The Blossoming Baroque (Blühende Barock) Ludwigsburg is Germany’s largest permanent garden show. It attracts more than 600,000 visitors per year, making it one of the most popular destinations for day trips. When you visit, you will quickly realise why: colours, shapes, scents – everything is perfectly coordinated. You will feel as if you have stepped into another world. The Blühende Barock garden show in Ludwigsburg covers an incredible 300,000 square metres. It is one of Ludwigsburg’s most impressive sights.
When you enter the park – affectionately known as BlüBa or BlüBa Ludwigsburg – through the main entrance, you immediately sense the special atmosphere. The magnificent Ludwigsburg Residential Palace opens up before you. The 18th-century palace is the largest undestroyed Baroque palace in Germany and one of the largest original Baroque complexes in Europe. There are more than 450 rooms, many of them lavishly decorated, throughout the palace complex. You will be amazed. And the magnificent gardens surrounding Ludwigsburg Residential Palace are not just beautiful – they are a total work of art.
Baroque garden art in Blühendes Barock
Your path to Blossoming Baroque (Blühende Barock) takes you through the South Garden to Ludwigsburg Residential Palace. The garden is laid out in the Baroque style. You can walk in the footsteps of kings along symmetrical paths and admire the artistically designed flower beds. Numerous rose bushes unfold their splendour. To the right of the entrance to Blühendes Barock – or to the left of the palace – are the hedge gardens. They showcase Baroque garden art at its most beautiful.
You can’t miss the centrally located Castle Garden Lake (Schlossgartensee). Our tip: if you’re looking for interesting photo opportunities, you’ll find one here. Stand in front of the lake opposite the castle. Then you’ll see how beautifully the castle is reflected in the water.
When you walk past the castle, you continue on your way through the BlüBa to the North Garden. From the terraces at the level of the castle, you have a wonderful view of the Broderie. This means ‘embroidery’ and has a special reason. In the symmetrical North Garden, four coats of arms of the Duchy of Württemberg are depicted around a lake. Small hedges and flower beds ‘draw’ or ‘embroider’ the picture.
Blossoming Baroque: East Gardens, Perennials and Mediterranean Flair
Your journey through Ludwigsburg’s Blühendes Barock (Blooming Baroque) can then take you to the East Gardens. A variety of magnificent perennials are planted in the upper East Garden. These perennial plants offer you an overwhelming panorama of flowers. You will be amazed. The perennial garden is pure romance. Further highlights follow. The Blühendes Barock Garden Show in Ludwigsburg offers you a wide variety of garden styles. A lovingly landscaped vineyard with Mediterranean flair will enchant you. Cypresses, olive trees, figs and lemons grow here.
In the lower east garden, you can see Emichsburg Castle, built between 1798 and 1802, from afar – a romantic ruin in BlüBa. If you climb the 150 steps of the spiral staircase, you will have a fantastic view over Ludwigsburg Blühende Barock. Tip: Emichsburg Castle is also part of the Fairy Tale Garden. If you stand below and call out ‘Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!’, she will let down her long braid. In Grimm’s fairy tale, the witch and the prince use her hair as a rope to climb up into the castle. The lower east garden is romantically situated in the valley. Over 2,500 rhododendrons make this part of the Blühendes Barock a blooming splendour.
History: From the baroque garden of kings to Germany’s largest permanent garden show
The history of Ludwigsburg’s Blühendes Barock (Blooming Baroque) is closely linked to that of Ludwigsburg Baroque Palace. Duke Eberhard Ludwig had the first gardens laid out in 1704. They had the characteristic Baroque structure and were located to the north and south of the palace. In 1749, Duke Carl Eugen expanded the north and south gardens. From 1797 onwards, Duke Friedrich II added the east garden and chose the classicist style. In 1828, King Wilhelm I had the gardens converted for agricultural use and opened them to the public.
In 1953, the gardens were prepared for the ‘Ludwigsburg Anniversary Garden Show’ to mark the 250th anniversary of Ludwigsburg Residential Palace. Alfred Schöchle took his inspiration from the historical Baroque style, adding free Baroque elements. The Ludwigsburg Baroque Garden Show was so successful in 1954 that it became a permanent garden show.
