The Staircase Capital of Germany: A Climb to Remember!
By: Your Comedic Quartet
Ah, Stuttgart! The place where the locals don’t just walk home; they embark on an epic saga that would make even Frodo Baggins reconsider his travel plans. According to recent revelations from our trusty authors, Nadja Öffner and Theodora Billich, Stuttgart is flexing its fitness muscles with the most staircases of any city in Germany. That’s right! While we’re all busy choosing between the elevator and the stairs, Stuttgart residents are not merely making a decision; they are clocking in their daily cardio!
The Great Staircase Challenge
With over 400 outdoor stairs—apologies, I mean “Stuttgarter Stäffele”—Grandma’s favoring of the stepper is starting to look like child’s play. Let’s put it this way: If you’re looking for a workout routine that combines cardio and a clear path to injury, Stuttgart’s the place to be!
Now, climbing those “Stäffele” isn’t just a way to build strong calves—it’s a pathway to local pride. With their initial design serving to connect the locals to vineyards on sloping hills, one wonders: Are the world’s finest wines really worth this much exercise? But let me tell you; the views you get from those heights might just answer that profound question.
Cardio with a View
Visitors brave enough to attempt conquering all the stairs in Stuttgart face a daunting ascent of around 20 kilometers. And for what, you ask? To witness the beauty of Stuttgart, where stair climbers can simultaneously sweat and admire stunning views like it’s a two-for-one deal! Who needs a gym when you have these beautiful “Stäffele” that double as stair racks with a vista?
Among the finest are “Eugenstaffel” and “Willy-Reichert-Staffel”. The locals are quick to boast about them as not only the most popular, but also the stunningly beautiful. You climb; you gasp; you marvel—like a real-life workout montage unfolding before your very eyes, complete with dramatic music.
Reclaiming Health—One Step at a Time
And can we take a moment to appreciate the locals dubbed “Stäffelesrutscher”? I imagine this title comes with a medal of honor, or at least a spot on the local stairway hall of fame. What’s even better is Stuttgart’s commitment to these stairs. They’re investing hundreds of thousands of euros into maintenance and renovations! Now that’s what I call a love affair with steps!
In Conclusion: Stairway to a Healthier Life (Or Just a Tired One)
So, if you’re one to think modern convenience means dodging those stair workouts, Stuttgart could well be your new fitness destination. Just remember, it’s not just about getting to your destination but also the journey—or the climb, in this case. As poet Friedrich E. Vogt wisely pointed out, “If Stuttgart had no stairs, his girl wouldn’t be so slim and not so pretty!” The only drawback? This city is not defined by flat surfaces, so forget ‘barrier-free’ living. You’ll build muscle or betraying a stairway challenge could drop your self-esteem quicker than realizing the elevator was out of order!
So pack your trainers, leave the elevator button alone, and embrace the Stuttgart ascent! Stairway to heaven? More like stairway to a sweat-soaked mortal existence!
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In some cities, the walk home can quickly turn into a fitness workout. A city in Baden-Württemberg probably has the most staircases in all of Germany.
Convenience has crept into many everyday situations. A prime example of this would probably be the decision between the elevator and the stairs. In most cases we choose the elevator rather than the arduous journey up the stairs. But there is a large city in Baden-Württemberg where climbing stairs is often unavoidable when strolling through the city: This metropolis is one of the cities with the most stairs in Germany.
There are over 400 outdoor stairs in the Stuttgart basin. They are called “Stuttgarter Stäffele” by the city’s residents. © Arnulf Hettrich/IMAGO
More than 400 open-air stairs keep the people of Stuttgart busy
The “Swabian metropolis” Stuttgart not only houses one of the most famous shopping streets in Baden-Württemberg, which is known for having previously been a moat. A trip to the state capital is a constant ups and downs. In the basin there are between 400 and 600 open-air stairs, which are known as “Stuttgarte Stäffele”. How many there are exactly is not known. That’s why Stuttgart competes with Wuppertal for the title of the city with the most stairs in Germany.
The “Stäffele” originally served as access to the vineyards on the slopes of the valley basin. Today they are mainly used as paths or shortcuts to the new, higher residential areas of the city. Because of the many staircases, the residents of Stuttgart are called “Stäffelesrutscher”. In any case, the city is proud of its stairs and invests several hundred thousand euros every year in their maintenance and renovation.
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These two well-known “Stäffele” are considered the most beautiful
Pedestrians who want to climb all the stairs in Stuttgart would have to climb around 20 kilometers of steps throughout the city. Visitors who plan to do this are recommended to visit the “Eugenstaffel” on Eugenstrasse and the “Willy-Reichert-Staffel” on Karlshöhe. The two open-air staircases are not only the most famous among the “Stuttgarter Stäffele”, they are also considered to be the most beautiful.
Pedestrians can quickly gain a lot of altitude in the basin. Plus, anyone who climbs the stairs will be treated to stunning views of the city while staying fit. The Swabian dialect poet Friedrich E. Vogt commented on this: “If Stuagert had no staff, (…) his girl wouldn’t be so slim and not so pretty!” (Translated: If there were no stairs in Stuttgart, the girls wouldn’t be like that slim and beautiful.) However, this does not make the city barrier-free.
