Stuttgart

Stuttgart effortlessly combines nature with industry, with a mass of green parks and mineral spas thanks to its positioning in the lush Neckar Valley. It is famed for being the birthplace of Mercedes Benz, and Benzophiles make regular visits to the city to pay homage to the motoring institution.

The spas and mineral pools were one of the reasons for Sven-Goran Eriksson taking his 2006 England team to stay at a nearby hotel in the Black Forest during the World Cup, because of their rumoured healing qualities.

The baths are complemented by Stuttgart's many parks, and once you have finished lounging, there are plenty of museums and concert halls to soak up some German and Swabian culture. Try the Stuttgart State Gallery for a taste of classical and modern art, or the opera house where you can enjoy everything from ballet to concertos.

Or you can simply kick back and enjoy one the city's many wine and beer festivals, which draw people from all over the country.