Smoking “Häsle train”,colorful giant eggs, pale lilac crocus sea, and Easter egg hunts at Easter markets with centuries-old tradition: If you know where to go, there’s a lot to discover in Baden-Württemberg! These 11 Easter things to do at Baden-Württemberg are some of the best.
Everyone knows chocolate bunnies. But does anyone know their southern predecessor, the red sugar bunny? Some of the most beautiful Easter things to do at Baden-Württemberg revive old, almost forgotten customs of the region. In Bruchsal, you can test your skill in Easter egg rolling, and at the farmhouse museum Wolfegg, you can watch a confectioner make a red sugar bunny. Easter in Baden-Württemberg is not only a Christian festival but also offers the opportunity to experience almost forgotten South German Easter traditions and customs. It’s a colorful spectacle full of noise, colors, and lots of Easter eggs!
Some of you have 4 days off at Easter or even Easter holidays. Great! Because after the long cold, gray winter, nature awakens, and it’s the perfect time for a nice Easter excursion in Baden-Württemberg. Pack your good mood and head to beautiful Easter markets, visit a beautifully decorated Easter fountain, search for Easter eggs in some of Baden-Württemberg’s most beautiful castle gardens, and ride the Tatzelwurm to the Easter egg hunt on the Killesberg. Of course, you can meet the Easter bunny and search for Easter eggs in Baden-Württemberg at Easter. These 11 tips for Easter things to do at Baden-Württemberg ensure varied Easter days!
Looking for more excursion tips to the most beautiful places in Baden-Württemberg? These excursion destinations in the Black Forest, on Lake Constance, and on the Swabian Alps are among the most beautiful places in all of Baden-Württemberg for me!
11 Top Easter Things to Do at Baden-Württemberg
Excursion 1: Easter Avenue and Colorful Blooming Baroque in Ludwigsburg
In the blooming Baroque period, there is an avenue decorated for Easter
Where: Blooming Baroque in the castle garden of Ludwigsburg Palace
When: On all Easter days
Cost: Fairy tale garden included, a day ticket for adults costs 12-16€ and for children (4-14 years) 5.50-7€ – the lowest price is for online ticket purchases in the off-season, the highest for ticket purchases at the box office during the peak season at BlüBa.
Excursion 2: From Egg to Small Artwork – Easter Egg Market at Schloss Filseck
Painting Easter eggs, decorating them, perforating them – how do the professionals transform eggs into small works of art? At the Easter egg market “Art on the Egg” at Schloss Filseck, artisans demonstrate various techniques for decorating Easter eggs. At the market, there are, of course, plenty of Easter eggs to buy as well as paintings, fashion, and jewelry.
Where: Around and inside Schloss Filseck
When: On Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday
Cost: Admission: 4€
Excursion 3: Egg Hunt with the Tazzelwurm and the Häsle-Express at Killesberg
When the smoke-spewing Lilliput steam locomotives Tazzelwurm, Blitzschwoab, and Schwoabapfeil chug through the park, not only children cheer long before the Easter egg hunt on Killesberg begins. On Easter weekend, it’s especially worthwhile for families to book tickets for an Easter ride on the Killesbergbahn: The approximately 2.1 km tour takes the children to Easter nests hidden in the park. But beware: Book tickets for this special ride in advance (and very early!!!). Because the Sunday rides are probably one of the fastest-selling Easter things to do at Baden-Württemberg.
Where: Starting point of the Killesbergbahn at the Kleinbahnhof in Killesbergpark (U5 subway line and bus lines 43, 44, 50, and 57)
When: On Easter Sunday at 9:15 am (on Good Friday, Easter Saturday, and Easter Monday, rides also take place, but without hidden Easter nests and egg hunts included). Here is the schedule for the Killesbergbahn (unfortunately just in German).
Cost for tickets: Adults: 5€, Children: 3€
Excursion 4: Crocus Blossom in the Teinachtal: One of the Most Beautiful Excursion Destinations in Baden-Württemberg into Nature
A magical carpet of wild crocuses in the Teinach valley
For those who not only want to come to admire and photograph flowers at this beautiful destination near Stuttgart, they can also take a nice extended Easter walk or a beautiful Easter hike on the “Augenblickrunde” trail. The 15 km long path without major inclines leads past Rötenbach to the viewpoint Zettelberg, further through the Wolfsschlucht to the old Staufen castle Zavelstein, whose 28m high tower still stands. On a clear day, there is a magnificent view from there over the Swabian Alb, on good days up to Hohenzollern Castle!
Updates on the blossom are available on the website (unfortunately just in German) as well as on the Instagram and Facebook pages of Teinachtal Tourism!
