October 13, 2025, 3:17 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
Last weekend, it was that time again. In Ludwigsburg near Stuttgart, the heaviest pumpkin in Europe was crowned. How much does the winner weigh?
After his victory last year, the defending champion had to relinquish the trophy this year—the new champion hails from Austria. The largest and heaviest pumpkin in Europe this time comes from Wolfgang Nittnaus and weighs an impressive 998.5 kilograms. With his magnificent specimen of the “Atlantic Giant” variety, Nittnaus triumphed over strong competition from across Europe. Last year, Mario van Geel from Belgium won the competition with a record weight of 1,152 kilograms.
The Heaviest Pumpkins in Europe 2025
This year, numerous pumpkin growers traveled to Ludwigsburg again, hoping to make a big splash with their impressive giant fruits. Behind the winner, Oliver Grafe from Brandenburg took second place with 836.5 kilograms.
In third place was David Frommelt from the Allgäu, whose pumpkin weighed 799 kilograms, as ludwigsburg24.de reports. Participants from several countries—including Portugal, Belgium, Poland, Austria, and Germany—brought their massive plants to compete for the title of Europe’s heaviest pumpkin.
What Happens to the Giant Pumpkins?
On Sunday, October 19, the Giant Pumpkin Carving Festival in Ludwigsburg invites you to experience the impressive specimens from the competition in a whole new form. Some of the giant pumpkins will be transformed into magnificent sculptures by experienced artists. Visitors can watch as the massive fruits are turned into imaginative figures and detailed artworks, creatively showcasing the extraordinary dimensions of the pumpkins.