A varm, sunny afternoon, perhaps the last one of the year, we went to Birkenkopf. Hans and me had been talking about it a long time and when we finally decided to go, Anne-Line, John and his parents - who were visiting at the moment - decided to come with us. The more the merrier!

In World War Two allied bombers laid approximately 45% of the city of Stuttgart in ruins, like in Berlin the debris from all buildings was gathered in one place, and created a small mountain. To the hill Birkenkopf, which is situated four kilometers southwest of central Stuttgart, was added another 40 meters of height. In all 15 million cubic meters of debris were transported to the hill, which was already one of highest situated locations in the city. The hill reaches 511 meters over sea level, about 300 meters above the city centre four kilometers away.

Today the hill is covered with plants and you can walk a road which goes like a spiral to the top. There you can see heaps of ornamented stones from the old destroyed buildings. Looking northeast from the top of the hill you have a great view of the city of Stuttgart and its centre. The city itself is situated in a basin/valley and looking in other directions shows you the suburbs which are spread out in other valleys.