April 18 is International Monuments Day. A day to celebrate our cultural heritage.
To mark the occasion, we decided to do something that was long overdue: choose our favorite monuments in Stuttgart. We have chosen them according to the strict definition of the word monument. In other words: buildings and sculptures that serve as a reminder of past events and people.
The following 3 are the ones we find most impressive and/or charming for one reason or another
Monument to Häberle and Pfleiderer
They may not be as famous nowadays (the author confesses to not having known them until recently), but Willy Reichert and Oscar Heiler are two truly legendary entertainers and comedians in Stuttgart’s history. With their hilarious sketches in Swabian dialect, they helped spread the fame of the typical Swabian throughout Germany. But it’s not just because of them that we like this monument. The sculptures of the two men and their dog certainly have a special everyday charm – they even seem to depict a typical conversation between neighbors.
Eberhard’s group
The Eberhardsgruppe is proof that we can make art in Stuttgart just as beautiful or even more beautiful than in classical Greece. This monument is dedicated to Prince Eberhard I, who, according to the poem The Richest Prince by Justinus Kerner, was the richest nobleman because he “can boldly lay my head in the lap of every subject”. Apart from this other reason for Stuttgart’s pride, the sculptures possess a unique plasticity that can only be found in the classical works of art of a world-renowned museum.
Anniversary column
Well, we couldn’t make a list of monuments and not include the Jubilee Column. It simply fits the definition of impressive. Built between 1841 and 1846 to celebrate the 60th birthday of King Wilhelm I of Württemberg and the 25th anniversary of his reign, it is one of the city’s most popular photo opportunities for good reason.
There are so many details in the reliefs, inscriptions and statues that you could spend an entire afternoon studying the Wikipedia page dedicated to it. Or even better, walk around it on the Schlossplatz.