Schwetzingen Palace Gardens
The main attraction in this picturesque little town just 20 minutes west of Heidelberg is definitely Schwetzingen Palace, a masterpiece of Baroque and Rococo architecture. Originally a hunting lodge, the palace was transformed into a stunning summer residence for the Electors of the Palatinate, experiencing its heyday under Elector Carl Theodor (1724 – 1799).
The central part of the garden is laid out geometrically, with a focus on symmetry and order. The Schwetzingen Palace Gardens are a cultural heritage site of European importance: more than 100 sculptures are scattered throughout this wonderful and sometimes surprising landscape. A number of fantastical buildings add an exotic touch. The Temple of Apollo, a small, round building, houses a statue of the ancient Greek god of light and the arts playing the lyre. The bathhouse is a summer house – or as your friend in Heidelberg calls it a “tiny palace” – with its own garden, modeled on an Italian villa. And the most spectacular feature: the Turkish Garden is home to a mosque – the largest structure of its kind in a German garden. The late baroque building, decorated with oriental details, was purely decorative and served no religious purpose.
The central part of the garden is laid out geometrically, with a focus on symmetry and order. The Schwetzingen Palace Gardens are a cultural heritage site of European importance: more than 100 sculptures are scattered throughout this wonderful and sometimes surprising landscape. A number of fantastical buildings add an exotic touch. The Temple of Apollo, a small, round building, houses a statue of the ancient Greek god of light and the arts playing the lyre. The bathhouse is a summer house – or as your friend in Heidelberg calls it a “tiny palace” – with its own garden, modeled on an Italian villa. And the most spectacular feature: the Turkish Garden is home to a mosque – the largest structure of its kind in a German garden. The late baroque building, decorated with oriental details, was purely decorative and served no religious purpose.
Where is Schwetzingen Palace Gardens?
Schwetzingen Palace Gardens
Reviews related to Schwetzingen Palace Gardens
Truly a Friend in Heidelberg!
I often procrastinate when it comes to holiday detailed planning — same thing when I went to Heidelberg in August 2024 and had to scramble online for a private tour guide only upon arriving in the city! By God’s grace, not only I stumbled upon “a friend in heidelberg” website, Manfred, the man behind a friend in heidelberg, happened to be available the next day (which I figured out later on to be very rare, so please do not be like me and book him way in advance!). I also found out that he was actually out of town and was so kind to decide to come back to Heidelberg to bring me around. We decided to “wing it” instead of doing a fixed program, depending on what I felt like doing on the day. I love the spontaneity! We started off with a breakfast in a cafe in Manfred’s residence neighborhood, as I was looking for more “local” experience. We then decided to make full use of Manfred’s super comfortable van to explore areas outside of Heidelberg. We visited the gorgeous Schwetzingen Palace and Garden, as well as the stunning Speyer Cathedral, and ventured to wine region of Pfalz visiting some of the vineyards. With Manfred, conversations just flow naturally, as if he is a friend that you have known for a long time. He reads widely so he can chat about a lot of topics, and he speaks English fluently having lived in the US for several years. Hence, it is apt to call his business “a friend in heidelberg”, as in him you find a friend indeed! Upon returning to my hotel and bidding farewell to Manfred, one of my hotel staff saw me with Manfred and separately mentioned to me that he had seen Manfred bringing various guests in the past. The hotel staff was full of glowing feedback on Manfred, especially on the extra miles Manfred would go through for those guests. Nothing beats such confirmation post-event. Thank you again for making my time in Heidelberg a memorable one, Manfred; but most importantly, thank you for a new friendship. Look forward to being back in Heidelberg again hopefully soon!
PS: Thank you also for the fantastic meal recommendation at Hugo! Love the food there!
A Wonderful Day in Heidelberg
We had a wonderful day with Manfred. Our tour exceeded our expectations. Manfred is highly knowledgeable and we were able to see and learn so much. We didn’t feel rushed, we got to see and try things we didn’t expect based on his recommendations. It truly heightened our experience. Besides the Heidelberg castle and historic old city, the Schwetzingen Palace Gardens is a must visit! Add it to your list. Weinheim is another small, beautiful city we got to visit. If you have time, even for a coffee, it’s worth the visit. I highly recommend you book some time with him for your next trip. He even made sure we had a great time before/after our tour with recommendations and help. Just like the name says, it truly felt like a day with a friend in Heidelberg.
A Must-Do Tour
a friend in Heidelberg describes exactly the experience you receive from Manfred. On our 1‑day stop in Heidelberg we were able to see so many beautiful sights thanks to his expert knowledge and care. The unexpected sights — like the Schwetzingen Palace Gardens — really added to our experience (I highly recommend adding this as a stop on your tour). We got to try local foods, see the old city from many viewpoints, and tour the gorgeous Heidelberg castle. If we didn’t get help from Manfred, our experience would have paled in comparison. Do yourself a favor — go to Heidelberg — add it to your bucket list and definitely find “a friend in Heidelberg”. I can highly, highly recommend his services.
Jerry and I really had a wonderful time in fall 2017. It was a trip to remember. I really appreciate all you did for us in Heidelberg. Jerry and I also enjoyed your splendid car and appreciated what a good chauffeur you really are. Well, one of the many reasons we wanted you to drive us again in 2018 down in Bavaria is that you are a very good driver with extremely quick reactions. It really was a pleasure when you drove us around. What made it even better is that I enjoyed talking to you and seeing the sights you showed us (like Heidelberg by night, or the Heidelberg Castle Gardens, or the Chocolaterie-Café YilliY, or Schwetzingen Gardens, or Hambach Castle, etc.). I had done a lot of research but there is nothing like having someone who really knows Heidelberg and its surrounding show you sights that you would miss if you just consulted a tour guide. You really have an artist’s eye for that sort of thing.
You do have a Friend in Heidelberg
Manfred was very personable. The accommodations were great. We took a little getting start because he does not have defined tour. He will take you to what you would like to see. We ended up going to Schwetzingen Palace and Gardens and then a nice tour of the town on the way back. We did not tour the palace, but did explore the gardens and property. This was one of my wife’s and her sister’s favorite stop on our 3‑week trip. I would highly recommend tour the gardens.