The Wilhelma – a Winter Idyll

Stuttgart’s Zoological and Botanical Gardens were originally designed as a royal retreat in the 19th century at the request of King Wilhelm I of Württemberg. The historical park with its fanciful Moorish architecture has a magical atmosphere and a charm all of its own, whatever the season. With its listed buildings, distinctive trees and delightful perspectives, the Wilhelma has been preserved as an unparalleled cultural heritage. The numerous heated houses for rare animals and exotic plants are a welcome bonus during a winter walk through the 30 hectares of the grounds. Visitors to the Wilhelma can experience a biodiversity rarely matched anywhere in the world, with nearly 1,200 species of animals and 8,500 species and varieties of plants.