Unfortunately, it is not known when the foundation stone of the collegiate church was laid. It must have been sometime in the 10th or 11th century. At that time it was still a simple village church, and it was not until 1240 that it was transformed into a stately church with three naves. Over the centuries, the collegiate church was repeatedly rebuilt and expanded, which is reflected in its architecture. Those who know their way around can discover a wide variety of stylistic periods in and around the collegiate church.
The different towers are particularly striking and are still its unmistakable identifying mark today. The quadrangular south tower with a pointed roof stands opposite the octagonal west tower with a flat roof. Originally, a pointed spire was also planned for the west tower. But the Reformation brought work to a halt and thwarted the building plans.
Incidentally, one of Stuttgart's oldest traditions is also connected with the collegiate church: old hymns have been sounding from the west tower for over 400 years. The "Turmbläser" have been around since 1618, when a brass quartet delighted passers-by and market visitors with their music five times a week. Today, the tower wind players still perform twice a week: on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:45 am.
