Resplendent palaces and glorious gardens combine with lively shopping districts and colourful festivals at this city in Germany’s Baden-Württemberg state.
Experience a blend of history, nature and entertainment in Ludwigsburg. Explore royal palaces and fairytale gardens. Discover bustling commercial streets and festivals that celebrate everything from artisans to food and street music. Established as a royal retreat in the early 1700s, today Ludwigsburg maintains the grace of its regal past.
Ludwigsburg is famous for its three palaces. In the heart of the city is Residenzschloss Ludwigsburg, a Baroque masterpiece with over 400 rooms built for the Dukes of Württemberg in 1704. Take a guided tour of the palace’s rooms, admire European art in the Barockgalerie and browse fashion exhibitions in the Modemuseum. Marvel at the artistic flower arrangements and topiary displays in the palace’s garden, Blühendes Barock.
A short walk away is Schloss Favourite, a lavishly decorated former hunting palace and summer residence. Spot deer in the surrounding 178-acre (72-hectare) garden, Favoritepark. North of the city centre is Seeschloss Monrepos, an 18th-century lakeside hunting lodge used for private events and concerts. Go boating on Lake Monrepos, which turns into a public ice-rink during the winter months.
The city’s old town spreads out from the café-lined Marktplatz. Visit Stadtkirche and Zur Heiligsten Dreieinigkeit, two striking churches erected almost 300 years ago. See the birthplaces of famous poets such as Justinus Kerner and Friedrich Theodor Vischer. Browse boutiques and fashion outlets set along the old town’s streets, including Holmzmarktstrasse and Wilhelmstrasse.
Brush up on local history at Ludwigsburg Museum. Learn about the rural life of the city’s early settlers at the Dorfmuseum Poppenweiler. Find exhibits that highlight the city’s penal past at the Prison Museum.
Plan your visit around the city’s busy schedule of events. May’s Street Music Festival honours street performers and aspiring musicians. Watch elegant horse parades at June’s Ludwigsburg Horse Market. Also in June is the Market Square Festival, which celebrates the city’s diverse music and culinary scene. Shop at 170 stalls during the month-long Ludwigsburg Baroque Christmas Market.
Ludwigsburg is a 15-minute train journey from Stuttgart and a popular daytrip destination. A range of guesthouse and hotels provide affordable accommodation options.
