ROUTE · CITY WALK · STUTTGART-MITTE

Stuttgart: From Schlossplatz through the Bohnenviertel to Eugensplatz

This city walk leads from Schlossplatz through different chapters of Stuttgart’s history: from its royal residences via the Markthalle to the lanes of the Bohnenviertel and the StadtPalais. It finishes with a climb up the Eugenstaffel steps to Eugensplatz, where views open out across the city’s basin.

Translated from German with the help of AI. Audio guides are available in German. Read the original in German

Length: 3.0 km
Duration: 1 Std.
Ascent: 66 m
Descent: 11 m
Highest point: 302 m
Difficulty: mittel
Type: Strecke mit Abstecher

Between Schlossplatz and Schillerplatz

The walk begins on Schlossplatz, with its lawns, fountains and Jubiläumssäule in front of the Neues Schloss. The gardens seen today were laid out on ground once used for parades and military drills. The walk thus starts at a place where royal grandeur and public city life overlap.

The first stop is Schillerplatz. The Altes Schloss, Alte Kanzlei, Prinzenbau, Fruchtkasten and Stiftskirche frame a square whose buildings have served a variety of historical purposes. At its centre stands the Schiller monument by Bertel Thorvaldsen, erected in 1839. Among these buildings, the city’s earlier role as a royal seat comes to the fore.

Trade and intimate neighbourhoods

At the Markthalle, the focus shifts from palace architecture to a functional building of the early 20th century. Opened in 1914, Martin Elsässer’s market hall combines Art Nouveau forms with what was then a modern structural framework. Food is still traded beneath its glass roof. The building is both a historic monument and a working market.

The route then leads into the Bohnenviertel. Here, smaller houses, lanes and courtyards shape the streetscape. The name recalls the climbing beans that residents grew between the houses to feed themselves. Crafts and winegrowing were part of the neighbourhood’s history; today, galleries, antique shops and places to eat and drink add to its character. In contrast to the grand palace squares, the emphasis here is on the history of everyday life and work.

From palace to panorama

At the StadtPalais, the route returns to the history of Württemberg’s rulers. The former Wilhelmspalais was built as a residence for the king’s daughters, Marie and Sophie. Later, Württemberg’s last king lived here. Following wartime damage, reconstruction and a period as the city library, the building opened in 2018 as a museum dedicated to Stuttgart.

The final section leads up the Eugenstaffel steps to Eugensplatz. The staircase adds a substantial climb to the city walk. At the top stands the Galatea-Brunnen, with its figure of a nymph donated by Queen Olga. From the viewing platform above the fountain, the view extends across the city centre and the surrounding basin. To round off the walk, its squares and neighbourhoods become part of a wider city panorama.

Stops along the route

Schillerplatz
bei km 0.4 ·
Friedrich Schiller stands on his plinth between the Altes Schloss, Alte Kanzlei, Prinzenbau and Stiftskirche. The Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen created the monument, which was erected in 1839. Nikolaus Friedrich von Thouret designed the plinth. The surrounding buildings served very different purposes: aristocratic residences, administration, worship and storage. The steep-gabled Fruchtkasten, a former granary, recalls this last function in its very name. The 2 contrasting towers of the Stiftskirche add a distinctive touch to the skyline. Here, the history of Württemberg’s royal seat is brought together in a single square.
Markthalle
bei km 1.2 ·
A glass roof spans the hall, while reinforced concrete beams allow for its spacious interior. When the building opened in January 1914, it combined modern construction with an exterior designed to fit its historic surroundings. Architect Martin Elsässer gave the market hall an Art Nouveau design. Today, the Markthalle is a listed building and continues to serve its original purpose. Its stalls offer food and specialities from many countries. Architecture and the daily business of buying and selling have gone hand in hand here for more than a century.
Bohnenviertel
bei km 1.8 ·
This quarter takes its name from an earlier form of self-sufficiency. Craftspeople and winegrowers planted climbing beans between the houses. The vegetables helped feed local residents and gave the neighbourhood its name. Small houses, lanes and courtyards characterise this historic district. After the destruction of the Second World War, the quarter was restored. Today, antiques shops, galleries, workshops, cafés and restaurants are part of everyday life here. These façades reveal a different chapter of Stuttgart’s history from its palaces: the story of homes, crafts and small-scale trade.
StadtPalais
bei km 2.2 ·
This house was intended for 2 royal daughters. Between 1834 and 1840, Giovanni Salucci built the Wilhelmspalais for Princesses Marie and Sophie of Württemberg. Later, Wilhelm II, the last King of Württemberg, lived here. In 1918, the palace became a setting for the end of the monarchy. Following severe wartime damage, it was rebuilt and then served as the city library for decades. Since 2018, it has housed the StadtPalais, Stuttgart’s city museum. The royal residence has thus become a place where the city tells its own story.
Eugensplatz
bei km 2.9 ·
Above the Galatea-Brunnen fountain, views open up over the rooftops and the basin in which Stuttgart lies. From this elevated spot, you can see how the city stretches between the valley floor and the hillsides. The fountain with its cascading water was inaugurated in 1890. Its central figure is Galatea, a nymph from Greek mythology, donated by Queen Olga. Another monument commemorates Vicco von Bülow, better known as Loriot. He lived nearby from 1938 to 1941. The column erected in his honour was later topped with a bronze pug, funded by donations from local residents.

Practical

Start: Schlossplatz
· Navigate to the start
Route type: Strecke mit Abstecher: etwa 0.9 km (30 % der Strecke) werden zweimal gegangen – hin und auf demselben Weg zurück (km 0.2–0.6, km 1.6–2.1). Im doppelt gegangenen Teil liegen: Schillerplatz, Bohnenviertel, StadtPalais.
Weather: Loading weather …
Live bus and train times: Loading departures …
Loading departures …
By bus and train: Start: Charlottenplatz station, Stuttgart (about 370 m).
Finish: no station within 1.5 km.
The route page shows current departures; check the timetable before travelling.
Places to eat and drink: The Markthalle is home to Restaurant Empore, serving Italian cuisine, the tapas bar Desirée and Marktstüble, which serves Swabian dishes. Check opening hours in advance.
Notes: The final climb via the Eugenstaffel involves steps. Check the opening hours of the Markthalle and StadtPalais before visiting their interiors.

The duration is an estimate and does not include breaks. Pay attention to signs, closures and the weather. In an emergency: 112. Quelle des Wegverlaufs: Berechnet mit openrouteservice aus OpenStreetMap-Daten (© OpenStreetMap-Mitwirkende, ODbL).

Datenquellen

Bus and train: Deutsche Bahn AG, Timetables API (CC BY 4.0)
Weather: Deutscher Wetterdienst (über Bright Sky)
Weather: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0)
Tourismusdaten: Deutsche Zentrale für Tourismus (DZT) – Knowledge Graph, Daten der jeweiligen Anbieter

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