Schloss Herrenchiemsee

Schloss Herrenchiemsee, set in a clearing facing magnificent fountains with lawns running down to the lake. If you prefer, you can take a horse-drawn carriage between the dock and the front steps of the palace. King Ludwig II of Bavaria had two idols, Louis XIV of France and the composer Richard Wagner. Herrenchiemsee was his recreation of Versailles, complete with the magnificent hall of mirrors. While Louis XIV used Versailles to dazzle the world, Ludwig used his Versailles as the backdrop for his exuberant fantasies. During his numerous visits, he ordered thousands of candles to be lit at night, and he wandered the decadent rooms enacting his fantasy of absolute monarchy, secluded from the real world on his isolated island. Tours leave every 20 minutes and last half-an-hour in length—English tours are available. The König Ludwig Museum that occupies the ground floor of the south wing gives a summary of the king’s life, and outlines his building projects: Herrenchiemsee, Neuschwanstein, and Linderhof are the only projects that were partially completed before his death at age 40 in 1886. Raised in isolation at Hohenschwangau, Ludwig began his reign with great promise at the young age of 18. Before long, though, his interest in politics diminished and, in a vain pursuit of happiness, he embarked on his monumental building spree of fairy-tale castles. The expense of the program and Ludwig’s erratic behavior alarmed the government, who feared (probably justifiably) that the king might bankrupt the country with his wildly extravagant projects, so they declared him unfit to rule by reason of insanity. Four days later, Ludwig was found drowned under mysterious circumstances—supposedly suicide, but the world still wonders, “Who done it?” Whatever the truth of the matter, today the tourist benefits, as all of Ludwig’s palaces are now museums. (9 am–5 pm, April to September; 10 am–4 pm, October to March.) Be prepared for long lines in high season.