History of Ludwigsburg palace gardens
The Transformation of the Palace Gardens into a Permanent Garden Exhibition
In 1704, Eberhard Ludwig founded Ludwigsburg and laid out gardens to the north and south of the palace, which evolved over time. The Italian-style North Garden was later replaced by a French-Dutch design. From 1750, Carl Eugen redesigned and extended the South Garden, creating large avenues and a new urban layout.
Around 1770, the South Garden was leased out as Carl Eugen focused on other projects. From 1797, Duke Friedrich II enhanced the grounds, adding an oval basin and a canal leading to the palace.
Under Wilhelm I, the gardens were opened to the public in 1828. The South Parterre was planted with fruit trees, the canal was filled in, and garden maintenance was minimized. After the relocation of the royal residence to Stuttgart in the same year, the Ludwigsburg Palace Gardens gradually fell into decline.
It was not until 1947 that Albert Schöchle, director of the Staatliche Anlagen und Gärten, brought the gardens back into focus. Inspired by the 1951 Federal Garden Show in Hanover, Schöchle saw an opportunity to fundamentally renew the park through its own garden exhibition. In 1954, the occasion was ideal: the 250th anniversary of the palace and the 50th anniversary of the Württemberg Gardeners’ Association.
Despite financial concerns from the Ministry of Finance, Schöchle convinced the city and council of his plan. Work began in 1953 under tight deadlines. With the support of the U.S. Army, which provided bulldozers, massive amounts of soil were moved, paths laid out, and hundreds of thousands of plants planted.
On April 23, 1954, the Jubiläumsgartenschau Blühendes Barock opened under bright sunshine. The response was overwhelming: 70% of Ludwigsburg residents purchased season tickets, and by May, 500,000 visitors had attended. The highlight was the visit of Federal President Theodor Heuss.
After the exhibition, the city decided to maintain the gardens permanently. Thus, what began as a six-month showcase became a permanent garden exhibition—a lasting legacy of the visionary Albert Schöchle.
