Schwabtunnel

The Schwabtunnel is a historic tunnel beneath Hasenberg mountain in Stuttgart that links Schwabstrasse in the western part of the city with Schickhardtstrasse to the south. It stretches 125 meters in length and measures 10.5 meters wide, accommodating two traffic lanes plus pedestrian paths on both sides.

Built between 1894 and 1896, the tunnel was constructed to connect Karlsvorstadt with western Stuttgart as the city experienced rapid growth. The project cost 289,000 Reichsmarks and served as a key infrastructure achievement during that period.

The tunnel entrances display sandstone and granite ornamental details, with carved lion heads at the keystones that show classical design influences.

The passage is accessible to pedestrians with marked walkways on both sides for those crossing the area. Ventilation and lighting have been designed to handle the volume of daily traffic passing through.

In 1900, an automobile became the first vehicle of its kind to drive through this tunnel, marking a historic milestone in transportation. This moment captured the shift from rail-focused to automobile-based infrastructure development.