Mercedes-Benz Museum, Stuttgart (must see)

The Mercedes-Benz Museum celebrates the genius of Carl Benz and his fabulous invention, the automobile. Over 160 vehicles are on display and range from the oldest automobiles built to race cars to futuristic vehicles. The museum is nearby the Mercedes-Benz factory.

Carl Benz invented the automobile in 1886. In 1926, the Benz company merged with Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft and formed Daimler-Benz, which manufactured Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The Daimler company manufactured Mercedes-brand cars. The Mercedes brand was named after a racing enthusiast, Emil Jellinek, named one of Daimler's cars after his daughter, Mercedes.

The museum building itself, completed in 2006, features a unique design that resembles three overlapping circles. The center forms a triangular atrium which represents a Wankel engine's shape. The interior was designed as a double helix. The museum features "Legend Rooms" and "Collections." The Legend rooms tell the story of Mercedes-Benz history. Visitors will begin in 1886 with Carl Benz's original designs.

Benz first founded an automobile company in 1883 in order to build internal combustion engines. The earliest vehicles had three wheels. In 1893, Benz produced the first four-wheel vehicle. His first racing cars were produced in 1899. The Collection rooms show a host of vehicles.

Why You Should Visit:
The Mercedes-Benz Museum features a fascinating story of its founder's vision and persistence. The museum is perfect for car and history enthusiasts. Germany's storied car production history is beautifully displayed. This museum is also perfect for families.

Tips:
Visitors can take an audio tour, which is available in many languages.