Top 15 Must-Do Activities in Ludwigsburg, Germany

At the commencement of the 18th century, Duke Eberhard Louis of Württemberg established an “Ideal City” situated along the Neckar River from Stuttgart to reinforce his absolute authority. A Baroque urban plan was executed, featuring a grid system of streets surrounding a monumental market square. By the time of Eberhard Louis’s demise in 1733, his namesake city had cultivated a population of 6,000 residents.

Three centuries later, Ludwigsburg remains a city characterized by its palatial architecture, prominently featuring Eberhard Louis’s 452-room Residenzschloss, along with various summer retreats and hunting lodges. Visitors will undoubtedly be captivated by Ludwigsburg’s resplendent Baroque and Rococo design, as well as its parterre gardens, classical concerts, and exhibitions showcasing period art and craftsmanship.

Let us delve into the top attractions in Ludwigsburg:

1. Residenzschloss Ludwigsburg

Between 1704 and 1733, Eberhard Louis, Duke of Württemberg, constructed a palatial residence of extravagant proportions, making it one of the largest structures of the time in Germany.

A cursory glance reveals that both the palace and its expansive grounds were inspired by the grandeur of Versailles.

The edifice encompasses over 450 rooms, and successive Dukes or Kings of Württemberg contributed a spectrum of architectural styles and interior designs, from Baroque to Rococo to Neoclassical.

The finest remaining Baroque decor is showcased in the magnificent marble salon of the hunting pavilion, adorned with pilasters.

The theatre is equally breathtaking, along with the Italianate Baroque chapel that houses the remains of three generations of the royal lineage.

Additionally, three museums are located within the palace, dedicated to fashion, ceramics, and painting, all of which are elaborated upon below.

2. Blühendes Barock

Schloss Ludwigsburg is surrounded on three sides by 30 hectares of gardens, which exhibit French, English, and Medieval design influences.

The most distinguished among these is the French parterre, located directly south of the palace.

This garden features linear pathways interspersed with geometric lawns, broderie, topiaries, arbours, and meticulously trimmed hedges leading to a central circular lake adorned with fountains.

The Baroque style continues in the garden to the north beside Schloss Favorite, where additional delicate broderie is found on white beds bordered with flowers.

Proceeding east, this rigid structure gives way to an expansive English landscape park, which includes vintage attractions such as a Russian swing, merry-go-round, and boating lake.

Lastly, the lower east side presents a Medieval garden replete with Romantic follies.

3. Das Modemuseum (Fashion Museum)

A segment of the Landesmuseum Württemberg, the fashion museum is situated within the palace’s banquet hall.

Showcasing over 700 distinct pieces of attire for women, men, and children spanning the 18th to the 20th century, the collection is displayed in chronological order.

Items such as shoes, hats, stockings, bodices, and the intricately designed dresses of the Rococo court epitomize the social transformations, advancements in fabrics, and nuances of tailoring.

Prominent designers represented within the museum include Victorian fashion pioneer Charles Frederick Worth, along with Paul Poiret, Christian Dior, and Coco Chanel.

4. Schloss Favorite

Situated just a short distance uphill from Residenzschloss Ludwigsburg, Schloss Favorite is a Baroque hunting lodge and summer residence commissioned in the 1710s by Eberhard Louis, Duke of Württemberg.

The palace, distinguished by its balustrades, stone vases, and sculptures, underwent restoration in 1980 and now offers 20-minute guided tours of its opulent interiors.

The interiors were redecorated in the Neoclassical style, featuring elaborate stuccowork and frescoes, primarily by King Frederick I. Notably, only one room remains in Eberhard Louis’s original Baroque style.

Naturally, as a hunting lodge, the palace opens onto a 72-hectare park, now functioning as a wildlife reserve for fallow deer and mouflons.

5. Das Keramikmuseum (Ceramics Museum)

The extensive royal ceramic collection is also housed within the Residenzschloss.

Visitors can admire stoneware, porcelain, and faience originating from many premier manufactories across the German-speaking world during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Notable locations include Berlin, Nymphenburg, Vienna, Meißen, as well as Ludwigsburg itself.

The museum features plates, figurines, and vases displayed in glass cases and openly in long galleries adorned with parquet flooring and chandeliers, each accompanied by an audio guide that narrates the history and origin of every piece.

The museum also hosts exhibitions focused on contemporary ceramics.

6. Marktplatz

Located in the heart of Ludwigsburg’s meticulously designed grid of intersecting streets is the expansive marketplace, constructed in the 1710s.

This symmetrical square spans 110 meters by 80 meters and was intentionally elevated in relation to the nearby Residenzschloss to the northeast.

The square’s perimeter is lined with arcaded buildings, alongside the Catholic Church of the Holy Trinity and the Protestant Town Church, which face one another across the square.

At the very center stands a fountain with a statue of the city’s founder, Duke Eberhard Louis.

7. Seeschloss Monrepos

In the 1750s, Duke Charles Eugene constructed a summer residence a few kilometers northwest of Schloss Ludwigsburg and Schloss Favorite, connecting the properties via grand pedestrian avenues.

This lakeside palace, built on the site of Eberhard Louis’s former hunting lodge, is a Rococo masterpiece.

It remains the sole residence retained by the Württemberg royal lineage following their deposition in 1918 and continues to function as a private residence today.

