They may be urban areas, but both Ludwigsburg and Stuttgart boast glorious gardens. From March to November, the grounds of Residenzschloss Ludwigsburg host ‘Baroque in Bloom’ – with colourful flowers, sweet-scented arbours, and elegant fountains galore. It’s a spectacular celebration of spring and summer, with the palace as its centrepiece.
In Stuttgart, don’t miss the Wilhelma Botanical Gardens, which were established in 1842 as a Moorish garden for King Wilhelm I of Wuerttemberg. Today, the collection has swelled to 8,500 plants and trees – including rare orchids, tropical blossoms, desert cacti, and much more. You can wander between towering mahoganies and vines in the Amazon House, while the Fuschia House is a riot of pink, purple and scarlet blooms.