Whether you’ve known me for decades or are new to the blog, something you need to understand about me is that I’m a proud #basic. I love everything about autumn. The cooler temperatures, the changing colors, and the cozy flavors of the season—it all just feels right for my soul. Every year, I count down the days until autumn finally arrives, and it never disappoints, other than the fact it always ends just a little too quickly.

One of my favorite things about moving to new places is discovering what autumn means in each new home, and let me tell you, Southern Germany does it like no other. From vibrant pumpkin festivals to the sound of cowbells echoing through the alpine villages during Almabtrieb, there’s something magical about the way fall is celebrated here. If you’re like me and live for this season, these are the top six ways you’ll want to experience autumn in Southern Germany.

Visit the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival

Every year from the end of August through the beginning of December, the Ludwigsburg Residential Palace hosts the world’s largest pumpkin festival. The festival began in 2000 as a celebration of regional agriculture, showcasing the diversity of one of autumn’s most prominent gourds. With a unique theme selected annually, gigantic sculptures are created using different types of pumpkins to bring that year’s theme to life. Past themes have included Music, Fairy Tales, Underwater World, and Fantastic Worlds.

Local artists and designers typically build the structures just a few weeks before the festival starts, though the planning, planting, and harvesting take place almost a whole year in advance. Some sculptures are larger than life, weighing several tons.

During the festival, the staff will switch out any pumpkins that are starting to show signs of decay, so it doesn’t matter if you visit at the beginning or end of the event dates. Once the exhibit has concluded for the year, the pumpkins are composted or used as animal feed, adhering to Germany’s commitment to environmental sustainability.

My favorite part of the festival is the food because, you guessed it, everything is made out of pumpkin! Our personal favorites were the pumpkin soup and the pumpkin Prosecco, which you can buy to take home on your way out of the palace.

While the pumpkins are most certainly the star of the show, walking the grounds of Ludwigsburg Palace is also highly recommended. The gardens are maintained in pristine condition year-round, and there’s even a Fairytale Garden (Märchengarten) featuring over 40 classics from Sleeping Beauty to Rapunzel.

Tips for Your Visit

• Opening Hours: The Pumpkin Festival is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

• Best Time to Visit: As with most events in Europe, the best time to visit is during the week and in the morning.

• Tickets: Tickets are required to attend the exhibit, but there’s no need to buy them in advance.

• Getting There: The palace is easily accessible by transit. We usually ride the S-Bahn from Stuttgart to Ludwigsburg station and then walk the rest of the way to the palace. You can also transfer to a bus and ride all the way to the palace, exiting at the Ludwigsburg Residenzschloss stop.

If you’re looking for the perfect Instagram-worthy autumn backdrop, look no further than the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival!

Welcome the cows home for the winter at Almabtrieb

Out of all the autumn traditions, this is probably my favorite because it is so unique to this area of Europe. At the end of spring, farmers lead their cows high up into the mountains so they can graze on alpine grass all summer. This is an old-world way of varying the cows' diet, and the resulting cheese is known as Bergkäse, or mountain cheese.

If you go hiking during the summer, you always know the cows are nearby because you can hear the bells that are hung around their necks ringing while they graze. We’ve had quite a few encounters with cows on our summer hikes over the years, like on the Oeschinensee Panorama hike in Interlaken, Switzerland, and on multiple trails during our week adventuring in the Italian Dolomites.

Once the temperatures start to drop, it’s time to bring the cows down from the mountains and into the barns for the cold winter days ahead. To celebrate a successful summer in the mountains, the cows are adorned with elaborate flower crowns and marched through the village town center where they are welcomed home with music, food, and lots of partying. This event is known as Almabtrieb.

Finding an Almabtrieb Event

• Timing: Most Almabtriebs take place in mid- to late-September, with a few lingering events the first weekend in October.

• Names by Country: In Austria, it’s called Almabtrieb; in Switzerland, it’s known as Alpabzug; and in Germany, it’s called Viehscheid.

• Location: These events typically take place in small villages, so you will need a car to see them.

We’ve been told that the cows are decorated most elaborately in Austria. For this reason, we’ve always attended Austrian Almabtriebs and have always had a great time. The first year, we went to the event in Reith im Alpbachtal, and this year we attended the parade in Söll.

Tips for Attending

• Confirm Details: Make sure you confirm the dates, times, and locations on the official tourism websites for that village.

• Parking: Parking will be limited, so you may need to park in a nearby village and take an event shuttle bus to the celebration square.