- Where: The crocuses sprout on the meadows around the village. The starting and ending point of the Augenblick round is at the parking lot on the outskirts of Rötenbach.
- Cost for tickets: Free
Excursion 5: Artisan Market in the Klosterhof in Maulbronn
In the Klosterhof of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kloster Maulbronn, the most beautiful artisan market at Easter in Baden-Württemberg takes place (and yes, that’s also due to the monastery setting). Over 100 artisans from Germany and other countries present their products at the market “Living Artisanry” for sale. Professional artisans exhibit their handmade works here, sell them, and demonstrate them at some stands. The market is very diverse: there are toys, paintings, ceramics, jewelry, hand puppets, woodwork, photographs, basket weaving, and much more.
Kloster Maulbronn was a Cistercian abbey from 1147-1537 and is considered the best-preserved monastery complex north of the Alps. The Klosterhof, where the market takes place, is surrounded by historical buildings. The Easter market has been a tradition for decades and is one of the most popular Easter things to do at Baden-Württemberg.
- Where: Artisan market in the Klosterhof and the Stadthalle
- When: From Easter Saturday to Easter Monday
- Cost: Admission is free
Excursion 6: Easter Egg Hunt with the Easter Bunny at Schloss Schwetzingen in the Electoral Palatinate
Photo: State Palaces and Gardens of Baden-Württemberg, Schwetzingen local administration
Where the Easter Bunny is, that’s never certain? Wrong! The famous hopping bunny has been a guest at Schloss and Schlossgarten Schwetzingen on Easter Sunday for several years now. In recent years, he has hidden letters to search for, which can be redeemed for an Easter nest, or hidden Easter eggs throughout the castle park among the shrubs and flowers. On Easter Sunday, with a bit of luck, you can meet him there in person. He tells anecdotes and interesting facts about the castle and happily hops into photos!
- Where: In the castle garden of Schloss Schwetzingen
- When: On Easter Sunday
- Cost: Easter egg hunt and bunny included in the entrance to the castle garden: Adults: 8€, Concessions: 3€ (unfortunately, there was no information on the entrance fee for children on the website)
Excursion 7: Easter Egg Museum in Sonnenbühl with Artisan Market – Easter Destination in Baden-Württemberg
In the Easter Egg Museum you can see live craftsmanship on eggs
On the ground floor of the Easter Egg Museum, you can watch artisans and hobby artists from the region live as they decorate Easter eggs with various techniques and also buy them at this artisan market.
The first Easter Egg Museum in Germany is one of the Easter things to do at Baden-Württemberg that you can only visit now: it is only open during the Easter season!
- Where: Easter Egg Museum in the old Erpfinger schoolhouse in Sonnenbühl-Erpfingen
- When: On Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday (and also a few days beyond)
- Admission: Adults: 4.50€, Children (6-14 years): 2.50€
Excursion 9: Easter Fountains in Schechingen – Visiting Baden-Württemberg’s Most Beautiful Easter Fountains
Each egg at the Easter fountain was lovingly painted by hand
The tradition of Easter fountains, where village fountains are decorated with Easter eggs for Easter, originally comes from the Franconian Switzerland. A senior from Schechingen saw these fountains there and wanted one at home too. Meanwhile, there are also Easter fountains in other places in Baden-Württemberg that are worth visiting.
3 more beautiful Easter fountains as excursion destinations for Easter in Baden-Württemberg
- Easter fountain in Maulbronn
- Easter-decorated Marienbrunnen in Laudenbach
- Easter fountain in Ihringen am Kaiserstuhl
Excursion 10: Easter Activities at the Farmhouse Museum Wolfegg – Easter Things to Do at Baden-Württemberg for Families
Making red sugar bunnies, baking palm pretzels, Easter egg hunts: not only on Easter holidays, but throughout the Easter holidays, the Farmhouse Museum Wolfegg offers a great program. The visit is worthwhile: there is much informative, entertaining, and culinary to see, touch, and even participate in for the whole family.
“Versucherle” from the Upper Swabian kitchen are available on Easter Sunday from the country women. Museum visitors can try them, get tips, and even the recipe to cook at home.
On Easter Monday, there is an Easter egg hunt for the children while parents can view an Easter egg exhibition as well as a poultry and rabbit exhibition. A confectioner demonstrates in the museum how the red sugar bunnies are made and craftsmen such as glassblowers show their skills.
There is a changing program throughout the Easter holidays! Here you can find current information on what is offered this year.
Traditional Easter market in the museum!
