashionable shoes, is a true shoppers` paradise which has long enjoyed an international reputation.