• Arrival: I prefer to arrive at the start of the event, which is usually a few hours before the cows make their appearance. This gives you plenty of time to explore vendors selling local treats like cheese, sweets, meat and drinks, plus handicrafts and more.

• Photography: To get the best pictures of the cows, consider splitting your group up to capture different vantage points.

• Safety: Whatever you do, do not touch the cows or get in their way. They are moving fast and will not hesitate to run you over.

Prost to good health at Oktoberfest & Volksfest

Is it possible to talk about autumn in Southern Germany without mentioning Oktoberfest? Yeah, I didn’t think so. I’m pretty sure no matter what part of the world you live in, you’ve heard of the famous Oktoberfest—the biggest beer celebration in the world.

Since Oktoberfest is so popular, I wrote the ultimate First-Timer’s Guide to Oktoberfest. Not only will you learn more about the history behind this massive event, but it also walks you through what to wear, how to reserve a table, how to get there, and even helpful songs and phrases. This post also sheds light on Volksfest, a slightly smaller but less crowded and cheaper version of Oktoberfest located in Stuttgart.

Take a hike through the autumn landscapes

If this is your first time on the blog, then you may not know that our little family loves planning active vacations where we can hike and enjoy time in nature. Some of the best autumn colors we’ve seen have been while hiking in the Bavarian Alps!

Top Spots for Fall Colors

• Eibsee, Bavarian Alps: My hands-down favorite place to see the fall colors in Germany is right on the Austrian border in the Bavarian Alps in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The best hike is around Eibsee, a glass-surfaced lake that sits in the shadow of Zugspitze, the tallest peak in Germany. I love this hike because not only is it absolutely gorgeous, it’s also a flat, paved 3-mile loop, perfect for all fitness levels. After the hike, you can take the cable car up to the top of Zugspitze for lunch with a view. On top of Zugspitze, you can stand on the country line between Austria and Germany.

• Neuschwanstein Castle, Füssen: On our way back to Stuttgart from Garmisch-Partenkirchen, we stopped by Füssen to take in the colors with the famous Neuschwanstein Castle. If you haven’t heard of Neuschwanstein, it’s the palace that inspired the castle of Disney fame. There’s also the picturesque Alpsee next to the castle for even more incredible views.

• Esslingen Vineyards: In our own backyard, I love taking the S-Bahn to Esslingen to hike among the vineyards, which always display brilliant shades of yellow and red during the fall season. If you’re planning to do a hike in the vineyard, it's important to note that these leaves are the last to change in the season. The colors are typically at their peak in mid-November, though that can change depending on when the weather starts to turn.

• Lichtenstein Castle: Another favorite stop for fall colors near Stuttgart is the Lichtenstein Castle—not to be confused with Liechtenstein, a small country nestled between Switzerland and Austria. While Neuschwanstein is probably the most famous castle in Germany, I’m a bigger fan of Lichtenstein. First, it’s way less crowded, and second, it’s perched on the edge of a cliff, which makes for some dramatic photography, especially when the morning fog rolls in.

• Burg Eltz & Mosel Valley: While we’re talking about castles, my other favorite is Burg Eltz, located in Rhineland-Palatinate. The fall colors are absolutely breathtaking at this castle, plus it’s a short drive to the Mosel wine valley. The Mosel Valley is famous in Germany for their Rieslings. Cochem Castle is also located in Mosel, which probably has the most beautiful interior I’ve seen in all of the German palaces. If you’re planning on staying overnight, I highly recommend staying at Schloss Lieser, which is a former castle. Not only do they offer wine tastings in their cellar and a wonderful dinner at their on-site fine dining restaurant, if you’re active duty military you can take advantage of their military rate!

Before You Go

• Check Conditions: Before embarking on your own adventures, make sure to check trail conditions and have the appropriate gear. Weather is volatile here, so it’s important to check often.

• Backup Plan: Always try to have a backup plan. This year, the cold arrived early, and our autumn hike in Switzerland was completely snowed out.

Relax in the famed thermal spas

When we lived in Japan, I was obsessed with the onsen culture. Onsens are thermal hot springs all throughout Japan where you can relax and receive the numerous mineral benefits from soaking in the water. It was my favorite way to relax after a long day or on the weekends, especially in the colder months. So I was absolutely tickled when we moved to Germany and learned that they have thermal spas as well.

Like the Japanese onsens I frequented, the German thermal baths are also usually textile-free for the most part. There are some areas where swimsuits are required, but generally, everyone is nude. Unlike Japan, most of the German thermal spas are mixed gender, which was a bit of an adjustment for me.

