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The Wilhelma is an enclosed area in the middle of the city


Meerkats in Stuttgarts Wilhelma

 

GPS Coordinates

1 -- Wilhelma, Stuttgart, Germany
Decimal Lat: 48.805469 / Lon: 9.205126
Degree

 

The Wilhelma Europe`s largest and most beautiful zoological botanical gardens

Germany`s only zoological botanical gardens represent over 160 years history.

Wilhelma - The Zoological and Botanical Gardens

King William I. of Wuerttemberg had the Wilhelma built between 1837 and 1864 and initially it was a private ostentatious landscaped Moorish Garden with greenhouses, a covered walk way, an assembly room, and a theatre. After the King s death, the Wilhelma was opened to the public and when the Wuerttemberg Court was closed in 1919 it became state property and the first animals were came to live there.

The fact that the Wilhelma is an enclosed area in the middle of the city, and that the historical building and garden concepts have been well-preserved was of fundamental importance. The face of the park changes, just as the seasons of year change. Magnolia, summer blossoms, flowering water lilies, Mediterranean plants, palm trees and magnificent old trees all play their part in this magical, unforgettable spectacle. In the historical greenhouses botanic lovers can admire the wonders of the World`s plants: bromeliads, orchids, camellias, fuchsias, azalea and succulents. Wilhelma`s valuable plant collection under glass makes a varied presentation possible all year round.

Lovers of big and small animals can observe bears, vultures, giraffes, sloth, tigers, okapis, rhinoceros, parrots, elephants, flamingos, monkeys, mouse lemurs, zebras, Sulawesi babirusas and many other species. Many of the animals in the Wilhelma belong to the animals that are in danger of becoming extinct in their native environment. Our nearest relations are a popular attraction for most visitors - the apes. The Wilhelma is home to all four ape species and many generations are kept in family groups. Particularly our younger visitors enjoy watching the baby animals. In this nursery there is a community of young apes who have been rejected by their mothers or orphaned. Here they are expertly hand-reared and grow up together in a caring environment. Many of the "graduates" of the Wilhelma "baby school" are today parents themselves and bring up their own children without any problems.

Apart from the young apes, the incubation display is a great attraction: visitors can watch the hen chicks hatch out of the eggs. In this day and age this is a nearly exotic experience. One of the many jewels that the Wilhelma offers is the aquarium. The concept of this "crowd-puller" is to show all facets of under water life: from the North Sea to coral reeves, from the Neckar to the Murray River - the appropriate fish, invertebrates and water plants and inhabitants are shown to the visitor in their natural surroundings.

The "Schaubauernhof" (model farm) shows the corresponding wild form of the domesticated animal. Two old breeds from the region are the Limpurger cattle and the Schwaebisch Hall pigs. These creatures represent just two of the many endangered breeds of domestic animals. In the model farm there is an enclosure where it is expressly desired that visitors stroke the animals and feed the sheep and goats with the fodder there. At weekends and on holidays however, the Shetland ponies and Poitou donkeys have to earn their keep: there is a pony riding programme.

The Amazon House and Insectariums are the newest buildings in the Wilhelma. In the Amazon House the visitor is transported from the Neckar to the deepest jungle. Here it is hot, moist and green - the right climate for that "jungle feeling". Tame trumpet birds scurry between the visitor`s legs and you have to look very carefully through the thick green foliage to see the free flying birds. A thundering water fall provides the necessary moisture and drowns any sounds from the nearby street. Iguanas, turtles, snakes and frogs are in terrariums so that the visitors can discover them better. The huge planes of glass allow you to see into the underwater world of the Amazons: face to face with wide-mouthed kaimans, toad-headed turtles and giant fish! The underwater accommodation-sharing community works well, and all the larger fish bring up their youngsters here.

In the insectariums the visitor can learn a lot about insects and the related species. In the integrated butterfly house you can watch caterpillars feeding. See how the butterflies hatch out of their cocoons and look at them as they flutter from blossom to blossom! This is truly a wonderful and relaxing place to be!

At any time of the year, the exotic flair of the "Alhambra on the Neckar River" and the unique combination of historical ambience, tropical plants and animals makes the Wilhelma an unforgettable and very special experience. Colours, smells and noises - relaxing walks through the extensive park grounds - quench your thirst for knowledge - 3 restaurants for your physical well-being - for the kids, playing fields and animals that can be stroked - the Wilhelma offers something for everyone! uptstadt Stuttgart.

Location

Wilhelma 13, 70376 Stuttgart

Stuttgart State Gallery and Museum of Art