The Baden-Württemberg Schloss Card (castle card) is a dream for anyone who loves castles, palaces, monasteries, churches, and gardens.
What is it?
The Schloss Card allows you access to 24 palaces, gardens, and churches in Baden-Württemberg for just €24 (€12 for students!) and is valid for one year from the date of first use.
My Experience
I had the card while I was living in Stuttgart. This was perfect because I was there for one year and I was still considered a student. There are so many wonderful places to visit that it made me want to plan day trips each weekend to visit them.
The card itself is a little booklet with a page for each heritage site, including a picture and description. This was really helpful in deciding what to visit and to get motivated to go out and do it! I also really love that you get a stamp, like a passport, once you visit the site.
Even if you’re in BW for just a week, the Schloss card is worth having. By visiting just 3 of the 24 attractions, you’ve certainly gotten your money’s worth out of it.
Over the course of the year, I visited Bruchsal Palace, Heidelberg Palace, the Karlsruhe Botanical Gardens, the Sepulchral Chapel of the Grand Duchy Karlsruhe, Ludwigsburg Residential Palace and Favorite Palace, Maulbronn Monastery, Meersburg New Palace, Rastatt Residential Palace, Rastatt Favorite Palace, Solitude Palace, and the Sepulchral Chapel on Württemberg Hill.
Schloss Card Highlights
Heidelberg Palace – I love this place so much – I’ve visited maybe 4 or 5 times.
Ludwigsburg Residential Palace – this is one of my favorite castles in Germany. It’s ENORMOUS. I did the tour twice. And in the fall they have a fabulous pumpkin festival.
Maulbronn Monastery – a UNESCO site, the monastery is a tiny city which will take you all day to explore.
Solitude Palace – quite an easy trip within Stuttgart, this place is surrounded by gardens to wander or bike and has a gorgeous view over the city.
Schloss Card Downsides
Although there are often guided tours included with your entrance, sometimes they’re in German only (don’t worry, this is not the case with Heidelberg or Ludwigsburg).
Not ALL the best attractions in BW are included in the card. Only sites which are owned by the state of Baden-Württemberg. Privately owned castles, like Schloss Hohenzollern, are not included.
The advantages certainly outweigh the downsides. There are a lot of worthy things to see with the BW Schloss Card. Go out and explore Baden-Württemberg!