Home to one of Germany’s largest Baroque castles, Ludwigsburg is a historic city north of central Stuttgart. It developed around a collection of royal residences in the 18th century and was occupied by Napoleon Bonaparte’s forces in 1800. During the interwar years, Ludwigsburg became the largest garrison in south-west Germany.
Things to do in Ludwigsburg
Don’t miss the monumental Ludwigsburg Residential Palace, a 452-room residence often referred to as the “Versailles of Swabia”. It was constructed in the early 18th century by the Duke of Württemberg and is characterised by Austrian and Czech Baroque architectural details. Today, the palace is home to several museums dedicated to ceramics, fashion and Baroque art.
Connected via an avenue is Schloss Favourite, a summer residence and hunting lodge built by Eberhard Ludwig on a design by the Italian Rococo architect Donato Giuseppe Frisoni. Join a guided tour to explore its Neoclassical-style rooms, which feature elaborate plasterwork and frescoes. Schloss Favourite is instantly recognisable to Germans as the backdrop to the “Nachtcafe” talk show.
Between the two residences is the Kürbisausstellung Ludwigsburg, a sprawling park with seasonal floral displays that has been nicknamed “Blooming Baroque”. It hosts the world’s largest pumpkin exhibition each year, as well as a festival dedicated to sand sculpture. You can wander through the Japanese-inspired garden and let the kids run loose in the children’s playground before relaxing at the Rose Garden Cafe.
Getting around Ludwigsburg
Ludwigsburg is around a 20-minute drive from the centre of Stuttgart and 30 minutes from Stuttgart Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Regular trains connect to the Ludwigsburg railway station and buses travel throughout the city. The centre of Ludwigsburg is compact enough to explore on foot.