11 Things To Do In Ludwigsburg, Germany

1. Be mesmerized by Ludwigsburg Palace

Any trip to Ludwigsburg is incomplete without visiting the palaces adorning the city. At the heart of the city lies Ludwigsburg Palace, a 452-room architectural masterpiece. Nicknamed “Versailles of Swabia,” it is one of the largest Baroque architectural buildings to have survived the vagaries of nature and still exist in its original condition. Comprising 18 buildings and 4 wings, this palace was both a residence and an area for handling court commitments. Just a simple glance of the palace and its intricate design, magnificent theatres, museums, and elaborate hallways are sure to leave one mesmerized.

Ludwigsburg Palace

Address: Schlossstraße 30, 71634 Ludwigsburg, Germany

Website: Ludwigsburg Palace

Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (daily)

Price: 4.30 EUR (5.11 USD) onwards

2. Learn about the past at Schloss Favorite

Not very far from the Ludwigsburg Palace is another palace, Schloss Favorite. This richly decorated palace acted as a hunting lodge and summer residence. Built in the early 1700s, it was planned to combine a castle overlooking hunting grounds and a vast park, which is now an animal park. A tour of the luxurious palace interiors will give insight into what the courtly life might have been like in all its glory.

Schloss Favorite

Address: Favoritepark 1 71634 Ludwigsburg (Schloss Favorite)

Website: Schloss Favorite

Price: 2.50 EUR (3 USD) onwards

3. Go on a guided tour at Seeschloss Monrepos

Another popular palace in Ludwigsburg is Seeschloss Monrepos. This Rococo masterpiece, which is situated by a lake, is still owned by the Royal Family of Wurttemberg. Its lakeside location offers visitors a great opportunity to enjoy a peaceful day spent rowing in the lake or losing oneself in its idyllic setting. Visitors interested in history can opt for guided tours of these palaces and relive the royal life. The park and surrounding area of the palace are free to use.

Seeschloss Monrepos

Address: Schloss Monrepos, 71634 Ludwigsburg, Germany

Website: Seeschloss Monrepos

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

4. Enjoy breathtaking gardens at Blühendes Barock

Surrounding Ludwigsburg palace is Blühendes Barock, or Blooming Baroque, which is a 30-hectare (74 hectares) garden that boasts a vast array of garden designs. These designs are a culmination of different eras and regions. The North Garden of Blühendes Barock houses a formal and Baroque-inspired garden and has exotic birds from different parts of the world. The South Garden, on the other hand, is adorned with multicolored flowers and chestnut trees. At another corner of the Blühendes Barock lies the Fairytale Garden, which was designed with the interest of the little ones in mind. Among the things in Ludwigsburg that match the grandiosity of its palaces, these breathtaking gardens form an obvious choice of places to visit.

Bluehendes Barock

Address: Mömpelgardstraße 28, 71640 Ludwigsburg, Germany

Website: Bluehendes Barock

Opening hours: 7:30am to 8:30pm (daily)

Price: 4.80 EUR (5.70 USD) - 27.00 EUR (32.00 USD)

5. Look at exhibitions at Ludwigsburg Museum

Ludwigsburg Museum is a major attraction for those interested in the city’s history. Neatly documenting the different facets of Ludwigsburg, the exhibition rooms vividly depict the city’s story as an industrial center, a royal residence, a garrison, an art hub, and a residential town. The museum also houses maps, plans, and other major details regarding Ludwigsburg’s design as an ‘ideal city.’ Visitors can also view the early graphics of the different city palaces and learn about Ludwigsburg’s hand in some major inventions such as Aspirin. Another major point of interest in Ludwigsburg Museum is the exhibition depicting the 300-year-old history of the city. This exhibition explores the visions and ideas that shaped this city and the important people who helped bring them to life.

Ludwigsburg Museum

Address: Eberhardstraße 1, 71634 Ludwigsburg, Germany

Website: Ludwigsburg Museum

6. Explore the Ludwigsburg Palace museums

Hosting an impressive array of royal ceramics and fashion items are Ceramics Museum (Keramikmuseum) and Fashion Museum (Modemuseum). Housed inside Ludwigsburg Palace, these two museums are subsidiaries of Landesmuseum Wurttemberg or History Museum Württemberg. Ceramics Museum offers an impressive collection of porcelain, faience, and ceramics from the best manufacturers of the 18th and 19th centuries. Among the sizable collection include stoneware from the medieval era and contemporary ceramics. Fashion Museum, housed in the west wing of the palace, is an experience in its own might. Its collection includes more than 700 pieces of clothing for men, women, and children from the 18th to the 20th century. Legendary designers such as Coco Chanel, Charles Frederick Worth, and more are some of the fashion geniuses whose work adorns this museum.