The journey from Ludwigsburg is certainly worthwhile, particularly for the picturesque boating lake and the on-site restaurant.

During the Ludwigsburg Festival from May to July, visitors can enjoy regular chamber music concerts and fireworks in this stunning backdrop.

8. Märchengarten (Fairytale Garden)

A section of the Blühendes Barock deserves special recognition – the fairytale garden in the Ostgarten (East Garden). Established post-1959, this enchanting space was inspired by a Dutch fairytale garden encountered by head gardener Albert Schöchle near Tilburg.

This delightful garden features over 40 whimsically rendered scenes from popular fairy tales.

Children can be mesmerized by the Rapunzel tower, encounter the throne of the lily king, discover the abode of the frog prince, and meander along the “fairytale stream.” The Märchengarten is a captivating realm of princes, princesses, mischievous goblins, and other mythical beings.

9. Torhäuser

Between 1758 and 1763, Duke Carl Eugene constructed a six-kilometer wall encircling Ludwigsburg, complete with gatehouses to regulate access to the city.

Of the six remaining gatehouses, five are uniform, featuring a mansard roof and an arcade at ground level.

Most have been converted into small museums, such as the Asperger Torhaus, which showcases exhibitions detailing the history of the Ludwigsburg garrison.

The Schorndorfer Torhaus focuses on post-war investigations into National Socialist crimes, while the Aldinger Torhaus features a small film museum, and the Stuttgarter Torhaus presents an exhibition regarding the Kuhländchen region of Sudentenland, now in eastern Czechia.

10. Alter Friedhof

Ludwigsburg’s historic cemetery is the final resting place for numerous figures of historical significance.

In this tranquil area, memorials commemorate those who fell during the First and Second World Wars, alongside plots dedicated to the city’s most distinguished dignitaries from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Having not held a burial for decades, the Alter Friedhof is now recognized as a historical monument.

The most renowned individual interred here is Wilhelm II, the last king of Württemberg, who passed away in 1921 alongside his first wife, Marie, and second wife, Charlotte.

The most prominent monument is the Neoclassical mausoleum of Johann Karl von Zeppelin, the imperial count and state minister who died in 1801.

11. Barockgalerie

The Barockgalerie is the final museum within the Residenzschloss and merits a visit for its collection of German and Italian paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries.

A considerable portion of these artworks was amassed by the Dukes and Kings of Württemberg, displayed alongside approximately 90 Italian, Spanish, and French works sourced from the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart.

Be sure to note Johann Heinrich Schönfeld, particularly his masterwork titled “Schatzgräbern” (treasure hunters).

12. Strafvollzugsmuseum

Within the grim confines of the former Ludwigsburg prison lies an often harrowing exhibition featuring artifacts related to corrections and justice.

Visitors can experience what it was like to be a prisoner within a preserved cell from 1930, along with items crafted by former inmates during their time in confinement: model ships, miniature furniture, chess pieces, and Christian icons fashioned from toothpaste tubes.

Moreover, items such as a genuine executioner’s sword, pillory, leather straitjacket, flogging table, and two guillotines—one from Berlin and the other from Karlsruhe—are available for viewing.

13. Ludwigsburg Museum

The city museum offers a comprehensive overview of Ludwigsburg’s multifaceted history as a royal residence, an industrial hub, a center for the arts, and a military garrison.

Exhibits begin with memorabilia from the reigns of Eberhard Louis and Charles Eugene, along with copper engravings and early images of various castles throughout the city.

In addition, greater detail is provided regarding the design of Ludwigsburg as an Ideal City, including plans, maps, and insights into the original settlers who arrived in the 1720s.

The museum further highlights several prominent literary figures connected to Ludwigsburg during the 18th century, including Friedrich Schiller, who spent five formative years of his childhood here.

Furthermore, Ludwigsburg has been a part of numerous world-changing inventions, and the museum informs visitors about its ties to Barbie dolls, Viagra, Aspirin, and powdered chicory coffee!

14. Ludwigsburg Festival

From May to July, Ludwigsburg hosts one of the most venerable cultural festivals within the German-speaking realm.

The Ludwigsburg Festival, which originated in 1932, presents an impressive program of music, dance, literature, and theater against the exquisite backdrop of the Residenzschloss, which serves as the festival’s central hub.

Performances also take place across Blühendes Barock, Seeschloss, as well as in palatial and monastic venues throughout Baden-Württemberg.

Concerts capture significant attention, featuring performances by prominent soloists, ensembles, orchestras, and conductors.

Noteworthy recent performers include Martha Argerich, the Orchestre National de France, John Eliot Gardiner, and Cecilia Bartoli.

15. Barock Weihnachtsmarkt

During December, a Baroque-themed Christmas Market illuminates the market square in Ludwigsburg.

More than 180 stalls are arranged in this picturesque square, flanked by two Baroque churches and archways.

These stalls offer an array of handicrafts, including glass ornaments, traditional wooden toys, hand-knitted socks, slippers, carved wooden figurines from the Ore mountains, and elaborately decorated Lebkuchen (gingerbread). Visitors can also enjoy a series of concerts in the square, alongside entertainment for children featuring puppet shows, clowns, and magic acts.

For a delightful treat, visitors may indulge in popcorn, roasted chestnuts, bratwurst, or a cup of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream or Glühwein (mulled wine).