The Best Things to See and Do in Ludwigsburg

The sprawling Ludwigsburg Palace complex is one of the few Baroque buildings in Europe that still exist in their original condition. The palace offers public guided tours of its interiors replete with royal splendor. Visitors to the palace are invariably impressed by the ornate hallways, the marble hall, the magnificent theater with its original machinery, the royal furniture, and the gorgeous intricately designed residential apartments. The Keramikmuseum with its unbeatable collection of porcelain, ceramic, and stone artifacts is also definitely worth a visit.

The Blühendes Barock gardens (Baroque in Bloom) surrounding the Ludwigsburg Palace increase the beauty of the palace by several notches. The garden, spread over 30 hectares, is a delightful mix of intricate landscaping from different eras and regions. Hours melt away unnoticed as visitors savor the riot of blooms, tree-shaded boulevards, exotic birds, garden ornaments, and the Emichsburg Palace. Little guests can’t help falling in love with the Fairy-Tale Garden, which has 30 magical settings, including Frog Prince and Sleeping Beauty.

The Schloss Favorite was built in the early 1700s as a hunting lodge and summer residence for Duke Eberhard Ludwig. Today, the palace invites guests to tour its original neoclassical interiors, with intricate chandeliers, ancient clocks, and ornate mirrors. Visitors get a feel of how the royals relaxed in luxurious armchairs while enjoying gorgeous views of the surrounding 72 hectares of parklands and dined in style using golden tableware.

Monrepos is another gorgeous palace in Ludwigsburg and considered to be a brilliant example of rococo architecture. It enjoys a picture-perfect location by the lake. Travelers love rowing on the lake, enjoying a quiet, peaceful time of bird-watching, and being one with nature. In autumn, this spot is especially beautiful with the leaves around Monrepos turning russet, copper, and bright yellow.

It’s hard to believe but the quiet little town of Ludwigsburg that is often overlooked by travelers hosts one of the most enchanting Christmas markets in all of Germany. Thousands of sparkling light bulbs, majestic angel structures, carousels, 170 brightly decorated stalls, and the intoxicating aroma of mulled wine and roasted chestnuts transform the Market Square of the city into one magical land. The market also hosts special events like puppet shows, glass carvings, magic shows, clown shows, and live music.

Ludswigsburg is best known for the Largest Pumpkin Festival in the World, held in September-October at the Blühendes Barock gardens. Hundreds of thousands of fun-seekers flock to this festival to feast their eyes on 400,000 pumpkins across 800 varieties and indulge in a host of pumpkin-related activities, entertainment, contests, art and sculpture, and a variety of foods and drinks.

Visitors interested in learning more about the history of the city of Ludwigsburg must head to the Ludwigsburg Museum. The exhibition rooms of the museum have an impressive collection of artifacts that tell the story of Ludwigsburg as a residential town, an art hub, an industrial center, and a garrison. The museum documents through words and pictures the significant historical events witnessed by the city, architecture of the Ludwigsburg Palace, the socio-economic-political evolution of the city, and a lot more.

The vibrant Old Town of Ludwigsburg charms travelers with its typical Swabian culture, historic architecture and merry crowds. Theodor Heuss, the first President of the Federal Republic of Germany, was so impressed with the Ludwigsburg Old Town that he labelled it “the proudest square that Württemberg has.” Travelers interested in a dose of culture would enjoy checking out famous German poet, doctor, and medical author Justinius Kerner’s house, poet and writer Friedrich Theodor Vischer’s birthplace, and theologist and literature historian David Friedrich Strauss’s home. The Old Town also has many choices in restaurants and cafés, and is a great spot to indulge in some people-watching.

The Evangelical church (Evangelische Stadtkirche) is a pride of the Old Town of Ludwigsburg. Travelers don’t need to be religious in order to appreciate its beautiful Baroque architecture and pleasing symmetry. Visitors are welcome to walk inside and enjoy its peaceful atmosphere.

Travelers wishing to try their luck might enjoy making a stop at Casino Royal. Operated by Germany’s reputed Casino Royale Gruppe, this casino offers high-quality games in a relaxed atmosphere. It welcomes visitors aged 18 and above.

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