Stuttgart Attractions

Venue: Wilhelma Gardens    When: Daily

With its wide range of fascinating animals and exquisite plants, Stuttgart's Wilhelma botanical and zoological garden is one of the best in Germany. It's the ideal place to spend a lazy Sunday morning.

This unique area was designed in 1842-1853 for King William I of Baden Württemberg as a Moorish garden. He initially wanted to name the garden after himself but then settled on the rather more feminine Wilhelma, in keeping with its beautiful flowers. The gardens are a delightful mix of flora and fauna and house some 9000 animals of 1000 different species.

Start off at the luscious greenhouses, winding your way through the colourful walk-in aviary, where exotic birds flutter around you. Nobody will be able to resist the baby gorillas in the ape nusery, and if you're lucky, you may catch some of them being fed. Wilhelma's ape and monkey-keeping is world famous and the complex is home to many chimp, gorilla and orangutan offspring.

The park also includes a savannah area with giraffes, big cats (including a very boisterous lion), hippos, zebras and elephants. Another recently-landscaped area houses wolves, spectacled bears, snow leopards and polar bears. There's even an extensive aquarium.

Kids in need of something to cuddle should head to the farm and petting zoo, where they can pat a porky Swabian pig, feed the goats or go for pony rides. Guided tours and zoology workshops are also available.

The botanical gardens boast several greenhouses as well as famous orchid and magnolia displays. A special greenhouse recreates the sights and smells of the Amazon with plants, monkeys, free-flying birds, fish and cayman.