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Tourist draw

Anke Hagedorn (jen)November 18, 2009

The things most people associate with Baden-Wuerttemberg are Black Forest cake, big cars and dark woods. But a closer look shows the state has more to offer.

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The Gutachtal (Gutach Valley) in the Black Forest
Dark, misty Black Forest landscapes are a Baden-Wuerttemberg specialtyImage: AP
Baden-Wuerttemberg is the only German state that was created by popular referendum. On Dec. 16, 1951, the majority of citizens in Wuerttemberg-Baden, Wuerttemberg-Hohenzllern and Baden agreed to join together as one state. It became official in April 1952.
Black Forest cake
The area is famous for its Black Forest cakeImage: picture-alliance / dpa / Stockfood

Baden-Wuerttemberg quickly became one of Germany's most successful states. The mean income is significantly higher than the country's overall average, and unemployment has remained relatively low.

Innovative region

Baden-Wuerttemberg is considered one of the most innovative regions in the European Union, especially in the field of industrial high-technology research and development. Research spending here is higher than in any other European region. Moreover, Baden-Wuerttemberg is home to four of Germany's best universities.

The automobile industry is behind much of this excellence. Daimler, Porsche, Bosch - all have their headquarters in Baden-Wuerttemberg. Yet the key to success for the state lies above all in the many small and medium-sized businesses that bring prosperity to people outside of the big cities.

The four-door Porsche Panamera
Porsche is headquartered in Baden-WuerttembergImage: AP

Excellent quality of life also draws people to live here. The region boasts Germany's top gourmet restaurants, prize-winning wines, interesting cultural attractions, and unspoiled nature.

It also draws tourists. With some 40 million overnight stays per year, it is the most beloved tourist-destination in Germany outside of Bavaria. They are drawn to the Black Forest, with its romantic valleys, gorges, and typical farmhouses; Lake Constance, with its garden-covered Mainau Flower Island and monastic island Reichenau (a UNESCO World Heritage site) and many picturesque towns, like Heidelberg, Tuebingen, Freiburg and Constance.