Hidden amongst the trees stands the Wilhelm-Charlotten-Blick. This isn’t your average viewpoint. Reaching it requires a bit of an adventure. You see the Wilhelm-Charlotten-Blick was established in 1911. It celebrated the 25th wedding anniversary of King Wilhelm II and Queen Charlotte of Wurttemberg. Initially it was known as the Bismarckeiche. The name changed after its restoration in 2012 thanks to a generous donation.
The Wilhelm-Charlotten-Blick is famously difficult to access. The busy Rotenwaldstrasse runs right beside it. Stopping your car there is impossible. The narrow sidewalk along the road is not recommended because of heavy traffic. Crossing the road is equally dangerous because of the curve and the traffic. So the only way to reach the Wilhelm-Charlotten-Blick is through the woods. This forest lies between the Westbahnhof industrial area and the Birkenkopf hill.
Imagine the journey. You’d start near the Westbahnhof. You’d follow Unter dem Birkenkopf street. Then you’d find a forest path. It winds upwards. After a right hand bend you take a sharp left. Ignore a later path to the right. Soon you’ll see the Rotenwaldstrasse. Walk a short distance down to the platform. The entire walk is about 1.3 kilometers.
The Wilhelm-Charlotten-Blick offers a glimpse into Stuttgart West and the city center. It’s a small gap in the trees. A bronze plaque marks the spot. A copy sits at the Wilhelmspalais on Charlottenplatz since 1986. The view from the Wilhelm-Charlotten-Blick reminds us of a simpler time. A time before heavy traffic obscured the view. A time when a streetcar line stopped nearby. Line 2 offered easy access until after World War II. This viewpoint gradually faded into obscurity. Now restored it’s a reminder of Stuttgart’s history and royal connections. Enjoy the view from this unique and hard-to-reach viewpoint.