Fairytale Ludwigsburg, Germany

This travelogue waited for a turn until I came to a question: What is interesting to see in Stuttgart and the area?

My personal ranking looks like this - Ulm, Ludwigsburg, Stuttgart. And if I widen the perimeter a little, I'd definitely include Schwäbisch Hall. However, I will dedicate a special edition to him - still the only Venetian carnival is held outside Italy.

I'm a fan of architecture. Especially the castles, the fortresses. This does not mean that I do not sigh on the natural things and beauties, but in fact, what remains for generations is what created the human hand. And the evidence we see of them is from the most ancient civilizations that have survived to this day.

photo: Dimitrina Pandurova

Ludwigsburg "happened" on our way to Karlsruhe. Our starting point is Munich, which makes the route very difficult because of Stuttgart's kilometers of congestion. This is one of the busiest stretches in Germany. Its competition is serious in the face of the Austria-Germany motorway entrance, in Salzburg or inland - on the Düsseldorf-Munich motorway between Würzburg and Aschaffenburg.

About 10-kilometers are Stuttgart from Ludwigsburg. I had read about the town in one of the novels of an English spy. After World War II, the headquarters were located there, which was to investigate the National Socialist Party. I also knew that there was one of the largest castles among the baroque complexes in the country.

The central part of the town can be traveled in about 30 minutes, and probably less, but the fairytale garden should by no means be missed. The place is so fascinating that it can be easily relaxed all day long.

The best season to visit is certainly the beginning of spring, when the gardens of the palace are full of hundreds of tulips. In the summer, the three flower areas are no less charming. There are pink and herbaceous gardens, nooks and crannies that will take you far to Asia or closer - somewhere on the Italian island of Sardinia or in the Mediterranean at all. The palace complex is enclosed on three sides by gardens spread over an area of ​​30 hectares.

photos: Dimitrina Pandurova

In addition, the gardens also host various festivals. For example - the sand figures.

Location

By plane, the nearest airports are Stuttgart and Karlsruhe. The optimal variant is with 3-5 nights, as time could be allocated according to preferences. One possibility - one day Stuttgart. Besides the central part, if you like luxury cars you can visit the Mercedes and Porsche. One day about the Ludwigsburg Palace and the lovely gardens that are next to it. One day necessarily in Ulm - the city of Einstein, but not only. If you love the old atmosphere, you can jump to the towns of Schwabisch Hall. The atmosphere of the old streets and houses along the river is incredible. And of course the walk would not be complete without the most beautiful castle in the region - Hohenzollern. Located at 70 km. from Stuttgart. And if you get one more day off, dedicate it to Heidelberg, the only city that, thanks to the Americans' love for it, was spared during the bombing. The city that Prince William and his wife had chosen to visit two years ago.

The story of Ludwigsburg

17th century - a small pond with a hunting ground was located here. The end of the century (1693) French troops burned down all buildings, plundering everything of value.

In the early 18th century, German architect Philipp Joseph Jenisch planned to build a hunting palace. However, it was decided to build a new residence for Duke Eberhard Ludwig. There was one major problem - money was scarce, despite the continued increase in taxes. It even got to the point where the Duke allowed the builders to settle around the palace - for free, without charging them a fee. This is how the city itself emerges.

And so, over the years, different wings have been added, and today Ludwigsburg counts entire 19 buildings, with a total of 452 premises. There are two churches within the palace residence, and 10 rulers are buried in the crypt of one.

photos: Dimitrina Pandurova

In 1954, when the 250 anniversary was celebrated, the gardens were restored to the original Baroque plans.

50 years later, four museums open in the palace - the Baroque Art Gallery, the Palace Theater with an interesting stage technique, which features performances of the Stuttgart Opera. Among the masters of the brush are Italian and German authors of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

Today, Ludwigsburg is home to four universities. Depending on the season in which you visit, a brief consultation with the city's official website can be made - the summer months are full of various interesting events.

The entrance to the palace of the residence costs a modest 6 Euros, as I say this compares to the prices in Munich - there the Nymphenburg Castle is priced at 11.50, and if one wants to see the residence he has to pay another 8-9 Euros.

Typically in German, you can also download the special application, which will certainly be useful both as information and if you accidentally get lost in one of all the halls.

From the back of the palace I noticed something like a castle wall on the next hill.

The park between Ludwigsburg Castle and the Fairytale Park

photo: Dimitrina Pandurova

Until then, I had no idea that another interesting meeting awaited us. After diving into the atmosphere of the gardens and children's workshops, we continued on to the park. So we came to the "Märchengarten" ("Fairytale garden"). We were surprised when it turned out that this, so full of all kinds of fun for the kids, was free.

One place that really transports to another world. You will recall the characters Max and Moritz who have their home here… You will remember Baba Yaga or you will see where the Frog Prince lives… This is a world of charming princesses, but also of beautiful princes, mythical creatures and exciting adventures with 1001 Night characters - Sinbad, Aladin and Ali Baba. If you are patient you will also find the Rapunzel Tower, from which it descends its long shallow. A truly fantastically magical world. 

The Fairytale Garden was created in the distant 1959 with nine fairytale scenes, and today they are now 40. Her father is Albert Schochle.

At the entrance we are greeted by a wise storyteller who invites you into the magical world of fairy tales, with an open book in his hand. The Ludwigsburg Giant also lives in the courtyard, which saves the children and all the nobles in the park.

I managed to imagine what it was like to rule a kingdom by ascending the throne. Well, I didn't reach it quite easily, but I will not reveal the surprise that awaits everyone in this place.

Then our fairy tale continued on the Bach route - by boat, we looked at water mills and crossed into the world of Little Tailor and Pinocchio.