Architectural dream
(c) Kiedrowski, Rainer
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Age: 18
Position: Forward
Country: Argentina
Caps: 6
Goals: 1
Club: Barcelona
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Tuesday, 23, May 2006 07:11
Found in the far south-west of Germany, Stuttgart is set in a picture-perfect location, surrounded by hills and vineyards. It is a vibrant city that became rich thanks to its booming industrial base, although this meant it was heavily bombed during the war. Happily, the historic old buildings have been painstakingly restored to their former glory and this is one of Stuttgart's main attractions. The stunning city centre is resplendent with medieval, baroque and art nouveau architecture, which sit alongside a variety of parks and gardens that cover half the city, making it the greenest of urban areas.
Stadium guide
Facts
. Founded: 950 AD
. Population: 590,000
. Area: 200 sq km
. Distance: London-Stuttgart: 450 km or 390 miles
Matches
16th June- Holland v Ivory Coast
13th June- France v Switzerland
19th June- Spain v Tunisia
22nd June- Croatia v Australia
25th June- Last 16
8th July- Third place play-off
Transport
Getting There: More than 60 airlines fly into Stuttgart airport carrying eight million passengers a year. S-bahn lines S2 and S3 will whisk you to the main station in the city centre in under 30 minutes, without the need to change trains.
Germany's high speed train network means you can reach Berlin in five hours and Munich and Nuremberg in two. Fans will be able to easily reach a number of other stadiums if they are lucky enough to have tickets.
Getting around: The standard combo of U & S bahn, buses and trams allow tourists to easily see the four corners of the city. Stuttgart does pride itself on being green, so hiring a bike could also be worth considering
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Sights
The Old Palace: The beautiful old palace began in the 10th century as a moated castle, but work continued until the 16th century. It was built on the site of the Duke Luitolf of Swabia's stud garden (Stutengarten), from which the city took its name. The palace is now the home of Württemberg State Museum, and if you are very lucky, you might catch one of the concerts or events that are occasionally held in this stunning setting.
Schloss Solitude: Solitude palace is found outside the city centre, in the forest to the west, looking down over the valley basin. This art Roco palace was constructed as a hunting lodge and summer palace in 1769. It underwent extensive renovation from 1973-83, ensuring tourists could see the interior in all its splendour.
Markethalle: The market hall was built in 1914 in an art nouveau style. The ground floor is made up of a food market selling meat and veg, while the upper floors host a number of small restaurants from where you can peer at the goings on below.
Schlossplatz: This is easily the most attractive square in the city. You can sit and gaze at the new and old palaces, the House of Art, Königsbau and in the centre, the Jubilee column. On a sunny day this is the prefect place to sunbathe, enjoy a drink in one of the cafes or simply marvel at the architecture.
Stuttgart State Gallery: This gallery holds some of the most impressive art in any German gallery. Paintings from the 14th to the 19th century line the walls, including pieces from Canalettto and Rembrandt. A new wing designed by British architect James Stirling now holds a significant 20th century collection, including a permanent Picasso exhibition. Visitors come not only to see the art work, but also the impressive post modern architecture.
Mercedes-Benz Museum: For diehard fans of Top Gear this is a dream come true. Over 100 cars are on display including the first car ever built in 1886. Celebrity vehicles on show include those of the Pope, Ringo Starr and the Jeeps used in the film Jurassic Park! Take line S1 to the Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion.
Green Stuttgart: The city is very proud of its green reputation. Over half of Stuttgart is covered with greenery, including their celebrated vineyards. The Palace gardens that run right up to Schlossplatz are beautifully manicured and they prove very popular when the sun shines. From here a Green-U extends round the city, with each different green expanse linked by a number of bridges and paths.
Entertainment
Fan Festival: For the duration of the World Cup, the Schlossplatz will be turned into one mass festival. All the matches will be shown on giant screens around the jubilee column. A wine festival will run for four weeks in the Schillerplatz, while in the Marketplatz fans themselves can get some exercise playing street soccer. The whole event will be able to hold up to 70,000 people, which should ensure a great atmosphere.
Shopping: Königstrasse is the main shopping thoroughfare of Stuttgart, running for a kilometre through the city centre. As well as numerous department stores and specialist shops, there are hoardes of street performers that line the pedestrianised road. Schulstrasse links this retail heaven to the market square.
Festivals: Before you head off to Stuttgart it is definitely worth checking what festivals are on. Beer and wine celebrations are common, especially in the summer months. A wine festival will be running alongside the World Cup fan festival and then again in August and September for those who fancy a more sedate event. Celebrations like this are historic affairs, with the beer festival dating back to 1818. The advantage of this is that you can claim you are taking in the city's heritage while at the same time enjoying a drink.
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Food, Drink & Accommodation
Food: Spatzle is a noodle-like food that is central to a lot of local dishes. It is made from flour and egg dough which is then boiled in salt water. These are served as an accompaniment to meat or with cheese as Kasspatzle. Maultaschen ravioli is another popular dish, which is often filled with meat, spinach or egg.
Wine and Beer: Stuttgart is one of the premiere German wine producing areas. The principal grape in the local brew is the red trollinger, which is only grown in the area. It is normally served in quarter litre glasses. Despite the popularity or wine, the locals aren't averse to having a beer and any bar or cafe will offer a decent selection, often brewed locally.
Accommodation at the Stuttgart fan camp, in the Reitstadium, will run throughout June and July 2006, to provide low cost World Cup accommodation to youngsters, between 16 and 27. As well as accommodation, there will be internet facilities, human table football, stage shows and all the football live on big screens. There will be space for up to 1000 campers, who can benefit from the unbeatable price of ten euros per night including breakfast!
Stuttgart youth hostel offers 309 beds, as well as a bistro and bar. Take the U- bahn, line 15 (direction Ruhbank) to Eugensplatz. International youth hostels ('Jugendherbergen') are owned and run by the association "Deutsches Jugendherbergswerk" (DJH). They form part of the Hostelling International (HI) network. If you want to stay there, you must become a member of a youth hostel that belongs to the HI network. Don't worry too much if you aren't a member, since you can either join on the spot, or pay an extra charge for a temporary welcome pass.
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Richard Harris-Deans