Städtisches Lapidarium Stuttgart

About the museum

The foundation was laid by the industrialist Carl von Ostertag-Siegle: in 1905 he had a terraced garden modeled on Italian Renaissance gardens laid out above his villa on Mörikestraße. In a covered walkway he had Roman fragments set into the wall, which he had acquired on trips to Italy.

A first municipal lapidarium already existed at the beginning of the 20th century: valuable architectural pieces from demolished old-town houses were collected in the cloister next to the Hospitalkirche, which was largely destroyed in World War II. In 1950 the city of Stuttgart acquired the garden and, at the urging of local historian Gustav Wais, set up today’s Lapidarium there – with remains of the old collection and finds from the rubble of the war-damaged city.

On display are more than 200 sculptures, tombs and architectural fragments, including the portal of the Altes Steinhaus from the late 13th century, the entrance front of master builder Heinrich Schickhardt’s house, Dannecker’s nymph group and Adolf von Hildebrand’s marble figure “Luna”. Among the terraces, the fountain courtyard and old trees, the result is a kind of picture book of the city’s history in stone.

The open-air museum is part of the StadtPalais museum family and is only open during the summer season. Concerts, readings and theater performances are also held in the garden then; since winter 2024/25 the light installation “Winterlichter” has additionally invited visitors on evening walks. In 2025 the Lapidarium celebrated its 75th anniversary.

Highlights

• Renaissance-style garden from 1905 with covered walkway and wall of antiquities
• Portal fragment of the Altes Steinhaus (around 1286)
• Entrance facade of Heinrich Schickhardt’s house (1596–1602)
• Nymph group by Johann Heinrich Dannecker
• Marble figure “Luna” by Adolf von Hildebrand
• Jasper bowl once owned by Queen Olga (1858)

Permanent exhibitions

• Steinzeugnisse der Stadtgeschichte – More than 200 sculptures, funerary monuments and architectural pieces from destroyed or demolished Stuttgart buildings spanning several centuries, spread across the garden’s terraces.
• Antikensammlung Ostertag-Siegle – Roman fragments that the garden’s founder collected on trips to Italy and had mounted in the covered walkway.

Founded

1950

Operated by

StadtPalais – Museum für Stuttgart (Landeshauptstadt Stuttgart)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission. Group tours through the StadtPalais visitor service (tel. 0711 21625800, Tue–Fri 10:00–12:00 and Tue–Thu 13:00–15:00); cancellations from six days in advance are charged at 50%, cancellations on the day itself or no-shows at the full price.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Only the Lower Garden is accessible by wheelchair, and only to a limited extent; the wheelchair-accessible entrance is on the Willy-Reichert-Staffel. Some paths are unpaved. Dogs are not permitted.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

In summer the garden also hosts events and theater performances for children. During the Winterlichter, lanterns can be borrowed or brought along.

Getting there & parking

Wheelchair-accessible access via the entrance on the Willy-Reichert-Staffel.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit