Banja Luka
Banja Luka is the largest city of the Republika Srpska entity and second largest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina after the capital Sarajevo. The city lies on the River Vrbas and is well known in the countries of the former Yugoslavia for being full of tree-lined avenues, boulevards, gardens, and parks. According to the 2013 census the City of Banja Luka, has 185,042 inhabitants.
Banja Luka has a moderate humid subtropical climate which borders a humid continental climate, with cold winters and warm summers. The warmest month of the year is July, with an average temperature of 21.3 °C. The coldest month of the year is January, when temperatures average near freezing at 0.8 °C.
Due to its long history, Banja Luka is rich in culture. There are several museums including the Museum of Bosanska Krajina, the Ethnographic Museum established in 1930, and the Museum of Modern Art of Republika Srpska which is also called MSURS the Museum of Contemporary Art. Banja Luka is also the home of the national theatre and library, both dating from the first half of the 20th century, and of numerous other theatres. The headquarters of the Archives of Republika Srpska is situated in the building known as Carska kuća or Imperial House, build around 1880. It has been in continuous public use longer than any other structure in Banja Luka.
The natural beauties of the surrounding area guarantee the city of Banja Luka a good position in tourism. he city and surrounding area boast a number of popular tourist attractions. Among the most famous are the pools, thermal springs, and spas in the region. Due to its parks and over 10 000 trees Banja Luka was once nicknamed the "Green City".
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the German state of Baden-Württemberg with its population of more than 620,000 inhabitants. Stuttgart is the political center of the state, the seat of the state government of Baden-Württemberg and the state parliament, as well as the seat of numerous state authorities.
Art, culture, sport or architecture - the state capital of Baden-Württemberg offers something for everyone. The range of events and attractions is vastand includes the following:
Mercedes-Benz Museum Stuttgart: Visit the only place in the world that can present the history of automobile history from day one: the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart. Go on a time travel and head to the elevator at 34 meters high - back to the year 1886. Here starts the myth with the groundbreaking invention of Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz - the automobile. Hardly any other invention has shaped mankind to this day to this extent. Two interconnected tours lead you through the eventful history of the Mercedes-Benz brand in the architecturally spectacular building - combined with exciting themes of the times, past supersports cars, silver pillars and wing-doors. Both routes lead to one goal: the innovations of the present. Here, in the field of fascination technology, there are insights into current topics from research, design, development and production. Nine levels present 16,500 square feet of 160 stunning vehicles and more than 1,500 exhibitions. The exhibition is divided into myth and collection rooms. The myth rooms tell the story of the Mercedes-Benz brand and divide them into themes and epochs. The collection rooms show thematically arranged abundance and variety of the vehicles of the brand.
Großcomburg Swabian Hall - former monastery of the Benedictine monks: Großcomburg in Swabian Hall, a former Benedictine monastery, was founded in 1078. The castle-like structure with its walls, towers, chapels and buildings experienced its first flowering during the Staufer period. At the end of the 15th century, it was transformed into a choir house. The outdoor complex of Großcomburg is freely accessible and the 420 m long walkway offers wonderful views of the town of Swabian Hall and the Blickberg Einhorn (510 m high).
Residenzschloss Ludwigsburg: The Ludwigsburg Palace is one of the largest remaining baroque castles in Europe, and it is also one of the largest cultural centers with three new museum pieces - the Baroque Gallery, the Fashion and the Ceramics Museum. But it is not just the size and the new brilliance that justify the international popularity of this building. It is also unique for its princely apartments from the times of the Baroque, Rococo and the Empire that are preserved as a unity of space, together with wall decoration and rich furniture. Three generations of rulers, builders, artists and craftsmen have designed the rooms. The richness of creative ideas, which were realized in the style of that time, will make your visit to the castle an unforgettable journey.
The Tomb Chapel on the Wirttemberg (die Grabkapelle auf dem Württemberg) in Stuttgart was built by King William I as an eternal proof of love for his newly deceased wife Katharina. The architectural monument with its charming architecture is therefore regarded by many as the most romantic place in the country - with a magnificent view over Stuttgart. The Tomb Chapel lies in an exposed position above the Neckar valley and was built between 1820 and 1824. King Wilhelm deliberately chose the location of the former tribal castle of the dukes of Württemberg for his memorial. It was one of the favorite places of his late queen.
"Love never ceases" - The inscription above the main entrance is a promise which King William I made with the construction of the tomb chapel. After the sudden death of his wife, Queen Katharina, on January 9, 1819, King Wilhelm opened a competition for the construction of the chapel. He chose the design of the court architect Giovanni Salucci. Later the king and his older daughter Marie Friederike Charlotte of Württemberg also found their final rest here.
The Blühende Barock Ludwigsburg: Around the Residenzschloss, the Blühende Barock offers around 30 hectares a unique park landscape. Splendid gardening of different epochs and regions awaits visitors. From roses to the pharmacy garden, from the Japanese to the award-winning Sardinian garden - refined arrangements catch your eye at every corner. The colorful flower and gravel coils in the south of the complex invite you to a leisurely stroll. In addition, constantly changing exhibitions and flower displays are interesting highlights, especially the pumpkin exhibition in autumn. Even the little ones will not be bored: the fantastic magic world in the fairytale garden with its countless attractions is a fascinating place for children.
The Urach waterfall: The Urach waterfall, probably the most beautiful waterfall of the Swabian Alb, is situated in the beautiful Cornish valley on the outskirts of Bad Urach. The karst spring falls here from 37m height in the free fall into the depth and flows another 50m over a steep sloping. Particularly nice at the Urach waterfall is that you can look at it from different perspectives. From below you can see how the waterfall first falls 37 meters into the depth and then flows in cascades further down into the valley. As you climb the steep steps on the side of the falls, you will always get new impressions of this nature play.