WILHELMA
PARK ZOO - STUTTGART
Alhambra on the Neckar
King Wilhelm I of Wurttemberg thought a royal gardens and bath house would be the perfect addition to his Rosenstein Palace, with a view of the Neckar River where it made a wide curve, north of the old city. In the mid-19th Century Moorish architecture was all the rage among the European ruling society, so Wilhelm commanded his architect Karl Ludwig Zanth to design his park in the style of the Alhambra in Spain, giving his park the official name of Wilhelma, but known as the Alhambra on the Neckar. The park first opened in 1846, but due to money concerns, Wilhelm’s ambitious original plan was never fully realized. After two wars and the end of monarchy, the park and its royal buildings were turned into a public park and zoo. Heavily damaged in the bombing of Stuttgart in WWII, the zoo was later expanded over the years into one of the largest collections of species in the world. The older part of the zoo across from the river where Neckar cruises depart retains its original Moorish style.
The Moorish Villa, which was the king's getaway residence is now home to a combined animal and plant house. The overed walkway lead from the villa to the royal grand Banqueting Hall, now gone replaced by the current Aquarium with the Crocodile Hall. The other direction lead to the Wilhelma Theater, where royal parties were entertained on summer evenings. Other original buildings that have survived are the Belvedere Pavilion above the Sub Tropics Terraces, and the Damascene Hall, an early aviary. The Giraffe House and other building maintain the Moorish style in later additions, while the botanical enclosures are more modern. The Wilhelma Park Zoo now takes up 70 with the flat lower section of animal houses around the park grounds, with an upper section on the hillside above.
The Wilhema Park is both zoo and botanical garden, the only one in Germany. Albert Schöchle, who was the Head of the State Gardens at Ludwigsburg Palace (see Baroque Garden Palace Ludwigsburg) plotted the flowering of the gardens at Wilhelma, influencing the development of its botanical collections in the greenhouses. Among the zoo’s animal offerings, Wilhelma is perhaps best known for its Gorilla House, featuring four varieties of great apes, with baby Gorillas especially entertaining to the offspring of human visitors. Wilhelma is home to the playful polar bear Wilbar, an extensive aquarium and large animals from the African steppes, giraffes, lions, elephants, penguins and butterflies.
Visiting Stuttgart Wilhelma Park Zoo
The Wilhelma Park Zoo is open every day. The gates open at 8:15 am and close at different times, depending on the time of year. The Wilhema Park is easily reached by city bus from central Stuttgart or by car, just follow the signs with an elephant, to the underground car park. Admission is 12€ for adults, 6€ for children and students, with a family ticket for 18€. There is a discount ticket for late entry after 4pm. The ticket office closes at 4pm, and the late entry tickets are available from automated ticket machines. Many of the exhibits are in indoor enclosures with linked walkways so can be enjoyed in inclement weather, though the gardens may be a bit less impressive in the wet. Some special behind the scenes tours are available for an extra charge. © Bargain Travel Europe
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Wilhelma Zoo
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