Envision a king’s dream turned into a living tapestry. That’s Wilhelma for you. The Wilhelma is Stuttgart’s zoological and botanical garden. It is Germany’s only park uniting a zoo with a botanical garden.
King Wilhelm I of Württemberg originally wanted a private escape. In 1829 mineral springs emerged near his summer home. He then envisioned a bathing house and gardens. Architect Karl Ludwig von Zanth designed it all.
Zanth drew inspiration from the Alhambra in Granada, Spain. He designed the Wilhelma in the Moorish style. Locals still fondly call Wilhelma “Alhambra at the Neckar River”. The bathing house became a reception hall. It featured greenhouses and pavilions.
Today Wilhelma blends two distinct parts. It has a historic park with buildings and greenhouses. Also it has a post World War II botanical and zoological garden.
The Azaleenhaus greets visitors with its fragrant azaleas. King Wilhelm’s winter garden was one of his favorites. Greenhouses display camellias and fuchsias. Some plants date back to King Wilhelm’s time. They are over 160 years old.
The aquarium showcases diverse aquatic life. Freshwater fish swim alongside coral reef creatures. Saltwater crocodiles reside in the terrarium’s crocodile hall. Visit on a Monday at 2 p.m. to witness the crocodile feeding. The crocodile hall also houses sea turtles and kookaburras.
The Amazon building recreates a South American rainforest. It opened in 2000. Explore insectariums with tarantulas and butterflies.
The ape nursery is unique in Europe. It cares for gorillas rejected by their mothers. The ape house opened in 2013 for bonobos and gorillas.
Lions, tigers and jaguars prowl in outdoor areas. You can also see elephants and giraffes. Also catch zebras, meerkats and flamingos. See polar bears and kangaroos too.
Children can interact with animals at the farm. They can feed goats and hens. Interactive play stations mimic animal behaviors.
Climb the Belvedere for scenic views of the park. The Belvedere Bistro offers food and drinks.
Wilhelma began in the mid 19th century. King Wilhelm I designed the park. The buildings show the fashionable Moorish style. In the 1950s the first animals arrived. Wilhelma then became Germany’s only zoological botanical garden.
The Moorish Garden is the heart of the historic gardens. It was designed around 1850. The Alhambra of Stuttgart gardens surrounds arcades and pavilions. The north side has tropical greenhouses. The south wing was destroyed in the war. It was replaced by the aquarium and crocodile house.
The Wilhelma zoo has grown since the 1950s. It has the usual animals. It is a modern zoo that participates in breeding programs.
The new ape house opened in 2013. Bonobos and gorillas now live in roomy family homes.
Wilhelma is known for hand raising ape babies. Zookeepers care for orphaned or rejected gorillas. A part of the ape house is their kindergarten.
Keep an eye out for wild animals too. Foxes and hares roam at night. Herons and storks are permanent guests. Squirrels and hedgehogs also live here.
The butterfly hall is a greenhouse with tropical plants. Butterflies fly freely among visitors.
The farm presents domestic animals and their wild ancestors. It displays goats, pigs and horses. The zoo breeds endangered species.
One ticket grants access to every attraction. The Wilhelma stop on the U14 line is outside the main entrance.
Wilhelma is not just a zoo. It’s a journey through architectural history and natural wonders. It is a testament to a king’s vision. It is a place where the past and present come alive.