Nighttime in Stuttgart and in November, the Christmas markets and Christmas decorations are in full…read moreswing. A little too cold to hang out for too long (Unless you're wearing a beer coat. You know what a beer coat is, right?) but plenty of time to enjoy the season! Schlossplatz is the largest open square in the city and dates back to the 1800's when it was built as a parade ground. There is a very crowded Christmas market here with security checking COVID passes at the entrance. A little too dense with people for me so we walked the square and took pictures. Absolutely perfect! [Review 16405 overall - 210 in Germany - 1912 of 2021.]

Went to Stuttgart for a day trip and went to Schlossplatz. It is a nice place to visit. Plenty of…read morecafes and beer gardens around the place. Was busy and loads of people hanging around the area. The weather was great & so was the atmosphere. Looking forward to going back there again

We were here in February, so the gardens are bare, but still a great place for a nice walk…read more We took the English language guided tour. Our guide was knowledgeable, entertaining and very friendly. Disappointed that only a small area was included on the tour. Our guide said that much of the palace was under renovation. I really enjoyed the collection of clothing - this was very unusual and interesting.

As a study-abroad-student back in the 90s, I spent a good six weeks, or so, living in…read moreaccommodations just a stone's throw away from the grounds of the Ludwigsburg Palace. The residence, initially built as a hunting lodge for the Duke of Wuerttemberg, Eberhard Ludwig, in 1704, was expanded upon throughout the first few decades of the 18th century, and, eventually replaced the palace in Stuttgart as the residence of the royal family of Wuerttemberg. It is a gem to behold. There is much to see both around the grounds of the palace and inside the palace itself. Years ago, I had taken a tour of the palace interior, but had forgotten both its beauty and deep history. Some rooms have been preserved in the original baroque style-opulent parquet flooring and gold accented walls-but most other rooms had had their baroque flourish covered up with somewhat demure wall paper and (in my opinion) rather unimaginative wood flooring in later years. The building is surrounded by well-manicured grounds which then bleed out into, sort of, more wild bits and overlap with the Maerchen Park that has become a part of the Bluehendes Barock* experience one undertakes when purchasing an entry ticket to tour the palace grounds only. The Maerchen Park is home to a small variety of anamatronic fairytale figures that are both known and not to non-German audiences. As one attempts to open the gate of the Gingerbread House the witch living inside looks out through her curtains and speaks sinister words to you! At the tower of Rapunzel children cry out, "Rapunzel! Rapunzel! Let your hair down!" And she does! Also housed within the palace is an amazingly extensive ceramics museum charting the rise of pottery in Germany from Bartmann jugs to Meissen tea sets. Unbeknownst to me, Ludwigsburg porcelain was and is of some renown. I'd imagine that Karl Eugen and his ilk were sipping tea out of Ludwigsburger tea cups back in the day... During our look-see of the museum, we were able to spy a, sort of, 'finishing room' where folk were placing unfinished jugs on open shelving units. Ooooh! If one is keen on buying the finished product, then pop on into the ceramics shops also on the palace grounds. A tea cup and saucer might cost you somewhere in the range of 200 euro. *Flowering Baroque: a beautiful garden show within the grounds of the Ludwigsburg Residenzschloss. If a trip to Germany includes parts of the SW, then I would strongly suggest a trip to the palace in Ludwigsburg. Bonus: the first King of Wuerttemberg, Friedrich der Dicke, is the grandfather (x8) of our Boris Johnson, Mayor of London.

Don't miss this experience on your trip to Esslingen! Get the best views of the city here!…read more The "Berg" or fortresss in Esslingen is comprised of two towers and a long wall and can be seen from a distance when you're approaching the city from the hill. It's a nice workout to walk up, either by the steep stairs or the pathway up. At the top are gorgeous views of the city of Esslingen, an expansive grass area great for picnics or taking a break, and even a restaurant.

Esslingen castle is the most famous sightseeing in Esslingen am Neckar, favourite place to walking…read morefor tourists and inhabitants of the city as well. Place to relax and enjoy solitude in a tranquil environment only a few steps away from noisy city. I should mention that the way to the top of the hill is short but not so easy because of its quite steep rise (in my opinion). But from the very top of the hill you'll be rewarded by amazing view over Esslingen which is especially great at night!!!

After a solo tour of Schloss Lichtenstein, we arrived at Burg Hohenzollern to find that they're in…read morefull Christmas Markets season. The place was crowded and lively and quite busy. You'll park in a lower parking lot adjacent to the gift shop. A shuttle van will bring you almost to the entrance of the castle. From there, it's a bit of a walk. It is barely handicapped accessible though the castle itself is not at all wheelchair friendly and many rooms require transiting a number of stairs. The current castle was built between 1846 and 1867 in a Gothic Revival style and influenced by the Châteaux of the Loire Valley. The exterior is regal, dominating the hill it resides on. Inside, each room is decorated with period furniture and artifacts that were owned by Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia. The vault in the basement contains the Crown of Wilhelm II and a uniform that belonged to King Frederick the Great. No photographs allowed in that room but the rest of the castle, absolutely. [Review 21244 overall - 248 in Germany - 209 of 2024.]

Beautiful castle! Pretty views from the top. But getting there from Stuttgart was really…read morebreathtaking as well. We took public transportation which is not recommended. It took 3 hours one way to get there by trains and bus. If you have a car it takes an hour. I would say it was worth it, but we were exhausted by the end of the day. The castle had a cafe that actually tasted pretty good.