Last updated: 8:30 AM ET, Tue April 29, 2025
WHY IT RATES: Baden-Württemberg offers great stargazing spots with minimal light pollution, particularly in the Black Forest, Swabian Alb and Bad Mergentheim. Highlights include the Experimenta science center, the Carl Zeiss Planetarium and Germany's oldest observatory. —Janeen Christoff, TravelPulse Managing Editor
The sight of stars glimmering above on a balmy summer evening is simply magical, however light pollution often hides the view of the Milky Way. Fortunately, in Baden-Württemberg there are still many places where you are able to easily encounter the starry sky at night.
Bad Mergentheim: Paradise for Astrophotographers
The Black Forest and the Swabian Alb have minimal phosphorescence which make them ideal for stargazing. However, the darkest skies cover the far north-east of the region, around Bad Mergentheim. The Hachteler See in particular is exceptionally dark and on starry summer nights the Milky Way can be seen from there - making the lake a popular destination for Astrophotographers.
www.germany.travel/en/experience-enjoy/bad-mergentheim.html
Heilbronn: Germany’s Largest All-Sky Dome
The roof of Experimenta, the science centre in Heilbronn, is home to one of the world's largest telescope domes, offering spectacular views of the entire sky. There is also a special solar telescope that can observe the surface of the sun without any glare. And on selected evenings, the observatory presents the moon and the planets, as well as stars and galaxies, from millions of light years away. The Robert Mayer Observatory in Heilbronn is also dedicated to the planets and stars of our solar system, offering numerous events and guided tours.
www.experimenta.science/en/; sternwarte.org
Stuttgart: Planetary Projections
Developed by the Carl Zeiss company, the first planetarium projector went into service around 100 years ago. Now, thousands of planetariums around the world are celebrating this pioneering invention and to mark the anniversary, the Carl Zeiss Planetarium in Stuttgart is hosting ‘100 Years of Eternity’. The exhibition takes visitors on a cultural and historical journey through 360° of celestial high-resolution images and animations. Alternatively, visit Germany's oldest observatory, in the Uhlandshöhe part of Stuttgart, to marvel at the universe in its original form through huge telescopes - where even faint objects such as galaxies or planetary nebulae can be visible.
www.planetarium-stuttgart.de/site/Stuttgart-Planetarium/node/11933363/index.html; www.stuttgart-tourist.de/en/a-sternwarte-stuttgart
The Swabian Alb: The Best View from the Star Park
Fewer than 40 regions in the world have bans on artificial light to protect the night sky, and Germany is home to three of these so-called Star Parks that bear the seal of the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA). In the Swabian Alb, stargazers and nature conservationists alike have made it their mission to also achieve this in their region too. The ‘Swabian Alb Star Park’ is not yet officially recognised, however celestial wonders can still be observed. In addition, Zainingen’s special stargazing area with comfy loungers is an ideal spot to sit back and relax under the canopy of the stars.
sternenpark-schwaebische-alb.de
The Black Forest: Summer Star Showers
Each year in late summer, scores of shooting stars light up the night sky of the Black Forest. Up to 100 shooting stars an hour can be seen when the Perseids Meteor Shower reaches its peak. Discover all about this phenomenon on an Adventure Black Forest Shooting Stars Tour and hopefully witness this unique and magical natural spectacle for yourself.
adventure-blackforest.de
Lake Constance: Full Moon Panoramas
Fantastic views over Lake Constance and the Alps are not solely possible during daylight hours, select locations provide picturesque opportunities even in low light conditions. Haldenberg Chapel in Ailingen or Gehrenberg Tower near Markdorf are superb for stargazing. And the Bodensee-Therme in Überlingen offers an extraordinary experience every month around the full moon - a special wellness day with regional specialties, stargazing, and much more.
www.tourism-bw.com/attractions/bodensee-therme-ueberlingen-ce08ccde19
SOURCE: Baden-Württemberg press release.
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