The Fairy Tale Garden was added in 1959. The Blühendes Barock Garden Show has been continuously expanded and is now the largest and most attractive permanent garden show in Germany.
Special tips: Fairytale garden, pumpkin exhibition & illuminated dream paths
First of all, we recommend that you allow plenty of time for your visit to Blühendes Barock. Enjoy the themed gardens. There are several places where you can enjoy the best views. In the south garden, you can enjoy them directly from the main entrance. In the north garden, the terraces at the castle offer a great view. And in the east garden, you have the most beautiful view from Emichsburg Castle.
Ludwigsburg Fairytale Garden
For many years, the Ludwigsburg Fairy Tale Garden has been an indispensable part of Blühendes Barock. You can visit more than 40 stations from famous fairy tales in the Ludwigsburg Fairy Tale Garden. Hansel and Gretel, the Frog Prince and many more await you.
A real insider tip: sit down with a coffee on one of the benches at the Seeschlösschen. Watch how the castle is reflected in the water – it’s pure tranquillity.
Spring awakening & balloon blossoming
From March to May, Blühendes Barock bursts into springtime splendour. You can enjoy a veritable blaze of colour. We bet you’ll get that spring fever!
In April, a particularly spectacular event takes place at BlüBa: the balloon blossom. More than 80 colourful balloons take off. You will be amazed. In future, you will also be able to see large kites flying in the sky.
Throughout the year, you can choose from other events worth seeing: the Baroque Garden Days, the Street Music Festival or the Musical Fireworks.
Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Exhibition
The absolute highlight is the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Exhibition. It is even the world’s largest pumpkin exhibition. The ‘Blühendes Barock Pumpkin Exhibition’ has a different theme every year. In 2025, for example, you could see film characters made from pumpkins. You will be amazed at what can be made from pumpkins. The Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Exhibition takes place between the end of August and the beginning of November. You will see some amazing things in the pumpkin carving competition. The Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Exhibition also hosts the annual award for the heaviest pumpkin. Last time, it weighed more than 800 kg.
Glowing dream paths
Immediately following the pumpkin exhibition, the illuminated Blooming Baroque dream paths take place in late autumn and winter. You should not miss them: they transform the park into a sea of lights that oscillates between romance and magic. For almost two months, you can visit the illuminated dream paths every day between 5 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tip: It’s best to book online and in good time. The illuminated dream paths are very popular – and rightly so.
Surroundings: Ludwigsburg sights around the Blooming Baroque gardens
There is much to discover around Blooming Baroque. First of all, within Blooming Baroque Ludwigsburg, you can marvel at Ludwigsburg Residential Palace, one of the largest preserved Baroque palaces in Europe. A must-see for anyone who loves history. More than 450 rooms bear clear witness to the power of Ludwigsburg Residential Palace. When you visit Blooming Baroque, you can combine it with a tour of its magnificent rooms.
Ludwigsburg Old Town and Market Square
The charming old town of Ludwigsburg, with its cafés, boutiques and small galleries, is also ideal for a leisurely stroll. The baroque Ludwigsburg market square is particularly beautiful, with its picturesque surroundings. If you have time, take the opportunity to enjoy the special atmosphere here over a cup of coffee.
Favourite Palace and Favourite Park
Ludwigsburg has more than just the grand residential palace. You can visit two other palaces. Standing on the north side of Ludwigsburg Residential Palace, your gaze will immediately fall on the bright yellow Favorite Palace. It is adorned with pretty turrets and a large open staircase. The Duke of Württemberg had it built between 1717 and 1723.
You can easily reach Favorite Palace via a footpath after about 1.5 km. The walk takes you through the green Favorite Park with its beautiful tall trees. The Duke’s deer used to graze here. If you turn around, you have a great view of the gardens of Blühendes Barock.
Monrepos Castle
But that’s not all: a path about 5 km long leads you through Favoritepark to Monrepos Castle. The lake castle is romantically situated on the water. If you walk around the small lake, the picturesque castle is reflected in the water.
Conclusion: Why Ludwigsburg’s Blossoming Baroque is always worth a visit
As you can see, there are many reasons to visit Blühendes Barock Ludwigsburg – and not just once. You won’t be able to see all the sights in a single day.
