In the city a good place to start is the Schlossplatz, a huge square with many of the fine buildings surrounding it including the old palace and the cathedral. Travelling northeast from Stuttgart on the A8 is Pforzheim. The city is known as the gateway to the Black Forest and also for its gold and jewellery industries which have given it the soubriquet, Goldstadt. Whilst the city’s attractions are sparse, its position on the edge of the forest means it’s popular for outdoor pursuits, even if that means just going for a walk.
South on route 27 is Reutlingen. The city is home to the world’s narrowest formal street, the Spreurhofstrasse, which in places is just over a foot wide. It also has a delightful church, the Marienkirche which was built in thanks to the Virgin Mary after a siege of the city was lifted. It is acknowledged as one of the finest examples of its kind.