- Where: Farmhouse Museum Wolfegg
- When: on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday as well as during the Easter holidays with different programs
- Admission: Adults: €7, Children (6 years and older): €3
Excursion 11: Easter Rally and Animal Encounters at the Zoological City Garden Karlsruhe
Who feels like spending the Easter holidays at home when there are so many exciting excursion destinations to discover in Baden-Württemberg? One of them is the Karlsruhe Zoo. Here you can expect special encounters with animals. Whether majestic lions, cute monkeys, or fascinating reptiles – at Karlsruhe Zoo, you can experience a variety of animals up close and learn a lot about their habitats and behaviors.
Especially at Easter, a visit is worthwhile because in addition to the regular animal enclosures, there are also special activities and feedings related to Easter, and the zoo is decorated with Easter decorations in several places. Children can even participate in an exciting Easter rally through the zoo on Easter and win great prizes. So grab your family or friends and dive into the fascinating world of Karlsruhe Zoo – animal adventures are guaranteed!
- Where: Zoological City Garden Karlsruhe
- When: Special activities for children on Easter Sunday
- Admission: Adults: €14, Children (6-15 years old): €6
Easter Customs in Baden-Württemberg, Almost Forgotten Ones Making a Comeback
Easter bonfires are often organized by the parishes
But one thing is the same throughout the southwest: from Maundy Thursday onwards, it often becomes loud and colorful. People walk through the villages with rattles, painted eggs adorn the fountains, Easter lambs are baked, Easter fires or sponges are lit, and sugar and chocolate bunnies are cast. Some customs have a centuries-old tradition.
Glowing Easter Sponges Instead of Easter Bonfires
In the Black Forest community of St. Peter, there is an unusual Easter bonfire: children and teenagers collect a certain type of tree fungus in the forest. These “sponges” are then blessed in the church service on Easter Sunday. Afterwards, there is no classic Easter bonfire, but these sponges are heated in a fire until they glow. Then the young people go from house to house with the glowing mushrooms. They leave a piece of the sponge at each house as a blessing.
This over 100-year-old custom originated from a time when candles were scarce. The tree fungi were an alternative source of light used by the people.
Loud Rattles Instead of Bells
In some Catholic communities, the bells remain silent between Maundy Thursday and the announcement of the Resurrection of Jesus. Instead, people are called to church with rattles, clappers, and rattles. Traditionally, the bells of Catholic churches are not allowed to ring during this time. The noise of these noise instruments is quite loud and unpleasant compared to the ringing of bells. This is intentional and symbolizes the sufferings of Jesus and is supposed to imitate the hammer blows with which he was nailed to the cross. Thus, the rattles remind of the sacrifice of Jesus, call to Mass, and at the same time drive away winter.
Easter Egg Rolling
In Walldorf, Rot, and St. Leon in North Baden, there was until the mid-20th century the custom of Easter egg rolling. It was a game with eggs where the children found a
Excursion 9: Easter Fountains in Schechingen – Visiting Baden-Württemberg’s Most Beautiful Easter Fountains
12,000 hand-painted, real ostrich, goose, and chicken eggs adorn the impressive fountain on the marketplace in Schechingen in the Ostalbkreis district. This lovingly decorated Easter fountain is one of the largest Easter fountains in Germany. It’s made possible by half of the village, which spends three weeks setting up, decorating, tying bows made of boxwood branches, and adorning with Easter eggs. All the eggs are painted by the villagers themselves. Some even take extra vacation for this!
The tradition of Easter fountains, where village fountains are decorated with Easter eggs for Easter, originally comes from the Franconian Switzerland. A senior from Schechingen saw these fountains there and wanted one at home too. Meanwhile, there are also Easter fountains in other places in Baden-Württemberg that are worth visiting.
3 more beautiful Easter fountains as excursion destinations for Easter in Baden-Württemberg
- Easter fountain in Maulbronn
- Easter-decorated Marienbrunnen in Laudenbach
- Easter fountain in Ihringen am Kaiserstuhl
Excursion 10: Easter Activities at the Farmhouse Museum Wolfegg – Easter things to do at Baden-Württemberg for Families
Making red sugar bunnies, baking palm pretzels, Easter egg hunts: not only on Easter holidays, but throughout the Easter holidays, the Farmhouse Museum Wolfegg offers a great program. The visit is worthwhile: there is much informative, entertaining, and culinary to see, touch, and even participate in for the whole family.
“Versucherle” from the Upper Swabian kitchen are available on Easter Sunday from the country women. Museum visitors can try them, get tips, and even the recipe to cook at home.
On Easter Monday, there is an Easter egg hunt for the children while parents can view an Easter egg exhibition as well as a poultry and rabbit exhibition. A confectioner demonstrates in the museum how the red sugar bunnies are made and craftsmen such as glassblowers show their skills.
There is a changing program throughout the Easter holidays! Here you can find current information on what is offered this year.
Traditional Easter market in the museum!
