24 Mar 2016
In 2016, SouthWest Germany celebrates their delicious food and wines in combination with their breathtaking nature! Heidelberg enjoys a bit of witty tradition with Cafe Knösel's Studentenkuss or Student's Kiss Cake. In the middle of the wine hills is Stuttgart and there is no better city to celebrate wine than in the capital of Baden-Württemberg region. In Baiersbronn, immerse yourself in Michelin starred restaurants or take it to go with fun and gourmet hiking packages. Fly flawlessly when you fly into or out of Stuttgart Airport, Germany's sixth largest airport aims to make the stay of every passenger as pleasant as possible. Next year, the bicycle celebrates its 200th anniversary and its birthplace in SouthWest Germany already boasts many biking trails. See the state's most beautiful landmarks and parks on two wheels and sunshine!
Heidelberg - Where Students Kiss in the Form of Chocolate
In the heart of Heidelberg's Old Town stands the traditional Café Knösel a long-standing institution founded in 1863 by Fridolin Knösel. Soon after the cafe was opened, it became a beloved meeting point especially by the young ladies attending Heidelberg's finishing schools who enjoyed his delicious pastries. Knösel, a witty, dedicated chocolatier and master confectioner, noticed the male university students flock to his café to try to catch a glimpse of the ladies while avoiding their strict governesses. These secret longings did not go unnoticed by good-natured Knösel. Ingenious as he was, he created a particularly delicious chocolate delight, which he impishly called the Student´s Kiss. Given as a present, it was such an exquisite, gallant token of affection that not even the chaperones could object to. His young customers now had a way to show discreet and polite affection for one another. Today Knösel's descendents still make these delicious cakes from his original recipe. Make sure to stop here to show your companion an old-fashioned symbol of your affection - in chocolate form, of course. In 2014, the café added to its romantic delicacies with the "Kiss Cake" a moist and delicious chocolate cake made out of organic ingredients.
Stuttgart -- A City of Good Taste
Baden-Württemberg is a region known for its abundance of delicious wine, beer, Michelin starred restaurants and culinary delights; and Stuttgart, as the capital city, exudes all of these qualities. Stuttgart has a wide range of culinary highlights to offer from gourmet cuisines to exquisite wines and refreshing beers, spectacular hiking trails through vineyards. As a city of wine, Stuttgart enjoys celebrating this heritage, the main wine grown here are the red varieties of Lemberger, Spätburgunder and Trollinger. You will enjoy the incredible Viniculture Museum and attend the Wine Village Festival in late August. Beer in Stuttgart is not to be overlooked though: The Dinkelacker-Schwaben Bräu Brewery offers an in-depth tour that allows visitors to see the entire production process from hops to malt - and of course taste the local beer. There is no need to despair when you are feeling hungry in Stuttgart. With 16 Michelin starred restaurants in the region and eight in the city itself the city's culinary aspect is just waiting to be explored. If you are looking for a more down to earth and regional meal with locals, enjoy "Maultaschen" at a Swabian restaurant. More adventurous travelers can find these local dishes in the "Besenwirtschaften" a simple tavern in the vineyards that serves only its own wine and food. As for the name, a Besen (broom) hung over the door shows that these family- run spots are open.
Baiersbronn -- Gourmet Picnics and Three Starred Restaurants in the Black Forest
The town of Baiersbronn in the Black Forest seamlessly brings the unlikely pairing of gourmet food and hiking together. The tiny town of only 15,000 people has the highest concentration of Michelin stars in the world. Baiersbronn boasts three world-class restaurants sharing eight Michelin stars between them, thanks to Jörg Sackmann (2 Star Schlossberg Restaurant), Harald Wohlfahrt (3 star Schwarzwaldstube Restaurant) and Claus-Peter Lumpp (3 Star Bareiss Restaurant). Situated in the beautiful and romantic Black Forest, visitors can spend their days hiking and their evenings enjoying the gourmet food. This year Baiersbronn offers special travel packages such as the Gourmet Package that includes two nights in a three star hotel, a bottle of SouthWest German wine, and a 4-6 course meal prepared by Michelin starred chef Jörg Sackmann. If you would rather eat your meals outside in the fresh air after an adventurous hike, Baiersbronn also has a special package for you. Enjoy a guided tour, a packed backpack with a delicious lunch, two nights in a 3 star hotel and extra bottle of wild berry liquor to warm the soul - all for 199Euros per person.
Stuttgart Airport -- Michelin Starred Restaurant Top Air is the Gateway to Food Heaven in SouthWest Germany
Germany's sixth largest airport aims to make the stay of every passenger as pleasant as possible. Visitors staying for a longer layover can enjoy high-class fashion stores, duty free shopping facilities and stress-free eateries. A special highlight is the restaurant "Top Air" the only restaurant in an international airport holding a Michelin star 25 years in a row. Guests traveling for business or pleasure can enjoy an exclusive gourmet experience without ever leaving the airport. There is no need to lower your gastronomical standards here, enjoy a 3-course meal before take off. The airport welcomes daily flights from Atlanta to Stuttgart provided by Delta Airlines. The airport can boast of its excellent infrastructure consisting of direct access to the motorway and public transportation that makes it the best gateway to SouthWest Germany.
Cyclists rejoice! The Bicycle Celebrates its 200th Birthday Next Year
In anticipation of the bicycle anniversary next year, SouthWest Germany is highlighting some of its most desirable bike routes. SouthWest Germany is not only the birthplace of the automobile but also the birthplace of the first non-animal mode of transportation. Long before Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz, Karl Drais invented the bicycle in Mannheim and patented it in 1817. Just like the car, the bicycle has come a long way from its first invention, as have the bicycle routes all over its home state of Baden-Württemberg. Whether riding through the Swabian Alps, the mysterious Black Forest or the breath-taking Lake Constance the bicycle is the best way to experience any region. Take a bicycle to see the best of nature, the bountiful vineyards around Stuttgart, the Neckar River, the Swabian alps, the trees in the Black Forest or the shimmering Lake Constance or take your bicycle to see the abundance of castles, monasteries, gardens and monuments. SouthWest Germany helps you make the most of your bike adventure with a simple tour-app. This can be downloaded from the website onto your smart phone. You can choose a path near you; see intricate maps, the closest sights, details about the path's length, duration, level of difficulty and characteristics. For tourists who are worried about not having internet in Germany, all of the maps can be downloaded and used offline while on the go.
Bicycle Routes
