More From Germany: Mad Ludwig
When most people think of Ludwig II of Bavaria, the think of this:
Neuschwanstein is one of the most visited castles in Europe and we experienced that first hand with lines to buy tickets over 100 yards long. Needless to say we avoided that and went to the place he lived most of his adult life.
That place is Linderhof.
Set back in the Bavarian Alps, the home was a 2-3 days journey from anywhere of consequence in the late 19th century. Ludwig did that on purpose because he did not want to be anywhere near the center of power in Munich.
He dreamed of the "good of days" of royalty in Europe and tried to emulate the great kings of France. Linderhof was specifically designed to look like Versailles, albiet on a much smaller scale. The interior rooms were in the same style. A unusual example was the "mirror room". In this room, the mirrors had the effect of making the room look like one of a endless hallways of Versailles. The illusion made the room look immense. Even his view out of of the front door had a distinct Versailles look.
Ludwig was a catholic and had a small chapel built for his personal use.
A short hike from the main house was the Moorish kiosk.
The interior of this building was very ornate.
Ludwig was also the patron of the composer Wagner. He was so obsessed with Wagner's work that he built a scene from one of Wagner's Operas in a cave above Linderhof Castle.
Ludwig does have the reputation for being insane. To me I felt sorry for this man who dreamed of a time when he would have been treated as above the common man; that he was special both to the people and to God. The reality of it all must have been too much for him to take.
Regardless, Linderhof is a beautiful property and worth a stop if you ever take a trip to Bavaria.
Neuschwanstein is one of the most visited castles in Europe and we experienced that first hand with lines to buy tickets over 100 yards long. Needless to say we avoided that and went to the place he lived most of his adult life.
That place is Linderhof.
Set back in the Bavarian Alps, the home was a 2-3 days journey from anywhere of consequence in the late 19th century. Ludwig did that on purpose because he did not want to be anywhere near the center of power in Munich.
He dreamed of the "good of days" of royalty in Europe and tried to emulate the great kings of France. Linderhof was specifically designed to look like Versailles, albiet on a much smaller scale. The interior rooms were in the same style. A unusual example was the "mirror room". In this room, the mirrors had the effect of making the room look like one of a endless hallways of Versailles. The illusion made the room look immense. Even his view out of of the front door had a distinct Versailles look.
Ludwig was a catholic and had a small chapel built for his personal use.
A short hike from the main house was the Moorish kiosk.
The interior of this building was very ornate.
Ludwig was also the patron of the composer Wagner. He was so obsessed with Wagner's work that he built a scene from one of Wagner's Operas in a cave above Linderhof Castle.
Ludwig does have the reputation for being insane. To me I felt sorry for this man who dreamed of a time when he would have been treated as above the common man; that he was special both to the people and to God. The reality of it all must have been too much for him to take.
Regardless, Linderhof is a beautiful property and worth a stop if you ever take a trip to Bavaria.
That was such an amazing day.
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