A farewell

Anyone considering a weekend trip to Europe often heads for places like Paris. The Bavarian lakes. Or a short stop by the sea. These are wonderful ideas. Nevertheless, our destination is completely different this time. A trip to Wolfsburg, Germany.

Capital cities are often something special. And if there were such a thing, Wolfsburg would be one of the capitals of the automobile. One that proudly displays it and has built an adventure park for its products.

We have long wanted to visit the Autostadt, a “place of experience”, a “communication platform” for the Volkswagen Group, as it is called in its PR language. Especially if you live in a dilemma between being a technology geek and a conservationist, you can certainly get something out of the idea of fascinating sports cars, industrial culture and exciting exhibitions.

Icon of the industrial landscape: the Volkswagen plant.

So, is it worth the trip to Lower Saxony? Let's say: Partly.

Our first impression of the Autostadt: a well-kept park with beautiful plants, especially in autumn colors. We immediately visit the first exhibition in the so-called “Zeithaus”, where Volkswagen deals with the history of the automobile. There are many cars from different decades on display, including some that have nothing to do with Wolfsburg.

It is striking that most people stop at exhibits from the manufacturers Alfa Romeo, Jaguar and Citroën - perhaps they simply know the Group's own products particularly well? Perhaps it also has something to do with the way the company's own products are presented, as the overall brand experience does not leave a very convincing impression.

Have we become very old or was design craftsmanship simply better in the past?

One of the examples is an exhibition about the history of the former best-selling VW Golf. In the range for 50 years - many things could have been packed into a gripping story. But that would certainly have required some affection for the company's own product, and so there are exactly three Volkswagens standing around somewhat forlornly in the hall in question, along with a few playful elements. Anyone familiar with large corporations from the inside will recognize a low-budget measure of the finest kind here.

The next shock: the pavilion of the Porsche brand. Externally of fine architecture, the exhibition shows just two sad SUVs. There are no sports cars to be seen, and the room that is actually dedicated to the 911 model is cordoned off.

And so a clammy impression can be felt in the various halls. At a time when Volkswagen is making headlines with the dismissal of tens of thousands of employees, it might even seem appropriate to present a more discreet image.

Nevertheless, here in the heart of the Volkswagen industrial icon, a spark should be ignited. The visit to the Autostadt feels slightly epressing, like a farewell to a product world that was desirable for generations of people, but in which its own ambassadors no longer believe.

 

And suddenly you're in the water: offroading with VW.

So it's all gloomy? There is certainly one exception, because in the outdoor area of the Autostadt there are products to experience - off road, to be precise. Accompanied by an expert, you can try out for yourself how off-road capable some of the Volkswagen models are. And the off-road freaks who accompany the tours seem to be the most relaxed people on the road in northern Germany, which is saying something. They know what the Touaregs, Amaroks and Tiguans can do, and that is a surprising amount. Symbolically, however, what Volkswagen is showing here are certainly powerful off-road vehicles - but also absolute dinosaurs.

Now, is it worth making the trip to Wolfsburg, even if you are not planning to pick up a new Volkswagen there? Well, if you are in the region and the Deutsche Bahn train driver doesn't forget to stop in Wolfsburg, a stopover in the Autostadt is a good idea - perhaps combined with a Group currywurst?

Other areas of sightseeing: the Wolfsburg Castle.

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Good to know

Wolfsburg is roughly on the way from Hanover or Kassel to Berlin (or vice versa). There is an ICE train station, which is usually served. The nearest airport with flights from Switzerland is Hanover.

The Wolfsburg hotel industry offers a fairly limited choice. The Ritz Carlton, which is located on the same campus, is a good choice for the Autostadt. Not a cheap accommodation, but admission to the Autostadt is already included and the hotel is a beautiful and friendly establishment with an almost overwhelmingly warm service for northern Germany.

Sightseeing in Wolfsburg is otherwise not an extensive affair. Worth seeing is the castle (see photo), and if you have something to spare, watch a VfL Wolfsburg football match, otherwise there is also an outlet shopping mall.