Germany - Stuttgart

Stuttgart (IPA: [ˈʃtʊtgaʁt]) is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 593,639 (as of April 30, 2006), while the metropolitan Stuttgart Region has a population of 2.7 million.

Stuttgart lies close to both the Black Forest and the Swabian Jura. The city center, situated in a lush valley, ringed with vineyards and forests, close to the River Neckar, covers an area of 207 square kilometres (80 sq mi). Stuttgart with its metropolitan area (the political entity "Stuttgart Region" enlarged by the nearby cities of Ludwigsburg, Böblingen, Esslingen, Waiblingen, Göppingen and their respective districts) is one of the most prominent and well-known German towns, especially due to its cultural, administrative and economic importance.

The Stuttgart Region is the nation's fourth largest conurbation (behind Ruhr Area, Rhine/Main Area and Berlin). Neighbouring large cities are Frankfurt (210 km north of Stuttgart), Nuremberg (200 km northeast of Stuttgart) and Munich (220 km southeast of Stuttgart).