Mad King Ludwig's Castles & Palaces
There are well over 10,000 castles and palaces in Germany, but King Ludwig II of Bavaria (1845-1886) built his as if they were right out of a fairy tale. His castles & palaces are rather "new" from a historical context, having been built in the 1800's.
We first visited Herrenchiemsee Palace which sits on Herreninsel Island in the middle of Bavaria's largest lake Chiemsee. To get to the palace you have to take a ferry.
We then had to take a 20 minute hike through a forest.
When the trail came to an end we emerged from the forest and saw the breathtaking Herrenchiemsee Palace. It was King Ludwig's attempt to create his own Palace of Versailles. I found a couple things fascinating about Herrenchiemsee. First, was the fact that this massive palace was kind of hard to get to. Second, and this ties into the first observation is the fact that it was not very touristy. If this palace were located anywhere else in Europe or the world for that matter it would be overrun with tourists. I'm definitely not complaining, because at times it felt like we had the palace to ourselves.
It had many cool fountains.
Neuschwanstein Castle is King Ludwig's most famous castle. You see it on postcards, magazines and TV all the time. Do you remember the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang? This is by far the most touristy of the castles requiring pre-purchased tickets and a timed entry.
King Ludwig was removed by state officials from Neuschwanstein in 1886 upon being diagnosed as Mad (the 1886 term for mental illness) hence the name Mad King Ludwig. Many historians believe he was not Mad, but simply eccentric. He mysteriously drowned a day later in what was called a suicide, but many believe he was murdered.
Castle Hohenschwangau built by his father is the castle in which King Ludwig grew up. This is the view from Neuschwanstein Castle looking down on his boyhood castle and Schwansee (Swan Lake). It is said as a boy King Ludwig looked up from his Hohenschwangau bedroom window dreaming of the the castle he would someday build. He would also play in the forest and foothills of what is now Neuschwanstein Castle. When Ludwig built Neuschwanstein he was inspired by his famous composer friend Wagner. Many of the castle's rooms are scenes straight out of Wagner's romantic operas.
The last of our King Ludwig castles and palaces was Linderhof Palace. This is the smallest palace in size, but no less grand, but get his, he used this palace just for hunting trips! Pretty nice cabin in the woods ... huh?
Like Herrenchiemsee Palace located on the island, this palace also had a magnificent garden. Although our garden back in Wisconsin has cherry tomatoes and carrots.
The swan whisperer? King Ludwig loved swans. He incorporated swan themes and decorative elements in many rooms in his castles and palaces.
We first visited Herrenchiemsee Palace which sits on Herreninsel Island in the middle of Bavaria's largest lake Chiemsee. To get to the palace you have to take a ferry.
We then had to take a 20 minute hike through a forest.
When the trail came to an end we emerged from the forest and saw the breathtaking Herrenchiemsee Palace. It was King Ludwig's attempt to create his own Palace of Versailles. I found a couple things fascinating about Herrenchiemsee. First, was the fact that this massive palace was kind of hard to get to. Second, and this ties into the first observation is the fact that it was not very touristy. If this palace were located anywhere else in Europe or the world for that matter it would be overrun with tourists. I'm definitely not complaining, because at times it felt like we had the palace to ourselves.
It had many cool fountains.
Neuschwanstein Castle is King Ludwig's most famous castle. You see it on postcards, magazines and TV all the time. Do you remember the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang? This is by far the most touristy of the castles requiring pre-purchased tickets and a timed entry.
King Ludwig was removed by state officials from Neuschwanstein in 1886 upon being diagnosed as Mad (the 1886 term for mental illness) hence the name Mad King Ludwig. Many historians believe he was not Mad, but simply eccentric. He mysteriously drowned a day later in what was called a suicide, but many believe he was murdered.
Castle Hohenschwangau built by his father is the castle in which King Ludwig grew up. This is the view from Neuschwanstein Castle looking down on his boyhood castle and Schwansee (Swan Lake). It is said as a boy King Ludwig looked up from his Hohenschwangau bedroom window dreaming of the the castle he would someday build. He would also play in the forest and foothills of what is now Neuschwanstein Castle. When Ludwig built Neuschwanstein he was inspired by his famous composer friend Wagner. Many of the castle's rooms are scenes straight out of Wagner's romantic operas.
The last of our King Ludwig castles and palaces was Linderhof Palace. This is the smallest palace in size, but no less grand, but get his, he used this palace just for hunting trips! Pretty nice cabin in the woods ... huh?
Like Herrenchiemsee Palace located on the island, this palace also had a magnificent garden. Although our garden back in Wisconsin has cherry tomatoes and carrots.
The swan whisperer? King Ludwig loved swans. He incorporated swan themes and decorative elements in many rooms in his castles and palaces.posted by Sam Bass at
10:47 AM
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