Schwetzingen Palace served as the summer residence of the Electors Palatine, and while the palace apartments retain their Rococo interiors, most visitors come for the surrounding gardens, among the finest Baroque and English landscape gardens in Germany. The formal French-style parterres near the palace give way to winding paths through an English garden dotted with follies, including a mosque built in Ottoman style, a Roman-style "ruined" aqueduct, and an orangery for citrus trees overwintered each year. The circular Arion Fountain and the geometric hedges of the Zirkelbau wings frame the palace's rear facade, one of the more photographed views in the gardens. A visit combining the palace tour with a walk through the gardens takes two to three hours, longer in spring when the tulip and rose displays are at their peak and the Schwetzingen Festival brings open-air concerts to the garden theatre. Weekday mornings are quieter than weekend afternoons, when the gardens draw day-trippers from nearby Mannheim and Heidelberg.
| Admission | €8 (~$8.65) |
|---|---|
| Hours | Gardens daily 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM (summer); palace tours 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Typical visit | 2-3 hours |
| Best time | Spring for blooming gardens |
| Getting there | S-Bahn S3/S4 to Schwetzingen station, 10 min walk |
| Address | Schlossplatz 1, 68723 Schwetzingen, Germany |
Weather through the year in Germany
Best time Shoulder Worth avoiding
Average daytime temperature in °C. Figures are for Germany.
Location
Schlossplatz 1, 68723 Schwetzingen, Germany
49.3778, 8.5714 View on map
Highlights
- Rococo palace apartments of the Electors Palatine
- Ottoman-style mosque in the English garden
- Arion Fountain and formal parterres
- Orangery and garden theatre used for summer concerts
Tips for visiting
- Buy garden-only tickets if the palace interior tour schedule doesn't fit your visit
- Spring visits catch the tulip and rose displays at their best
- The palace interior can only be seen on a scheduled guided tour
- Weekday mornings are noticeably quieter than weekend afternoons
When to visit
Spring, particularly April and May, brings the tulip and rose displays into bloom and is the most popular season to visit.
Accessibility
The garden's main gravel paths are largely flat and navigable with a wheelchair, though some formal parterre paths and the palace's upper floors involve stairs.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does a visit to Schwetzingen Palace take?
Two to three hours covers both the garden and a guided tour of the palace apartments.
Is it worth it for kids?
Children generally enjoy the mosque, fountains and open lawns, though the palace interior tour is more suited to adults.
Is photography allowed?
Photography is permitted throughout the gardens; flash photography is restricted inside the furnished palace rooms.