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MERCEDES BENZ MUSEUM STUTTGART
History - Luxury - Racing Technology

Stuttgart is a Mercedes town. There’s no doubt about it when you arrive at the Stuttgart main train station which bears the silver Mercedes-Benz tristar-in-a circle symbol twirling above the main building. Unlike the modern naming of a stadium for a company for sponsor money, that star has been there for some time. Though, if the car company’s long history with Stuttgart is old, it’s museum is brand new and so very modern.

Located near Stuttgart’s soccer stadium (which is named and sponsored by Mercedes), as you approach the museum with its Mercedes silver skin in a sweeping curve, it appears like a cross between a metallic layer cake and a giant high-tech fuel injector you might find under the hood of a “Transformer” 300 SL. The museum is organized on the unusual idea of starting at the top and working your way down. The huge open interior atrium rises several floors above with futuristic pod shaped elevators taking you to the top floor, where you follow the 120 year partnership between Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz which has resulted in one of the world’s most respected automobile brands.

The historical journey starts on the top floor 130 feet up and follows a chronological order downward through five levels of automotive and German history. The visitor is guided by an individual head phone that activate when near an exhibit. I must admit it took me a couple of floors before I figured out how this high tech device actually worked. It talks to you automatically as you move from floor to floor, but you have to press a button relating to a dot on the exhibit display to get the details. You can also take a group guided tour, or just hang around the edges and listen in if you want to move at your own pace.

The displays follow a circular ramp the winds down through the levels of magnificently fascinating and beautiful machinery along with photo displays on the walls of German and world history that gives context to the inventions and designs. On display are some of Mercedes-Benz most exotic designs, limousines built for potentates and presidents, Gullwings and even an example of the Mercedes-Benz “Pope-Mobile” the bulletproof glass encased vehicle of Pope John-Paul.

And for the sports car and racing enthusiast, sweeping displays celebrating Mecedes-Benz competition history. Here you’ll find the Sterling Moss driving winner of the 1955 Mille Miglia (See Mille Miglia Museum) Juan Manuel Fangio’s 1956 Grand Prix championship car and the modern era F1 Mercedes-McClaren of Mika Hakkinen. The Mercedes racing history is also represented by a display of these famous drivers racing suits, gloves and helmets of the greats like Moss, Fangio and Ascari along with the gleaming shining trophies.

The tour ends with a display of futuristic design concepts and of course a store where you can shop for Mercedes-Benz gifts and souvenirs. And should you feel inspired by buy an actual car, which is the ultimate corporate goal of a museum after all, the factory dealership is just outside the museum doors.

For anyone with an interest in cars or design, the Mercedes-Benz Museum is one of the most unique highly stylized museum experiences and a study in design all on its own. Price for a day ticket is 8 Euro. A spot on a guided tour is 4 Euro additional. The Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday 9 am to 6 pm. The ticket counter closes at 5 pm. A tour of the factory is also available by arrangement for museum visitors.

The museum is on the east side of Stuttgart, just across the Neckar River on the property of the Mercedes factory. The easiest way to get there is by S-Bahn train, take line S1 to the “Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion” stop and follow the signs. By car from the A8 or A81 motorways follow the signs to Stuttgart Zentrum and follow the signs to the stadium, Mercedes-Benz Museum or Neckarpark. © Bargain Travel Europe

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See Also:

GERMANY'S BLACK FOREST
More than Ham & Cuckoo Clocks

A TOUR WALK AROUND MUNICH
From Beer for Breakfast to the Brauhaus After Dark

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