Budapest in Ludwigsburg? Questionable plans for the Federal Garden Show 2043!

Budapest in Ludwigsburg? Questionable plans for the Federal Garden Show 2043!

The city of Ludwigsburg, in collaboration with Esslingen, Stuttgart and the Stuttgart Region Association, is planning to host the Federal Garden Show (Buga) on the Neckar in 2043. This was announced on May 29, 2025. Ludwigsburg had already tried three times to host the state horticultural show without success. In order to be prepared for the award process, a feasibility study is necessary, in which each participating municipality contributes 65,747.50 euros. The total costs of the study amount to a maximum of 262,990 euros, so the financing sparked an important discussion among the city councilors. Some city councilors express concerns about whether this expenditure is justified in the current financial situation, but also consider the long-term benefits of the Buga for city development.

The Federal Garden Show is intended to promote inter-municipal cooperation and serve as a perspective in times of crisis. A central goal is to transform the Neckar from an industrially used river into a livable landscape experience area. Mayor Klopfer von Esslingen explains how this could happen, emphasizing that the Buga is a project for people in the entire region and connects the city, nature and industrial history. Experiences from the successful Remstal Garden Show should be incorporated into the planning.

Sustainable development in the region

Ludwigsburg and its neighboring municipalities are not only striving to implement the Buga, but also see it as an impetus for the expansion of sustainable infrastructure, especially the light rail system. Esslingen plans to actively incorporate its historic terraced vineyards into the project. The Buga is intended to create spaces for local recreation and increase the quality of stay along the river. This could also benefit the regional economy and provide new impetus for the location's attractiveness and tourism. The application of this type comes at a time when many cities are facing financial challenges.

It is important that Buga not only targets short-term projects, but also offers long-term sustainable solutions. Mayor Knecht of Ludwigsburg sees the Buga as a great opportunity for inter-municipal cooperation and regional identity. At the same time, the structural underfinancing of municipalities is described as a serious problem that must be addressed, especially in this context.

The path to Buga 2043

Another aspect is the planned feasibility study, which is to be carried out in an interdisciplinary manner. Experts from urban development, landscape architecture, ecology and water management will be involved to identify the potential and challenges of the Buga. The committees of the various partners will deal intensively with the project in the coming weeks.

The selection group for the Buga application will also draw on the experiences of the 1993 International Horticultural Exhibition (IGA 93), which had a lasting impact on the image of the city of Stuttgart. This last major garden show attracted seven million visitors and contributed to the development of a diverse park landscape. The legacy of the IGA 1993, the “Green U”, ensures continuous green access from the city center to the north of Stuttgart.

The Buga takes place every two years and often has a positive impact on urban development. People will therefore look forward to Buga 2043 with great expectations, in the hope that it will not only be a festival of flowers, but also a driver for sustainable urban and regional development. The great challenge of mastering climate adaptation and urban transformation through collective action remains a central task in the coming years.

The future Buga therefore has the potential not only to become an event of national importance, but also to serve as a blueprint for larger inter-communal projects.

The information represents the Stuttgart region's committed effort to transform the Neckar into a sustainable recreational landscape that meets both ecological and social challenges.

For further information you can read the article from the Stuttgarter Nachrichten here, from Stuttgart.de here and from the Stuttgart region here read.