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King Luwig II of Bavaria was born August 24th, 1845 at the Nymphenburg Palace in what is now Munich,Germany. Ludwig spent most of his childhood in gorgeous royal palaces. Living in beautiful homes with the Bavarian Alps as a backdrop gave young Ludwig a vociferous appetite for theatrics and romantic architecture. From the moment Ludwig was born he was raised to be a monarch. He and his brother Otto were raised and schooled very strictly, but Ludwig was by nature a very romantic and fantastic creature.

In 1864,when Ludwig was 18 years old,Ludwig’s father King Maximilian II died unexpectedly. Following his father’s death Ludwig became King Ludwig II, otherwise known as The Swan King or Mad King Ludwig. King Ludwig II was ill-suited for his position as he was a recluse by nature. He desperately avoided public functions, but had an avid admiration for composer Richard Wagner. The composer wrote this of the king after their first meeting “Alas, he is so handsome and wise, soulful and lovely, that I fear his life must melt away in this vulgar world like a fleeting dream of the gods.”

King Ludwig II commissioned the construction of four palaces during his reign and would live to see only two of them complete. He paid for these palaces with his own money not that o Bavaria and in the end he was broke. King Ludwig II seemed to not be concerned with economizing and eventually his cabinet sought to usurp him.

At 4:00 a.m on June 12th,1886 King Ludwig II was officially deposed and arrested. He was declared insane by Doctor Bernhard von Gudden who had never examined the king. On June 13th,1886 the Former king and the doctor went for a walk around 6 a.m on the shore of Lake Starnberg. Later both were found dead, floating in waist-deep water. How they both came to be dead by supposed drowning is not known. We may never know whether Ludwig was truly insane or simply a harmless eccentric. Ludwig never married or conceived children, but the palaces he resided in and built remain his legacy to this day.

Nymphenburg Palace

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Nymphenburg Palace is the place of King Ludwig II’s birth. Nymphenburg is a baroque style palace that was commisioned by Ferdinand Maria and Henriette Adelaide of of Savoy in 1664. The palace was designed by Agostino Barelli. Nymphenburg Palace is now open to the public, but still serves as a home to the head of house of Wittelsbach. There is a museum in the court stable that showcases the extravagant carriages and sleighs that once belonged to King Ludwig II.

Hohenschwangau Palace

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King Ludwig II spent many years at Hohanschwangau Palace during his childhood. Hohenschwangau Palace was built on the ruins of Fort Schwanstein in southern Bavaria. Fort Schwanstein had lay in the Bavarian Alps in ruins for 700 years when Ludwig’s father,then the crown prince of Bavaria,decided to build a palace there in 1833. Hohenschwangau was designed by architect Domenico Quaglio and was designed in neo-gothic style. King Ludwig II loved Hohenschwangau so much that he built his palace Neuschwanstein within walking distance of it.

Neuschwanstein Palace

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Neuschwanstein Palace was the first palace that was commissioned by King Ludwig II. Neuschwanstein was designed not by an architect but by a stage designer named Christian Jank. Ludwig II enjoyed Richard Wagner’s work so much that he used it as inspiration for much of the palaces interior design. Construction on Neuschwanstein began in 1869, but the king died before it could be completed. Neuschwanstein Palace is a sweeping example of neo-romanticism in architectural design. Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle was designed using Neuschwanstein as it’s example. During his life Ludwig’s palaces were not open to the public, but immediately following the king’s death Neuschwanstein Palace was opened to the public and now boast roughly 1.3 million visitors a year.

The King’s House

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The King’s House was the second palace commissioned by King Ludwig II, construction began in 1869. The King’s House was designed by architect Georg von Dollman. The King’s House looks very much like a grandiose hunting lodge,but after it’s completion in 1872 the king used this palace as a place to have birthday celebrations. The King’s House is the smallest and least known of Ludwig II’s palaces,probably due to the fact that it is only accessible by a two to three hike through the woods.

Linderhof Palace

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King Ludwig II began construction on Linderhof Palace in 1874,making the third of his four grand creations. One of the two palaces Ludwig had designed roughly based on Versailles Palace, Linderhof was designed by architect Georg von Dollman. Linderhof is Rococan style palace that is surrounded by lavish gardens. The many gardens of Linderhof were designed by Karl von Effner. The Linderhof gardens are decorated by beautiful sculptures and fountains. The King’s Home and Linderhof Palace were the only two of his creations that King Ludwig II was able to complete before he died.

Herrenchiemsee Palace

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Herrenchiemsee Palace was the fourth palace to be commissioned by King Ludwig II and second he had designed as an homage to Versailles Palace. Herrenchiemsee Palace was designed by Christian Jank, Georg Dollman and Frank Seitz. Construction began in 1878. Herrenchiemsee Palace lies on Herren Island in Lake Chiemsee. Like Linderhof Palace Herrenchiemsee is sorrounded by extravagant gardens. The cost of building Herrenchiemsee today would be the equivalent of 125.4 million USD, but Ludwig died before it was finished.

Trausnitz Palace

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King Ludwig II was known to have spent some time at Trausnitz Palace in Landshut,Bavaria. Trausnitz Palace was built in 1255 as a residence and was later used as a barracks,prison and hospital. Ludwig II commissioned a private apartment here in 1869. A fire in 1961 destroyed the interior of the king’s rooms.

Residenz Palace

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The original Residenz Palace was constructed in 1385 in Gothic style. Since it’s construction the Residenz has been added to many times in many different styles. The Residenz was once the Royal Palace of Bavarian monarchs. Ludwig II had his own royal apartments designed at the Residenz for his personal use. After his death King Ludwig II’s body was displayed at the Residenz Palace in the Court Chapel until he was laid to rest at St.Michael’s church in Munich.

Ludwig’s Palaces Today

All of the palaces that define King Ludwig II’s life still stand today. Most of the rooms in which he stayed still boast the same designs and furniture that they did when Ludwig was alive. Today Ludwig II is forgiven his eccentricities or “madness” largely because his palaces are a huge source of revenue in Bavaria. Tourists flock from all over the world daily to see these architectural masterpieces,and why not these palaces are all truly one of a kind.