Enjoyable landscape
The Stuttgart region is embedded in magnificent landscapes that tempt you to enjoy: vineyards extend into the city centers and at the foot of the Swabian Alb lies one of the largest contiguous orchard landscapes in Europe.
Orchards and vineyards: landscape tempts you to enjoy
Stuttgart, with its “Green U”, an 8-kilometer-long green belt of parks and gardens, and the adjacent forests, is one of the greenest cities in Europe. Whether you're walking, jogging or taking a challenging bike ride along the steep slopes of the basin: local recreation begins here in the middle of the metropolis.
In the south, the state capital's forests merge almost seamlessly into the Schönbuch, a 156 square kilometer nature park with wooded hills, enchanted valleys and ponds full of water lilies and croaking frogs. To the north-east of Stuttgart, the Swabian Forest beckons: where robbers once lived, the area today attracts those seeking relaxation with its unspoilt nature. Swimming, hiking or skiing - it's all possible here. The Swabian Alb with its mighty escarpment in the east of the Stuttgart region has been designated a biosphere area by UNESCO. It offers unique views and natural experiences - including castles, fossilized dinosaurs and rare orchids. Directly at the foot of this rough landscape lies one of the largest contiguous orchard areas in Europe: in spring, fragrant clouds of flowers enchant here, and in summer and autumn the branches bend under the weight of cherries, pears and apples - many of them representatives of old varieties.
Vineyards to hike and enjoy
But what would the Stuttgart region be without the typical vineyards that stretch along the warm Neckar valley into the foothills of the Alb? In the Hessigheim rock gardens, which rise steeply above the Neckar, daring climbers scale rock needles right next to steep vineyards. Several wine hiking trails lead in a variety of ways through Stuttgart's vineyards, which extend almost to the main train station. In which other big city can you find this?
The gentle hills of the Rems Valley also invite you to go hiking; this picture-perfect landscape offers everything your heart desires: the atmosphere of the vineyards, the edible splendor of the orchards, idyllic places, art and culture in abundance, garnished with wonderful panoramas.
Here, as in the rest of the Stuttgart region, the heart of the southwest reveals itself as a gourmet paradise - because what could be better than tasting a glass of one of the many award-winning wines together with a Swabian specialty after a walk through the vines? Regionality is considered a principle of enjoyment here and is regularly rewarded with top positions in the restaurant guides.
Mineral baths and poetic cycling routes
In addition to culinary well-being, physical well-being is also taken care of: Stuttgart has the second largest mineral water reserves in Europe, so numerous baths and fountains invite you to relax and recharge your batteries. And cycling can also be done with energy and enjoyment everywhere, whether peacefully along the Neckar cycle path or on a mountain bike over hill and dale. In the Böblingen district, for example, the Heckengäu with its species-rich flora and fauna is waiting to be explored by bike on designated paths.
The “By Pedal to Poetry” tours offer a particularly beautiful interplay between culture and nature: Here, the literary region of Stuttgart can be discovered using muscle power. The 400-kilometer-long “E-Bike Region Stuttgart” route, which runs through all five districts around the state capital, is specially tailored to the needs of e-bike riders.