Editing Stuttgart (section)

=== Culture and events ===
[[File:Stuttgart Staatsoper.jpg|thumb|The [[Staatstheater Stuttgart|State Opera House]]]]
[[File:Stiftskirche stuttgart.jpg|thumb|upright|The Protestant [[Stiftskirche (Stuttgart)|Stiftskirche]] (originally built in 1170, pictured around 1900) with the memorial on ''[[Schillerplatz (Stuttgart)|Schillerplatz]]'' square in foreground]]

Stuttgart is known for its rich cultural heritage, in particular its [[Staatstheater Stuttgart|State Theatre (''Staatstheater'')]] and [[Staatsgalerie Stuttgart|State Gallery (''Staatsgalerie'')]]. The ''[[Staatstheater Stuttgart|Staatstheater]]'' is home to the [[Staatsoper Stuttgart|State opera]] and three smaller theatres. It regularly stages opera, ballet and theatre productions as well as concerts. The [[Staatstheater Stuttgart|Staatstheater]] was named Germany/Austria/Switzerland "Theatre of the year" in 2006; the Stuttgart Opera has won the 'Opera of the year' award six times.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/en/a-state-opera |title=Stuttgart State Opera |work=Official website of Stuttgart |access-date=14 October 2018 |archive-date=15 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015002926/https://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/en/a-state-opera |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Stuttgart Ballet]] is connected to names like [[John Cranko]] and [[Marcia Haydée]].

Stuttgart is also home to one of Germany's most prestigious [[symphony orchestra]]s, the [[Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra]], with famous English conductor [[Roger Norrington|Sir Roger Norrington]], who developed a distinct sound of that orchestra, known as the ''Stuttgart Sound''. They mostly perform in the ''Liederhalle'' concert hall.

The city offers two Broadway-style musical theatres, the Apollo and the Palladium Theater (each approx. 1800 seats). [[Ludwigsburg Palace]] in the nearby town of [[Ludwigsburg]] is also used throughout the year as a venue for concerts and cultural events.

As a result of Stuttgart's long history of [[viticulture]] (Even today there are vineyards less than {{cvt|500|m|ft|0}} from the [[Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof|Main Station]]), there are more than 400 flights of stairs (known in the local dialect as the "''Stäffele''") around the city, equivalent to approximately {{cvt|20|km|mi|0}} of steps.<ref name="Stäffele">{{cite web |title=Stuttgarter Stäffele |url=https://www.stuttgart.de/item/show/14954 |website=stuttgart.de |publisher=City of Stuttgart |access-date=14 October 2018 |archive-date=20 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220022135/http://www.stuttgart.de/item/show/14954 |url-status=live }}</ref> Later, in the early 19th century, the city continued to grow and many vineyards were replaced by houses and streets and the ''Stäffele'' were used as footpaths to connect the newly built neighborhoods. Some of the stairs were elaborately decorated with fountains and plantings.<ref name="Stäffele"/>

The [[Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle|Schleyerhalle]] sports arena is regularly used to stage rock and pop concerts with major international stars on European tour.

Stuttgart's [[Swabian cuisine]], beer and wine have been produced in the area since the 17th century and are now famous throughout Germany and beyond.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.germany.co.uk/Food---Drink/Gourmet/article,Culinary-A-to-Z,1501.html |title=Culinary A to Z |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517064903/http://www.germany.co.uk/Food---Drink/Gourmet/article%2CCulinary-A-to-Z%2C1501.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 May 2008 |access-date=14 October 2018}}</ref> For example, [[Gaisburger Marsch]] is a stew that was invented in Stuttgart's Gaisburg area of Stuttgart East.
[[File:Cannstatter-fruchtsaeule-2004.jpg|thumb|right|upright|The [[Cannstatter Volksfest]] in the district of 'Bad Cannstatt']]

In October 2009 the Stuttgart Ministry of Agriculture announced that the European Union was to officially recognise the pasta dish [[Maultasche]]n as a "regional specialty", thus marking its significance to the cultural heritage of [[Baden-Württemberg]].<ref>{{cite web |date=23 October 2009 |url=http://www.shortnews.de/start.cfm?id=795287 |website=shortnews.de |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 May 2016 |archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20160517204504/http://www.shortnews.de/start.cfm?id=795287 |title=Die Schwäbische Maultasche steht jetzt unter Schutz der Europäischen Union |access-date=14 October 2018}}</ref>

In 1993 Stuttgart hosted the [[1993 World Horticultural Exposition|International Garden Show]] in the suburb of [[Killesbergpark|Killesberg]]. In 2006 it was also one of the host cities of the [[2006 FIFA World Cup|Football World Cup]]. In 2007, Stuttgart hosted the [[2007 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships]]. In 2008 it was host to the [[World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships]].{{citation needed|date=November 2022}} In 2015, Stuttgart hosted the Protestant [[Kirchentag]] (church convention) festival, a festival that takes place in a different German city every two years.<ref>{{cite web | title=Thousands gather in Stuttgart for Germany's festival of faith and action | website=World Council of Churches | date=4 June 2015 | url=https://www.oikoumene.org/news/thousands-gather-in-stuttgart-for-germanys-festival-of-faith-and-action | access-date=8 November 2022}}</ref>

Regular events that take place in Stuttgart:
*The world-famous annual [[Cannstatter Volksfest|'Volksfest']], originally a traditional agricultural fair which now also hosts beer tents and a French village and is second in size only to the [[Oktoberfest]] in Munich. There is also a [[Stuttgart Spring Festival|Spring festival]] on the same grounds in April of each year.
*With more than 3.6 million visitors in 2007<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stuttgarter-weihnachtsmarkt.de/de/home/ |title=Willkommen in der Weihnachtsmarkt-Stadt Stuttgart |work=in.Stuttgart Veranstaltungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG |language=de |access-date=14 October 2018 |archive-date=15 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015003016/https://www.stuttgarter-weihnachtsmarkt.de/de/home/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and more than 200 stands, Stuttgart's [[Christmas Market, Stuttgart|Christmas Market]], running from late November to 23 December,{{sfn|Christiani|2015|p=311}} is the largest and one of the oldest traditional Christmas markets in Europe.{{sfn|Christiani|2015|p=311}} It is especially renowned for its abundant decorations and takes place in the four weeks leading up to Christmas.<ref>McLachlan, p. 254</ref>
*The Fish Market (''Hamburger Fischmarkt'', late July) with fresh fish, other food and beer from [[Hamburg]]
*The Summer Festival (''Stuttgart Sommerfest'', usually in early August) with shows, music, children's entertainment and local cuisine in [[Schlossplatz, Stuttgart]]<ref name="Peters, p. 430">Peters, p. 430</ref> and adjacent parks
*The Lantern Festival (''Lichterfest'', early July) in [[Killesbergpark|Killesberg]] park with its famous firework display and fairground attractions
*The Wine Village (''Weindorf'', late August/early September) – vintages are sold at this event held at Schillerplatz and Marktplatz (Market Square).<ref name="Peters, p. 430"/>