European thermal spas have deep roots, tracing their history back to Roman times. During this time, the Romans established spa towns, giving the village the prefix of “Bad,” which means bath. Therefore, when you’re traveling around Germany and you see that a town has "Bad" before its name—for example, Baden-Baden or Bad Cannstatt—you know it’s a thermal hotspot and guaranteed to have a few spas to check out.

Top Thermal Spas

• Baden-Baden: Probably the most renowned spa town in Germany, though visiting these spas may require an overnight stay.

• Mineraltherme Böblingen: My favorite spa in Stuttgart. What I particularly love about this spa is that it’s relatively quiet during the weekday. The outdoor pools are beautiful and invoke relaxation with their garden views. I also love their saunas, as they have multiple that offer different experiences, such as rotating aromatherapy scheduled hourly and different scrubs or treatments set to music and lights.

Tips for Spa Visits

• Booking: You typically don’t need to book a ticket in advance, though you should always check the spa’s website to confirm.

• Nudity: If you’re uncomfortable with the nudity aspect, know that some spas offer textile days or areas for those who are more shy.

• Etiquette: Remember, everyone is there to relax, and Europeans care a lot less about nudity than you probably do.

• Treatments: If you’re staying in a spa town for the weekend, remember to book massages and treatments in advance if your spa offers them.

Indulge in seasonal German cuisine

Something I’ve come to love and appreciate about Germany—and Europe in a broader sense—is the emphasis placed on fresh, seasonal food. Prior to moving abroad, it seemed like the grocery store always reliably had the same fruits and veggies in stock year-round. Unlike the States, if something isn’t in season here, you won’t find it in the store. Forget finding strawberries in during the middle of winter, or asparagus any time other than the spring, known lovingly in Germany as Spargelzeit (asparagus time).

Admittedly, this was a little frustrating when we first moved, but over time I’ve learned that this makes me anticipate the seasons even more as new flavors rush forward on the shelves. Now, instead of mourning the months without all of the summer fruits, I let the farmers’ markets be my guide, picking up apples, squashes, Brussels sprouts, and colorful root vegetables during the autumn season.

Autumn Delicacies to Try

• Federweißer: Federweißer, or young wine, is partially fermented wine that starts to hit the grocery shelves and farmers’ markets in September, coinciding with the fall grape harvest. The literal translation means "feather wine," which is a nod to the cloudy appearance of the suspended yeast particles. The alcohol content varies greatly depending on where it’s at in the fermentation process. To allow the yeast to ferment, the lid is only partially sealed, so you must be careful when loading it in and out of your cart; otherwise, you’ll end up with a giant mess.

• Zwiebelkuchen: This savory tart is one of my favorites to grab at the local markets and festivals during the fall. It’s almost like a quiche made with eggs, cream, onions, and sometimes bacon or speck, poured into a yeast dough or shortcrust pastry. This particular dish is more common in Southern Germany where we live, given that it pairs well with Federweißer.

• Flammkuchen: Although you can find Flammkuchen, or Tarte Flambée, year-round, I always seem to crave it more in the autumn and winter months. We first discovered this tasty dish on our first weekend out of Germany to Strasbourg and Colmar in Alsace, France. The literal translation is "flame cake," which makes a lot more sense once you understand its origin. Traditional Flammkuchen is a thin, crispy flatbread topped with crème fraîche or fromage blanc, onions, and speck (bacon). It was initially created as a way for bakers to test the temperature of their wood-fired ovens before baking their bread for the day.

• Maultaschen: If you’re looking for a truly Southern German food when you visit, then you need to grab a Maultaschen, or Swabian dumpling. These Hot Pocket-sized pasta dumplings are almost like a giant ravioli, filled with meat, onions, breadcrumbs, and shredded veggies. The Maultaschen is so special to our home state that it is officially protected by the European Union's Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) system. My favorite way to have Maultaschen is in a creamy soup, like pumpkin or butternut squash soup.

As the last of the autumn leaves fall and the crisp days of winter approach, there’s still time to savor everything that makes this season special in Southern Germany. From the lively festival scenes to the peaceful hiking trails draped in autumn colors, there’s so many ways for all of my fellow #basics to enjoy the arrival of autumn in Germany.

And the best part? There’s always something new to try, whether it’s relaxing in a thermal spa for the first time, or a movie night with Flammkuchen and Federweißer, or a spontaneous road trip to an alpine village to welcome home the cows for the winter. So, what will your next autumn adventure be? Wherever you go, I hope these experiences inspire you to create your own pumpkin spiced memories.

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