Stuttgart Schlossplatz ()
Enjoy these last days of this nice fall weather before winter sets in, and get a jump start on your holiday shopping by taking a walk down Stuttgart’s Königstraße to get your fill of shopping, books, food, coffee and art. The Königstraße dates as far back as the 15th century and was given its current title by King Friedrich I in 1806, when the king decided to place his stables there. While much of it was destroyed during World War II, it has since been restored and today you can enjoy department stores, museums, cafes, specialty shops, relaxation areas and restaurants. At 1.2 kilometers long, this pedestrian-only street is one of the longest shopping thoroughfares in Germany.
As an avid reader, I loved spending a couple of hours perusing books in the multi-level bookstore Thalia. Don’t worry for you readers who only speak “ein bisschen Deutsch” (a little German), they have books written in English as well. There is also a cafe in the store so you can buy a book, find a nook in the corner, eat a delicious pastry and drink coffee while you read your latest literary find.
Right in the middle of the Königstraße, you will find my favorite spot: the Schlossplatz (Castle Square). Here you can see statues and fountains that have been in place since the 1800s. One of the oldest in the square, erected way back in 1841, is the Jubilee Column, which marked the 25th anniversary of Wilhelm I’s reign. In the 1960s, this drab parade ground was transformed into a garden paradise by writer and royal building and garden director, Friedrich Wilhelm Hackländer. This is a perfect place to grab a hot cocoa, bubble tea or iced coffee from one of the many surrounding cafes, find a bench or a spot on the lawn to relax and just take in the world around you.
Everyone knows about “Flamin’ Hot Cheetos,” but have you heard of “Flamin’ Hot Limon Cheetos?” What about Sprite Ginger? How delicious does a Cookies and Cream Twix bar sound? If any of these have piqued your interest, you are in for a treat … well, treats actually, at the World of Candy. The store features candy, cookies, chips, snacks and drinks from all over the world, including my personal favorite, the Green Matcha Kit-Kat bar from Japan. For those with less adventurous tastebuds, it also contains many classic favorites such as gummy worms, jellybeans, Kinder eggs and Oreos.
There is a reason that the LEGOs box says approved for ages 4 to 99 (though now they even make some for kids younger than that). It is because no one can resist letting their imaginations run wild and building something from these tiny block pieces. Whether you want to assemble the Millennium Falcon, Hogwarts castle, Central Park, something of your own creation or simply look at something amazing that someone else has assembled, you can find everything that you need at the LEGO® Store.
So, whether it is being nostalgic with toys and candy, finding a new novel to bury yourself in, shopping for clothes or taking in the scenery with delicious food and drink, there is something for everyone on Stuttgart’s Königstraße.
