The Alhambra on the Neckar
Originally planned as a royal bathhouse, then transformed into a private residence, the Moorish Country House at Wilhelma is one of the zoo’s most iconic and historic buildings. Its distinctive Moorish architecture, designed by Karl-Ludwig von Zanth in 1846, was inspired by the Alhambra in Granada, and its cast-iron greenhouses still reflect the 19th-century fascination with exotic nature and oriental design.
A Palace of Plants and Birds
Today, the house is home to tropical plants and songbirds from Southeast Asia. Visitors can stroll among Bali starlings and shama thrushes, two rare species under threat in their native habitats. Fragrant tropical crops like coffee, vanilla, pepper, and cocoa grow between greenhouses, while towering banana and jackfruit trees bear fruit just like they would in the rainforest.
The Cactus Dome and Desert Wonders
The southeastern dome houses plants from the Sonoran semi-desert, including tall columnar cacti, jojoba, agaves, and the elephant’s foot plant. This area pays tribute to the dry ecosystems of the Americas and offers insight into their hardy plant life.
Ferns and Fossils in Iron Halls
Inspired by Victorian England, King Wilhelm had iron greenhouses built to display tropical ferns. These structures now hold rare plants like maidenhair ferns, cycads, and the legendary Wollemi pine, a species dating back 90 million years. In the cooler Fern Dome, giant tree ferns stretch their elegant leaves toward the glass ceiling, recreating the atmosphere of 19th-century botanical marvels.
Europe’s Largest Magnolia Grove North of the Alps
Each spring, the Moorish Garden bursts into color with thousands of magnolia blossoms, some from trees planted under King Wilhelm’s rule. Surrounded by sculpted yews and majestic tree peonies, the garden becomes a floral paradise, attracting nature lovers and photographers alike.
The Water Lily Pond
At the heart of the garden lies a 650 m² heated pond, home to over 40 varieties of tropical water lilies. Blooming from May to October, these aquatic flowers open at different times of day, offering a constantly changing palette of colors. The highlight: the Victoria amazonica, with its massive floating leaves, cultivated here since 1851 thanks to a gift from a country priest to King Wilhelm.