Schwetzingen: Palace Gardens, Culture and Asparagus

Discover the Palace and Garden Design

Schwetzingen Palace was the Baroque summer residence of the Electoral Palatinate court. The palace gardens add a distinctive garden landscape to this history: garden designer Friedrich Ludwig von Sckell created one of the first English landscape gardens in Germany here in Schwetzingen. Those interested in garden design will find not only a historic residence here, but also an important landmark in the development of landscape gardens.

Numerous sculptures and sophisticated garden architecture shape the palace gardens; one of the notable buildings is the Garden Mosque. The garden documentation center in the southern circular building vividly presents the history and development of the gardens. An app lets you explore the grounds at your own pace. On your stroll, you can choose whether to focus on the garden architecture, the sculptures or the development of the grounds.

A Stroll Around Town

For some exercise, the 6.3-kilometer City Loop is a specific option in Schwetzingen. It starts at Schlossplatz and is suitable for beginners and experienced walkers alike. The route gives you a clearly defined distance for your own outing; you can take its length into account when planning your day without needing to estimate a walking time. The starting point at Schlossplatz is served by Rhine-Neckar bus routes 710, 711, 712, 713 and 717. If you arrive by bus, you can start the loop there.

Music and Asparagus Tradition

Music is also part of the town’s cultural life. The long-running “Schwetzingen SWR Festival” opens the year-round, high-caliber music program in Schwetzingen in spring. In summer, “Music in the Park” follows in the palace gardens. If you want to plan your stay around music and culture, you can keep these different seasonal highlights in mind as you make your travel plans.

Asparagus is another defining part of Schwetzingen. From the end of April until St. John’s Day on June 24, local restaurants serve delicacies featuring the famous Schwetzingen asparagus. If you’re interested not only in the food but also in the vegetable itself, you can add the asparagus trail to your plans: it combines a leisurely walk with information about where asparagus comes from.

A seasonal guided tour brings the subject to life through stories. On “Out and About with the Asparagus Lady,” a woman dressed in historical costume shares informative, curious and amusing facts about asparagus, the “royal vegetable,” in Schwetzingen’s town center. The walk, regional cuisine and guided tour each offer a different focus: nature, culinary delights or stories about the asparagus tradition.

Choose the Focus of Your Stay

When looking for a holiday apartment, consider which aspect of Schwetzingen you’d most like to shape your trip: the history of the summer residence and palace gardens, exploring independently with the app, a lap of the City Loop, or music and asparagus traditions. If you’re traveling with children, the garden design, town loop and asparagus stories offer a range of topics to talk about and things to discover together on your vacation.

Discover More Places

More destination pages: Neulußheim, Gaiberg, Leimen, Schönau, Altlußheim, Neidenstein, Epfenbach, Angelbachtal.

See the regional travel overview: Rhine-Neckar District.