Coat of arms	Map
Basic data
State:	Baden-Württemberg
Region:	Stuttgart
District:	Ludwigsburg
Surface area:	43.33 km²
Population:	87,591 (December 31 2002)
Population density:	2.021 per km²
Altitude:	288m
Postal code:	71601-71640
Area code:	07141
Lat./Long.:	48° 54' N φ 09° 11' E λ
License plate prefix:	LB
Official Municipality Code :	08 1 18 048
Address of the city government:	Wilhelmstraße 9 71638 Ludwigsburg
Website:	www.ludwigsburg.de
E-Mail address:	rathaus@stadt.ludwigsburg.de
Political
Mayor:	Werner Spec

Ludwigsburg is a city in Germany, about 12 km north of Stuttgart's city center, by the river Neckar. It is the capital of the Ludwigsburg District (its largest city having at present ca 87,000 inhabitants), and belongs to the Stuttgart Region in the Administrative District of Stuttgart.

History

The middle of Neckarland, in which Ludwigsburg lies, was settled in the Stone age and in the Bronze age. Numerous archaeological finds from the city and the surrounding area remain from the time when it was settled by the Celts.

Toward the end of the 1st century the Romans occupied the region. They pushed the Limes further to the east around 150, and controlled the region until 260, when the Alamanni occupied the Neckarland. Also the Alamanni settlement is proven by grave finds in the city today.

Ludwigsburg originated in the beginning of the 18th century (1718 - 1723) by the building of the largest Baroque castle in Germany, Ludwigsburg Palace, under Duke Eberhard Ludwig von Württemberg. Originally the Duke planned only one pleasure-palace, which he began building in 1704. However, the example of other Fürsts (or Princes) woke in him a desire: the establishment of a city through which to project his absolutist power. The Baroque hunting- and pleasure-palaces became Favorite (1713 - 1728), and the Seeschloss (Sea-palace) Monrepos (1764 - 1768) besides. (See Barockerlebnis in #External links for further details.)

Ludwigsburg Palace, inner courtyard

Jagdschlösschen Favorite

Schloss Monrepos

In the years between 1730 and 1800 the royal place of residence changed back and forth several times between Stuttgart and Ludwigsburg. In 1800 Württemberg was occupied by France under Napoleon Bonaparte and was forced into an alliance with France. In 1806 the Kurfürst (Prince-Elector) Friedrich became the king of Württemberg by Napoleon's grant. In 1812 in Ludwigsburg the Württembergish army was raised for Napoleon's Russlan campaign. The majority of the soldiers did not survive it.

In 1921 Ludwigsburg became the largest garrison in southwest Germany.

In Second World War the city - compared with other German cities - suffered moderate destruction. The people had 1,500 dead to mourn.

For about 45 years after the War the United States of America maintained the large garrison Pattonville at the edge of the city with a US Army Highschool. In 1956 the tradition of the German garrison town was taken up again by the Bundeswehr, Germany's federal armed forces.

In 1966 the Pädagogische Hochschule (Teaching College) and the Staatliche Sportschule Ludwigsburg (State Sports School) were opened.

After the departure of the American soldiers in 1994, Pattonville became a part of Ludwigsburg-Remseck.

2004 is the 300th birthday of Residenzschloss Ludwigsburg, celebrated by the opening of the Baroque Gallery and the Ceramic Museum in Residenzschloss.

Politics

In the local council the following parties or groups are represented:

• Christian Democratic Union, 13 councillors
• Free Voters Union , 9 councillors
• Social Democratic Party, 8 councillors
• The Greens, 5 councillors
• Free Democratic Party/LUBU, 3 councillors
• Republican Party, 2 councillors

Economy

Local Businesses

• GdF Wüstenrot, Bausparkasse

Sister cities

• Montbéliard, France (1950)
• Caerphilly, United Kingdom (1960)
• Jevpatorija , Ukraine (1990)
• Saint Charles, Missouri, USA (1995)

City sections

• Eglosheim
• Grünbühl
• Hoheneck with a therapeutic and thermal bath, opened in 1907
• Neckarweihingen
• Oßweil
• Pflugfelden
• Poppenweiler
• Weststadt

People

Carl Maria von Weber and Friedrich Silcher wrote music in Ludwigsburg.

Sons and daughters of the city

• Christian Friedrich Daniel Schubart (13 April, 1739 - 10 October 1791 in Stuttgart), poet.
• Justinus Kerner (18 September, 1786 - 21 February 1862 in Weinsberg ), writer and physician.
• Eduard Mörike (8 September, 1804 - 4 June 1874 in Stuttgart), poet and theologian.
• Friedrich Theodor Vischer (30 June, 1807 - 14 September 1887 in Gmunden am Traunsee ), Protestant theologian, German writer, professor of philosophy and aesthetics, politician.
• David Friedrich Strauß (27 June, 1808 - 8 February 1874 in Ludwigsburg), theologian and writer.
• Tony Schumacher (17 May, 1848 - 10 July 1931 in Ludwigsburg), author of children's books.

Print references

• Andrea Hahn: Ludwigsburg, Stationen einer Stadt, Andreas Hackenberg Verlag, Ludwigsburg 2004, ISBN 3-937280-02-2
• Gernot von Hahn, Friedhelm Horn: Ludwigsburg, Stadt der Schlösser und Gärten, Medien-Verlag Schubert, Stuttgart 1998, ISBN 3929229552
• Bruno Hahnemann: Ludwigsburg. Stadt - Schlösser - Blühendes Barock, Verlag Ungeheuer + Ulmer, Ludwigsburg 1979

View of the upper grounds of Ludwigsburg Palace

External links

• Stadt Ludwigsburg, Internet site of the City of Ludwigsburg.
• Barockerlebnis, palaces and museums in Ludwigsburg.
• Ludwigsburger Porzellan, porcelain manufacturer.
• Ludwigsburg Virtuell information about Ludwigsburg on the web.