Stuttgart

Lore & Background

Since the seventh millennium BC, the Stuttgart area has been an important agricultural area. The Roman Empire conquered the area in AD 83 and built a massive castrum near Bad Cannstatt. Stuttgart's roots were truly laid in the tenth century with its founding by Liudolf, Duke of Swabia, as a stud farm for his warhorses. The town grew steadily and was granted a charter in 1320. The fortunes of Stuttgart turned with those of the House of Württemberg, and they made it the capital of their county, duchy, and kingdom from the 15th century to 1918. Stuttgart prospered despite setbacks in the Thirty Years' War and devastating air raids by the Allies during World War II. By 1952, the city had bounced back and became the major cultural, economic, industrial, financial, tourism and publishing centre it is today.

In Their Own Story

The air inside the stadium grows thick before kick-off as floodlights slice through the evening mist. On one flank, a sea of red and white erupts into a wall of sound; on the other, the yellow-and-black stripes stand defiant against the Bavarian tide. The referee's whistle cuts the tension, sending the ball rolling toward the center circle. This is never just another matchday. It is the latest chapter in a decades-long saga where every tackle carries the weight of history, and every goal tips the delicate balance of power across southern Germany.

Reader's Guide

Stuttgart is known for its strong high-tech industry, especially in the automotive sector. It has the highest general standard of prosperity of any German city. Several major corporations are headquartered in Stuttgart, including Porsche, Bosch, Exyte, and Mercedes-Benz Group. Stuttgart is an important financial center; the Stuttgart Stock Exchange is the second largest in Germany (after Frankfurt), and the Landesbank Baden-Württemberg (LBBW) is Germany's largest Landesbank. Stuttgart is also a major transport junction; its airport is the sixth-busiest in Germany (2019). The city is home to famous automobile museums like the Mercedes-Benz Museum and Porsche Museum. Stuttgart was one of the host cities for the official tournaments of the 1974 and 2006 FIFA World Cups.

Did You Know?

• Stuttgart is known as the 'cradle of the automobile'.
• The city's tourism slogan is 'Stuttgart offers more'.
• 40% of Stuttgart's residents, and 64% of the population below the age of five, are of immigrant background.
• Stuttgart's metropolitan area is consistently ranked among the top 5 European metropolitan areas by GDP.