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Newsletter November 2016 | State Tourist Board SouthWest Germany
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Dear Members of the Travel Media,
SouthWest Germany is a hub of innovation and invention. To begin with, Stuttgart, the capital of SouthWest Germany, has a long history of automobile invention. Visitors can see this exciting history in action with two world class automobile museums: Mercedes Benz and Porsche. Stuttgart is also home to the first TV Tower made with reinforced concrete that has been re-created all over the world. In the Black Forest, the culinary town of Baiersbronn uses its inventive nature to create delicious and star worthy dishes. Many know about this Michelin star-studded town, but did you know that Baiersbronn boasts the invention of the first modern day champagne bottle? In the Stuttgart suburbs of Bad Cannstatt, the Ritter Sport chocolate company was founded and has flourished as a family company for three generations. The cuddly Steiff teddy bears were also invented in SouthWest Germany and became famous when the stuffed bear was named after U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt. Read on for more information about SouthWest Germany's inventions. We also want to remind you that the bicycle was invented in Karlsruhe in 1817 and to be on the lookout for more information on this bicentennial anniversary.
With kind regards,
Victoria Larson
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Copyright Stuttgart Marketing GmbH _ Mende
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Stuttgart the Innovative Capital of SouthWest Germany
Stuttgart is a center for innovation and inventions; many inventions from this city have enhanced or facilitated people's daily lives and others have changed the world. One of Stuttgart's most famous inventions is the automobile. Gottlieb Daimler invented the first engine in Stuttgart's suburb of Bad Cannstatt, which led to the world's first automobile. Visitors can visit not one but two incredible car museums: Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. At the Mercedes-Benz Museum, car enthusiasts will experience more than 130 years of automobile history and incredible cars. Built in 2009, the Porsche Museum is a "rolling museum," which means all the cars on display are still running and are switched out often to go to different car shows. The museums captivate their visitors with history, design and incredible speed. Automobiles are a major outcome of Stuttgart's inventive nature, but its signature TV Tower soaring over the city is another innovative masterpiece. Built 60 years ago, it is one of the city's main landmarks. At the time of construction, many people had doubts as to the stability of the first tower made with reinforced concrete; it not only proved to be stable but it has since been imitated all over the world. Visitors can go up the 217-meter high tower and see sweeping views over the Neckar Valley with its vineyards, the Swabian Alb, the Black Forest and the Odenwald. After these incredible views, head to Leonhardt's Restaurant at the bottom of the TV Tower and enjoy regional Swabian cuisine.
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Copyright Baiersbronn
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Baiersbronn: Culinary Capital of the Black Forest; Home to First Champgne Bottle.
Baiersbronn is a gem of a town nestled in the middle of the Black Forest. Tucked away in the picturesque area, Baiersbronn is not only famous for its high density of Michelin stars but also its status as a "Culinary Hiking Heaven." Visitors can always be guaranteed that they will find quality dishes in the Michelin restaurants as well as the family run cafes. Baiersbronn Tourism partnered with local farmers, chefs and producers to create the "Baiersbronn Treasures" which are special dishes that focus on using local produce, a transparent production chain and the responsible handling of original ingredients. Every year new products are being added to the list ranging from apple vinegar, wild sausage to honey ice cream. Baiersbronn prides itself on creating innovative dishes, but this innovative nature does not only belong to food. The modern day champagne bottle was also first invented in the Black Forest. The Glashütte Buhlbach, offers 250 years of glass-blowing, glass-making and cultural history. Visitors can explore the fascinating history of the "Buhlbacher Schlegel," the original champagne bottle invented in the mid 19th century.
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Copyright Victora Larson
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Ritter Sport - the First Square Chocolate Bar
Founded in 1912, this family company has made many people happy with their delicious signature square chocolates. Alfred Eugen Ritter and Clara Ritter opened the confectionary factory at Innere Moltkestraße in Stuttgart's suburb of Bad Cannstatt. In 1932, Clara Ritter proposed the square shape so the chocolate could fit into anyone's pocket without breaking. She got this idea from watching the boys playing soccer and wanted them to be able to fit the chocolate in their pockets. The new shape was named "Ritter's Sport Chocolate" because it could be taken anywhere. During World War II the family company was forced to stop production due to rationings of cocoa, but in 1950, happily, the chocolate was flowing again. Today, Ritter Sport is still a family run business in its third generation; Alfred Theodor Ritter, the grandson of Alfred and Clara, took over the business in 2005. That same year the Ritter Sport Museum was opened. In 2012, Ritter Sport celebrated its 100thanniversary, now it is sold to over 70 countries and its specialty chocolates are enjoyed by millions.
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Copyright
Teymur Madjderey
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World Famous Teddy Bear Born in SouthWest Germany
Margarete Steiff was an inventive entrepreneur who overcame huge challenges to create the famous toy company that is still open today. Born in 1847, Steiff was diagnosed with poliomyelitis at age three and was paralyzed from the waist down with little control of her right arm. Her parents were devastated that she would have to depend on people her whole life, but this inventive lady did not let her health determine her future. She learned to sew and in 1879, she made her first stuffed elephant to be used as a pincushion, she soon realized how much children loved the little stuffed animal and she made more. In 1880, the Margarete Steiff GmbH was founded. Ever since 1880, Steiff has been making plush toys and collectibles that have set the world standard for quality. Made from only the finest materials -- fabrics such as mohair, alpaca, cotton velvet, and woven fur -- each Steiff animal is meticulously hand-sewn and hand-finished by talented artisans in the city Giengen. The company is perhaps most well known for its bears, which were invented in 1902 by Margarete Steiff's nephew. The bears were an unprecedented selling success in the USA in 1906 under the name of Teddy Bear - named after the American president Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt. The value of these toys has not diminished and vintage pieces regularly sell on the secondary market for thousands of dollars. Steiff stuffed animals can be easily recognized with their signature button in the ear created in 1906 to trademark the Steiff animals and avoid cheap imitations.
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Copyright TMBW
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Inventions, Inspirations and Culinary Concoctions
The Black Forest with its dense trees, bright mountaintops, spectacular views, mysterious glacial lakes and romantic valleys is one of Germany´s most popular destinations for visitors. Locals and visitors enjoy the natural splendor of the area, but many visitors do not know that the Black Forest is home to many inventions. The cuckoo clock has its origins here, as does the Black Forest Ham and Black Forest Cake. The delicious Black Forest Cake typically consists of several layers of chocolate sponge cake sandwiched with whipped cream and cherries. It is decorated with additional whipped cream, maraschino cherries, and chocolate shavings. Traditionally, kirschwasser, a cherry schnapps, is added to the cake to give it an extra kick. Black Forest Ham has its own fame in the culinary world;
it is the most popular raw ham in Germany, produced exclusively in the Black Forest. It is still produced using traditional methods and smoked over native conifer wood. The most famous Black Forest invention is the cuckoo clock. During
the long winter nights and those living in the Black Forest, before the invention of electricity, needed to find a hobby to pass the time. One of those hobbies was woodworking, which transitioned well to the invention of the Cuckoo Clocks. The first clock was built over 200 years ago and did not take long to find incredible popularity in Germany. By the year 1808, there were 688 clockmakers in the Black Forest alone. They would work on their clocks during the long winter months and sell their handmade wares in the spring.
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For interactive maps and more information on cultural events and destinations in SouthWest Germany and to start planning your trip, please go to
SouthWest Germany and please click here for
>>
press photos and images.
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Victoria Larson
Press Representative, US and Canada
SouthWest Germany
917-678-7689
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Martina Bareiss
Marketing and Sales Manager, Overseas
State Tourist Board Baden-Württemberg
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