Wilhelma

King Wilhelm I of Württemberg had this built between 1842 and 1853 as a private garden and bathing pavilion in Moorish revival style, with horseshoe arches, coloured tilework and glasshouses, after mineral springs were found on the site. It opened to the public in 1880 and animals were added from the early 1950s, so it developed into a combined zoological and botanical garden, the only institution in Germany run as both. The magnolia grove of the 1840s is one of the largest north of the Alps, and the collections include an Amazon house, a large ape facility and one of Europe's biggest orchid holdings under glass.

What you actually see

• The Moorish buildings - horseshoe arches and tilework from the 1840s.
• The magnolia grove - one of the largest such plantings north of the Alps.
• The glasshouses - orchids, Amazon plants and historic palm houses.
• The combined collection - zoo and botanic garden in one institution.

When to go

April to October; magnolias flower in late March and April, which is the single best week. Summer weekends are crowded. It stays open through winter with shorter hours.

Honest expectations

The magnolia flowering lasts about two weeks and is heavily visited. Some historic buildings are under restoration. Summer queues at the entrance are long.

Nearby

The Mercedes museum lies east; central Stuttgart is southwest.