Discover university cities: Why Ludwigsburg is a good place to study

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Student Alina Thiemann: Moved to Ludwigsburg for drama school

Photo:

Stella Butz

Imposing

residential palace, historic market square, baroque floral splendor: Ludwigsburg is a tourist magnet in the heart of Baden-Württemberg

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You can study here at five different universities, from film to education.

Alina Thiemann, 25, also moved to Ludwigsburg from near Hamburg to study. She has been learning acting at the Baden-Württemberg Academy of Performing Arts (ADK) for a year and a half. When she received the place to study, she immediately accepted - even though she knew nothing about Ludwigsburg. Here she explains why it was exactly the right decision.

Campus life: location, cafeteria and café

»Getting a place at a state drama school is not a given. The competition for the few study places is high, as are the expectations and requirements. I am still incredibly proud to have received a place at the ADK.

The campus can be recognized from afar because of the large stage tower. The tower is a typical part of the stage house that houses lighting and stage design elements. The special thing about ours: It can be played from outside and inside. The side gates can be opened, which also makes open-air performances possible. To the left of the stage tower is a large, modern clinker brick building with a glazed entrance. There are rehearsal stages and seminar rooms. There is also a tailor shop and a costume store on campus.

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Sun on her face: Student Thiemann on the ADK campus

Photo: Private

The ADK has a second location, which is about ten minutes away by bike. The rehearsal center on Kammererstrasse resembles an office building. In the so-called 'chamber' there are even more rehearsal rooms. Classes take place here until the third year of study, and only then do plays take place on the big stage. For me, the 'chamber' is a protected space where I can try out everything - without being in the spotlight.

I spend a lot of time at the ADK; we often rehearse from morning until dark. I have grown very close with my fellow students, but I also live in a bubble. Unfortunately, I hardly have any contact with the students at the other universities.«

Housing: shared apartment prices and districts

»I live in a two-person shared apartment, for 16 square meters I pay 400 euros including all costs. The district, West, is quiet and somewhat remote from the center. I walk about 20 minutes to campus. My roommate and I even have a small garden. I really like the peace and quiet. But I could imagine moving to a larger shared apartment in the center in the future. I sometimes miss that life is right on my doorstep. I'm still used to that from my time in Hamburg.

My fellow students live in shared apartments near the ADK in the Mitte district. The most beautiful old apartments can be found around the market square. It is the heart of the city and I like to sit here in the sun with friends. On the baroque square there are two churches facing each other, one Catholic and one Protestant. The sand-colored stones remind me of the architecture of Italian cities. I particularly like the fact that there are unsecured chairs and benches scattered around the square. So you can place them anywhere you want to create interesting formations.«

Leisure: culture, pubs and clubs

»At the weekend, tourists flock to Ludwigsburg. Unfortunately, the cultural and gastronomic offerings are designed more for them than for us young people. I notice this especially because many cafés prohibit laptops at the table and the restaurant prices are very expensive. That's why I keep going to the same stores that I've grown really fond of.

For example to ›Grävenitz‹, a mixture of café and bar, which is located in a baroque palace with a beautiful inner courtyard. I like to drink coffee here and I also bring my parents here when they visit. The smoking bar “D-Zügle” is located in the train station. I don't know how it happened, but the ADK students made this pub their own. It is our regular meeting place for long evenings. Apart from the student bar 'Flint', where DJs sometimes play, there is no party culture in Ludwigsburg. If you want to dance in the club, take the S-Bahn to Stuttgart. The journey to the main train station takes just 16 minutes.

A special event is the freshers' week, which takes place together with the film academy, with which we share the campus. Last year it was organized by the Berlin initiative for performance art and political education ›Radical Daughters‹. There was speed dating to get to know each other and workshops on topics such as courage and political participation.«

After graduation: what happens next?

»After I graduate, I won't stay in Ludwigsburg because there is no permanent ensemble here. I'm really looking forward to the two years I still have here. I also consider it a great privilege to be able to get to know the students at the film academy. We actors have the opportunity to work with them during our studies. In this way we establish friendships and collaborations that will hopefully last for a long time.«

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