Villa Merkel

Villa Merkel is a 19th-century residential building in Esslingen am Neckar now serving as a municipal art gallery with multiple exhibition spaces. The structure sits within a landscaped garden near the Neckar River and displays neo-renaissance design elements with classical proportions.

The building was constructed in 1873 for a textile industrialist and represents an early example of residential concrete construction. Its conversion into a public art space began years later and continues in that role today.

The space functions as an art venue where contemporary works and the city's graphic collections are made accessible to visitors regularly. People experience rotating exhibitions that present diverse artistic perspectives within its rooms.

The building sits directly beside the river in a quiet residential area and is easily reached on foot when walking through the city. Plan several hours for a visit to view the different rooms and exhibitions thoroughly.

An adjacent railway guard house is also used as an exhibition space displaying works by emerging artists. This unusual dual-use arrangement allows the art venue to present more works and diverse artistic directions.