Ludwigsburg: Residential Palace, Baroque City and Garden Culture

Ludwigsburg presents itself as a Baroque city with clear geometry: straight, wide streets intersect at right angles, while two-storey townhouses in delicate pastel colours shape the cityscape. The Residential Palace, museums and garden exhibition offer different ways to explore the past and present.

The Residential Palace and theatre history

Ludwigsburg Residential Palace houses 452 rooms and is one of Europe’s largest palaces preserved in its original state. Standard guided tours show a selection of the most important rooms; the specific route may vary. The Ludwigsburg Palace Theatre offers another perspective on the history of the palace: with its original stage machinery, it is one of the oldest surviving theatres of its kind. The rooms and theatre technology each add a different cultural dimension.

Ceramics and city history

Inside the palace, the Ceramics Museum displays Ludwigsburg porcelain and ceramic art across around 2,000 square metres, ranging from medieval stoneware to 20th-century artist ceramics. Highlights include a study collection of 2,000 pieces of Ludwigsburg porcelain. The two figures describe different aspects of the museum: its approximate exhibition area and the size of the study collection.

The Museum of Art and Cultural History of the City of Ludwigsburg and Württemberg presents a permanent exhibition as well as changing special exhibitions on topics from the past and present. The historic centre also offers its own architectural impressions: the arcaded market square is dominated by two Baroque churches. The six historic gatehouses are part of the former city wall complex and now serve as museums, archives and exhibition spaces.

Gardens and fairytale motifs

Blühendes Barock is a year-round garden exhibition around the Residential Palace. The North Garden and South Garden each offer particularly beautiful views of the palace. The Fairytale Garden features more than 50 lovingly designed fairy tales; a boat ride on the Fairytale Stream is included in the admission price for Blühendes Barock. The Sardinian Garden has an aviary with flamingos and storks. This brings together different garden themes: views of the palace architecture, fairytale motifs and opportunities to observe animals.

Choose experiences to suit your interests

The history of the Residential Palace is presented in a playful way during the classic family tour, making it an experience for children and adults alike. Blühendes Barock also hosts an annual pumpkin exhibition. Its dates vary by season; check the event details if the exhibition is relevant to your trip.

If you are mainly interested in the palace and its collections, focus on culture and history. If fairytale motifs and gardens appeal to you, Blühendes Barock offers different themes to consider when planning. If you are travelling with children, you can also consider whether the family tour and Fairytale Garden suit your shared interests. First decide on your main interests, then refine your search for accommodation.

Discover more destinations

Hoheneck, Kirchheim Am Neckar, Ingersheim, Asperg, Großbottwar, Oberstenfeld, Eberdingen, Korntal-Münchingen

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