6 Astro Spots in Baden-Württemberg

Stars Love Baden-Württemberg. Stargazers Too.

Where the Astro Community Finds Happiness

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.

View of a starry sky with shooting stars. You can see the black outlines of two people with a tripod and two trees. The sky changes colour from orange to midnight blue.

A man and a woman are reading a sign with headlamps. It is very dark.

View of the starry sky with countless large and small stars.

A person sits on a wooden bench in the dark in the snowy landscape and looks up into the starry sky.

Astro Spot on the Swabian Alb

The nights are clear there and the night remains dark.

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You Lie Down There

Stargazing Spot in Römerstein-Zainingen

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 Schwäbische Alb

By the way:

Nature in the Swabian Alb also leaves unforgettable impressions during the day. We can also tell you that the selection of traditional country inns is just as impressive. And while you're in the Swabian Alb, why not stop by the Zollern-Alb observatory in Rosenfeld-Brittheim? If an observation evening is coming up, you will find a notice on the observatory's website.

View over a town in the Black Forest. In the sky you can see the Milky Way and a comet next to it.

View of the Milky Way in the sky. It shimmers white-violet. The outline of a landscape can be seen in black.

Comet over the Black Forest

A comet is a small celestial body that consists of ice, dust and rock.

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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.

Sternschnuppennächte 2025

Another Insider Tip:

The Kandel! This is the local mountain of Waldkirch, very close to Freiburg. An exposed mountain where you know that it stays extremely dark despite the Rhine plain nearby. Feldberg, Schauinsland, Kandel - a great plan for a long weekend in summer.

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.

Bad Mergentheim

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.
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.

Planetarium Stuttgart | Sternwarte Stuttgart

Stuttgart:

Planetary Projections

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.

To switch off completely, here is an insider tip:

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.