Keramikmuseum and Modemuseum

Address: Schlossstraße 30, 71634 Ludwigsburg, Germany

Website: Keramikmuseum and Modemuseum

7. Look at various artworks at Barockgalerie

Yet another impressive museum inside Ludwigsburg Palace is Baroque Gallery or Barockgalerie. Its 17th and 18th-century collection of German and Italian paintings not only attracts tourists but also hardcore art aficionados. Having a collection of unique paintings formed an important status symbol among the royalty of the Baroque period. Thus, most of the collection in the gallery includes those collected by the Wurttemberg Kings and Dukes. Though almost all the items tell a story of their own, the seven masterly works by German painter, Johann Heinrich Schonfeld, deserve a special mention. To find out more, check it out for yourself.

Barockgalerie

Address: Schlossstraße 30, 71634 Ludwigsburg, Germany

Website: Barockgalerie

8. Check out various items at Marktplatz

Located in the center of Ludwigsburg is a bustling marketplace or marktplatz. Built in the 1710s, this market square has two historical churches at its margins and a fountain with a statue of the city founder, Duke Eberhard Louis, at its center. However, it is not just the churches and the fountain that make the Ludwigsburg Marktplatz a must-visit. The local produce on sale, the busy bars, the restaurants, and the lively atmosphere all play their respective part in making this a great tourist destination. Another major attraction here is the Baroque Christmas market, which is best visited during the month of November and December. Considered one of Germany’s most beautiful Christmas markets, it has hundreds of stalls offering a range of festive items such as decorations, handmade candles, and jewelry, and freshly baked gingerbread.

9. Attend the Pumpkin Festival

Those visiting Ludwigsburg around the latter half of the year might just be in for another wondrous treat, which is the Pumpkin Festival. One of the largest pumpkin festivals in the world, it offers patrons the opportunity to indulge in a variety of entertainment activities. Not to mention, it has more than 800 varieties of pumpkins on display. Aside from adults, this festival has a lot to offer to the young audience too. The large grounds have an equally large number of entertainment kiosks for kids to keep them pleasantly occupied. The festival is held at the Blühendes Barock gardens with the impressive Ludwigsburg Palace in the backdrop.

Pumpkin Festival

Address: Mömpelgardstraße 28, 71640 Ludwigsburg, Germany

Takes place: August - December

10. Get insight on important people of the past at Alter Friedhof

Alter Friedhof, Ludwigsburg’s old cemetery, has become more of a historical city monument rather than a burial place. The tombs of some of the most esteemed figures of the 19th and 20th centuries are preserved here. Also, it has memorials commemorating the victims of the first and the second world wars. Other memorial stones and plaques commemorate the people who were a part of the war of the Franco-Prussian War from 1870 to 1871. One of the most famous people to be buried here is King Wilhelm II, the last king of Wurttemberg. However, the most grandiose gravesite is the mausoleum for Johann Karl von Zeppelin, the Imperial Count and Minister of State. These preserved tomb sites, mausoleums, and memorials tell stories of history in their own ways.

Alter Friedhof

Address: Rosenstraße 46, 71640 Ludwigsburg, Germany

11. See a historic prison cell at Strafvollzugsmuseum

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

A visit to Strafvollzugsmuseum, also known as Prison Museum, offers its own unique experience. This museum sheds some light on how life was like in prison in the past. Among the exhibits are a preserved 1930s cell and various items created by the prison inmates during their stay. Thus, one can find quite a few miniature versions of furniture or model ships. Other exhibits showcase the various process of capital and corporal punishment back in the days. These exhibits house items such as a genuine executioner’s sword, a flogging table, or guillotines. Entry to this museum is free, and the artifacts are packed in just two floors. Thus, a visit here is light on both budget and time.

Straffvolzugsmuseum

Address: Schorndorfer Str. 38, 71638 Ludwigsburg, Germany

Website: Straffvolzugsmuseum

Opening hours: May - September: 2pm - 6pm (daily); October - April: 1pm - 5pm (daily)

Have an unforgettable experience at Ludwigsburg, Germany

Ludwigsburg, with its range of notable attractions, promises an unforgettable experience for visitors. Whether you are into beautiful flowers, lavish design, or haunting history, you are sure to find a place where you will enjoy and learn something new about the city. For an exciting experience, do not forget to check out the top things to do in Ludwigsburg, Germany.