- Where: Farmhouse Museum Wolfegg
- When: on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday as well as during the Easter holidays with different programs
- Admission: Adults: €7, Children (6 years and older): €3
Excursion 11: Easter Rally and Animal Encounters at the Zoological City Garden Karlsruhe
Who feels like spending the Easter holidays at home when there are so many exciting excursion destinations to discover in Baden-Württemberg? One of them is the Karlsruhe Zoo. Here you can expect special encounters with animals. Whether majestic lions, cute monkeys, or fascinating reptiles – at Karlsruhe Zoo, you can experience a variety of animals up close and learn a lot about their habitats and behaviors.
Especially at Easter, a visit is worthwhile because in addition to the regular animal enclosures, there are also special activities and feedings related to Easter, and the zoo is decorated with Easter decorations in several places. Children can even participate in an exciting Easter rally through the zoo on Easter and win great prizes. So grab your family or friends and dive into the fascinating world of Karlsruhe Zoo – animal adventures are guaranteed!
- Where: Zoological City Garden Karlsruhe
- When: Special activities for children on Easter Sunday
- Admission: Adults: €14, Children (6-15 years old): €6
Easter Customs in Baden-Württemberg, Almost Forgotten Ones Making a Comeback
Easter egg hunts, Easter brunch, Easter walks: these traditions exist in many families at Easter in Baden and Württemberg. But much more exciting are some unknown and almost forgotten customs in southwest Germany, which still exist in some places! Because the customs during Easter time are as diverse as the regions in the southwest. I have compiled some of the most exciting Easter customs here. If you want to undertake a particularly atmospheric excursion at Easter in Baden-Württemberg, you should definitely visit an Easter bonfire or go in search of red sugar bunnies!
But one thing is the same throughout the southwest: from Maundy Thursday onwards, it often becomes loud and colorful. People walk through the villages with rattles, painted eggs adorn the fountains, Easter lambs are baked, Easter fires or sponges are lit, and sugar and chocolate bunnies are cast. Some customs have a centuries-old tradition.
Glowing Easter Sponges Instead of Easter Bonfires
In the Black Forest community of St. Peter, there is an unusual Easter bonfire: children and teenagers collect a certain type of tree fungus in the forest. These “sponges” are then blessed in the church service on Easter Sunday. Afterwards, there is no classic Easter bonfire, but these sponges are heated in a fire until they glow. Then the young people go from house to house with the glowing mushrooms. They leave a piece of the sponge at each house as a blessing.
This over 100-year-old custom originated from a time when candles were scarce. The tree fungi were an alternative source of light used by the people.
Loud Rattles Instead of Bells
In some Catholic communities, the bells remain silent between Maundy Thursday and the announcement of the Resurrection of Jesus. Instead, people are called to church with rattles, clappers, and rattles. Traditionally, the bells of Catholic churches are not allowed to ring during this time. The noise of these noise instruments is quite loud and unpleasant compared to the ringing of bells. This is intentional and symbolizes the sufferings of Jesus and is supposed to imitate the hammer blows with which he was nailed to the cross. Thus, the rattles remind of the sacrifice of Jesus, call to Mass, and at the same time drive away winter.
In Walldorf, Rot, and St. Leon in North Baden, there was a tradition called “Egg Rolling” until the mid-20th century. It was a game where children would find a sandy slope. Dunes are typical for this area. They would carve furrows into the slope and send the eggs rolling downhill. The goal was to roll your egg the farthest. The winner would receive the loser’s egg.
Sugar Bunny
Everyone knows Easter bunnies today, but do you know about red sugar bunnies? Already in the 18th century, but increasingly from the 19th century onwards, red sugar bunnies became popular in southern Germany. At the Bauhaus Museum Wolfegg, on Easter Sunday, you can witness a confectioner in action, making such a bunny from a mixture of crystallized sugar, water, glucose syrup, and red food coloring. The heated mixture is poured into two-part metal molds. Once hardened, the bunnies can be removed from the mold.
The production of sugar bunnies took place in bakeries, confectioneries, or sugar bakeries in Baden-Württemberg. Even today, there are still some confectioneries where you can buy these bunnies!
Easter Wells as a New Trend
Artfully decorated Easter fountains are still a recent custom in BaWü
We wish you a wonderful Easter and a delightful Easter in Baden-Württemberg!
Are you still looking for more tips for activities in Baden-Württemberg and its regions? Explore Baden and Württemberg with us and discover its most beautiful places, such as Swabian Hall and Ulm. The most beautiful corners in Germany are sometimes right on your doorstep or just a day trip away. We want to inspire you to discover new things. Get ideas for activities with children, with friends, or for couples. There’s something new every week.
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