A Day in Ludwigsburg: Palaces, Pumpkins, and Autumn Magic

Last month, my friend and I chose to take a small break from the regular grind and do what I’ve been obsessed with lately, exploring the surrounding areas of Stuttgart. The fact that the nearest point to where I live is Ludwigsburg made it the perfect spot to take an easy, yet totally worth the time day trip. There was no planning or waking up early required. Just hopping on a train and getting off 20 mins later.

Ludwigsburg is nicknamed the “Versailles of Swabia,” which seemed a little excessive to me initially. Then again, it’s not like Germany lacks castles and palaces already. So I expected another nice but unremarkable spot that blends in with the rest. Wrong. On all accounts. I misjudged this trip entirely. The scope of it, its beauty, and my own ability to walk that day.

The Ludwigsburg Residential Palace

Our first destination was the Residential Palace in Ludwigsburg, which is essentially the landmark monument that represents not only the city but is literally what Ludwigsburg is famous for. It was built way back in the early 18th century, and it was initially intended by Duke Eberhard Louis of Württemberg, who essentially wanted a Baroque palace that would reflect his power and prestige. And boy, did he succeed! This palace is one of the largest Baroque buildings in Germany, boasting more than 450 rooms! Four hundred and fifty!

Its size is intimidating in the best possible way. It’s not just a structure, it’s an entire environment. Huge courtyards, perfectly symmetrical design, water features scattered throughout, buildings sprawling in every which way. Your eye does not casually land on this palace. It takes it in slowly. The sad thing was that the main palace building was closed that day, so the interior of the main building was not accessible. I will admit that I was a little disappointed, as I have heard that the interior has lavish halls, royal chambers, and enough ornamentation to dazzle your eyes.

A few days prior to when we went, there was also a famous Pumpkin Festival in Ludwigsburg that I missed this year (though it’s going on next year’s to-do list). Luckily, some of the displays were still there when we went by. In front of the palace was a there was a display of film set done in pumpkins. The equipment, actors, and scenes were all done in pumpkins of all shapes and sizes. It was adorable and also appropriately German in its enthusiasm for festivals.

The palace grounds themselves were breathtaking. There were pristine grass, trees lining the walkways, fountains which seemed to exist as if it’s no big deal, and ample space for people to walk, sit, or stand by as if they were members of the royal family for five minutes.

Though we were unable to visit the major palace, we were allowed to enter another smaller building, which, to be honest, did not seem “small” by any means. Inside were statues of Greek gods, philosophers, and thinkers.

This already gave us a majestic and intellectual ambiance immediately. What caught my attention, though, was the ceiling. Painted with angels and beautiful designs, it was one of those instances wherein you just have to stop moving and look. Well, my neck was protesting a little bit, but my soul was in heaven.

Blühendes Barock

After absorbing as much palace atmosphere as we could manage, we headed off to Blühendes Barock, or “Blooming Baroque.” This is the botanical garden at Ludwigsburg, and once again, I underestimated its size. The mistake that never ceases to amaze me despite my experience with maps on previous trips.

Blühendes Barock is a full-on landscape experience. Spread across several themed areas, it surrounds parts of the palace and feels like a completely separate world. We found a map that was displayed at the entrance, looked at it with great confidence, and then accepted that we’d only be able to cover “as much as possible” before our legs gave up.

One of the fascinating (and my favourite) parts of garden was the historic Posilippo-Tunnel. It is a stone passageway 30 meters long, joining the upper east garden with the lower east garden, designed under Duke Friedrich II. That which makes it even cooler is that it's modeled after a very ancient tunnel in Naples, turning it out with this subtle Italian influence tucked away in Germany. It's functional and beautiful at the same time. An actual route you can make to walk through and a proper architectural feature.

It is most famous during festivals such as the “Illuminated Dream Path” light show, during which the entire tunnel is illuminated with magical colors. It was even decorated with soft lights on the inside during the time of our visit, giving it an almost film-like experience upon entrance due to its cooling and quiet environment that felt almost like stepping back into the past.

Because it was autumn, the garden was in its full glory. There were massive trees shedding yellow leaves everywhere, turning the green grass blanketed with yellow leaves. There was this one spot in the garden where the leaves just kept falling nonstop, and it genuinely felt like something straight out of a movie montage. Naturally, I had my full main-character moment there—walking slowly while leaves drifted around me and recording dramatic slow-motion videos like my life had background music playing. 🍂✨

We passed by a small hut, bird houses, as well as grassy areas where you could listen to birds chirping all day long. Then there was a waterfall cornered in one part of this beautiful setup, with a pond nearby to create this serene environment.

By the time we were done, we were tired, slightly hungry, and very happy. Ludwigsburg surprised me in the best way possible. It wasn’t just a “nice nearby town”—it was layered, grand, peaceful, and full of little moments that stay with you. If you’re anywhere near Stuttgart and looking for a day trip that gives you history, beauty, and a gentle reality check about how small you are compared to Baroque architecture… Ludwigsburg is absolutely worth it. 💛