Biodiversity in the Urban Jungle: The Wilhelma.  [28.08.22]

Although the city of Stuttgart is comparatively green compared to other cities, you'll find it even greener and richer in species at Wilhelma, the city's zoo.

Plant and Animal Diversity inmidst the City: The Wilhelma

Recent News: A few weeks ago, five baby cheetahs were born at the Wilhelma, after 55 years of cheetah husbandry in the zoo. And another of the world’s rarest mammals was born recently in the Wilhelma: A Somali wild donkey foal!

What is the Wilhelma?
The Wilhelma park extends over around 30 hectares and is roughly equivalent to an area of 40 football pitches. The area borders on Rosenstein Park in the south, almost reaches the Neckar River in the east and residential areas of Stuttgart's Bad Cannstatt district in the west and north. Today's Wilhelma Park belongs to the historical heritage of Baden-Württemberg. The park has undergone a transition from being the purely private retreat of a king to become the zoological and botanical gardens of Stuttgart, with just over 2.1 million yearly visitors.
The history of Wilhelma began in 1829. Mineral springs were found in the park of Rosenstein Palace, which had just been completed. King Wilhelm I of Württemberg (1781-1864) planned the construction of a "bathhouse in the Moorish style" in the palace park, supplemented by an orangery and a greenhouse. The most outstanding example of Moorish architecture, even in those days, was the Alhambra in Granada, Spain. And so, the Wilhelma is known as the "Alhambra on the Neckar River". Originally planned as private gardens, the park, with buildings in the Moorish style, was intended to serve the Swabian king as living quarters and to be used for representative purposes. On 30 September 1846, Wilhelma was inaugurated on the wedding of Crown Prince Karl to the Tsar's daughter Olga Nikolayevna. After the death of the king in 1864, from 1880 onwards anyone with an entitlement card may visit Wilhelma. During the Second World War, a large part of Wilhelma was destroyed during the bombing raids on Stuttgart in 1944. After a few years of growing vegetables for Stuttgart hospitals in the post-war period, Wilhelma reopened to visitors in 1949 with an exhibition of azaleas, and other plants would follow. 
From 1952 Wilhelma was developed into the only zoological-botanical garden in Germany. Wilhelma got its first three elephants. One of them was Vilja. She came here when she was about three years old and lived here until 2010, before she died at the age of over 60, as the oldest Asian elephant in Europe. 

What is there to see?
Well, apart from the plants and the beautiful architecture - A LOT. With around 11,000 animals in about 1,200 species, Wilhelma is one of the most species-rich zoos not only in Germany but worldwide. At Wilhelma you can admire e.g., various species of monkeys, African and non-African ungulates, predatory cats and bears, climbing animals, but also South American species. Those interested in reptiles, amphibians, fish or animals living in water will not miss out here. There is even a small insectarium. If you are interested, you can go and watch the feeding of certain animals in the parc. Some feeding times like of the sea lions are daily at 3 pm, crocodiles at 2 pm (only on Mondays), spectacled penguins get their daily food at 2.30 pm and the bonobos are fed daily at 10.15 am. In addition, there are around 8,500 plant species and varieties in Wilhelma's historical park and greenhouses. Wilhelma is famous for orchids, azaleas, camellias, bromeliads, fuchsias as well as cacti and other succulents. We can especially recommend the Amazonia House. The Amazonia House is home to 2000 plants found in the south American mountain jungle. Temperatures lay between 25 – 28 °C and a humidity up to 80 %. The Wilhelma also includes a Schaubauernhof (show farm) with farm animals and their ancestors, as well as a petting zoo for children.
Overall, the Wilhelma has versatile offers for children like the Kinderturnwelt all around the grounds. Through a versatile range of gastronomy supply of food and drink is also provided, e.g. Amazonia Restaurant, Restaurant Show farm, Café and Bistro Belverde or Imbiss Bretzelfritz which are opened between 10 am to 5 or 7 pm, depending on the season (summer/winter).

Check out their website for more infos about the Wilhelma

Tickets and Opening Times
There are no Covid-restrictions anymore and the gastronomy is opened as usual. Opening hours during summertime (May-September) are from 8.15 am to 8 pm. Greenhouses and animal houses are opened from 9 am to 6.30 pm.
There are three ways to enter the Wilhelma, either the main entrance (you will most likely get there if you are traveling by car or via train). The ticket offices are open from 8.15 am to 4 pm, after that, evening tickets can still be purchased at the ticket machines. Another way is via the upper entrance at the show farm, tickets can be purchased from 9 am to 16.30 pm during the weekend or vacation times. As well there is a side entry via the Pragstraße which is opened on weekends from 10 am to 4 pm. Tickets at normal fare are 20 € (15 € for the evening ticket), or 13 € (10 € for the evening ticket) for students with a valid Student ID. They also offer various family tickets as well as tickets for larger groups (15 or more). It is also possible to book tickets online. A tip from us: use the evening rate in the summertime, here you still have 4 hours until closing time to explore the Wilhelma for a smaller price. For more info related to tickets, visit www.wilhelma.de/de/besuch/ticket-shop.html.

How to get there?
It's very easy to get to Wilhelma. Take e.g. bus 70 to Ruhbank, then change to the U7 in the direction of Mönchfeld. Get off at Charlottenplatz and go down the escalator. Attention! Make sure that you walk down to the stairs where the U14 goes in the direction of Mühlhausen. After less than 10 minutes you will arrive almost directly in front of the entrance gate to Wilhelma. Use VVS.de to check your best connection. 

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