This small Baden-Württemberg city is home to Germany's largest Baroque palace, built in 1704. Its market square and 18th-century botanical gardens draw visitors year-round.
Ludwigsburg centers around one of Germany's grandest Baroque palaces, a 450-room complex with ornate gardens and museums. Just 12 kilometers north of Stuttgart, you'll find three distinct royal residences, including the main Residenzschloss and the lakeside Monrepos Palace. Walk through the Market Square to see the world's largest piggy bank, or time your visit for the annual Pumpkin Festival when thousands of carved gourds fill the palace grounds. The presence of the Film Academy Baden-Württemberg brings film students and creative projects to the streets lined with 18th-century Baroque buildings.
Exploring Ludwigsburg Palace
The Residenzschloss spans 32 hectares, making it Germany's largest Baroque palace complex. Walk through rooms that showcase three architectural periods: the ornate curves of Baroque, the delicate details of Rococo, and the clean lines of Neoclassical design. You'll find several museums inside, including a Fashion Museum chronicling clothing styles through the centuries and a Ceramics Museum with over 2,000 pieces. The palace theater still uses its original 18th-century stage equipment, allowing you to see how historical performances came to life.
Gardens and Outdoor Spaces
The Blühendes Barock (Blooming Baroque) gardens encircle the palace with geometric flower patterns and trimmed hedges. In the Märchengarten (Fairy Tale Garden), children can explore miniature castles and watch mechanical figures act out scenes from classic fairy tales. The gardens change seasonally - look for tulips in spring and roses in summer.
Two More Royal Retreats
Schloss Favorite, a former hunting lodge, sits at the edge of the palace park. Its smaller scale lets you see the details of Baroque architecture up close. Three kilometers away, Monrepos Palace overlooks a lake, where Württemberg nobility once spent their summers hunting and hosting parties.
Market Square and City Center
The Market Square forms the center of Ludwigsburg's pedestrian zone, with buildings inspired by Italian architecture. Local vendors sell fresh produce and flowers on market days, while cafes and shops line the square's edges. Look for the Guinness World Records-certified largest piggy bank, an unexpected modern addition among the 18th-century buildings. During December, wooden stalls and Baroque-style decorations fill the square for the Christmas market.
Annual Festivals
Since 2000, the palace grounds have hosted the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival, now the world's largest pumpkin exhibition. Each year brings new pumpkin sculptures based on different themes, along with seasonal foods and activities. The Christmas Market brings angel figures illuminated above wooden stalls selling crafts, mulled wine, and regional specialties.
Getting There and Around
You can reach Ludwigsburg from Stuttgart Airport (30 kilometers away) via regular S-Bahn trains. Regional trains run frequently between Stuttgart's main station and Ludwigsburg, and the A81 motorway passes near the city. The main attractions cluster around the palace and Market Square, making them easy to explore on foot.
