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Published: July 11th 2009
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Hi Everyone!
Imagine back to a time before Germany became embroiled in two World Wars. Back to a time when Germany didn't even exist, when Bavaria had its own monarchy. Once upon a time there was a king of Bavaria named Ludwig. King’s Ludwig’s son Maximilian waited many years for his wife to give birth. When she finally did they were going to name their first born son Otto. But King Ludwig thought he should be named Ludwig, so in 1845 at Schloss Nymphenburg they named their first born ...Ludwig. Soon after little Ludwig was born, King Ludwig was forced to abdicate the thrown because of his womanizing ways. Bavaria was very Catholic at this time, and the people disapproved of King Ludwig parading his mistresses about.
So Maximilian became the King. Unfortunately Max was never very healthy and several years later he died. Although he did finally have another son, which he was able to name Otto. So young Ludwig became King Ludwig II when he was only 18. Now, Ludwig II was a big fan of Richard Wagner the opera composer. So the first thing he did when he became King was to hunt down Wagner, pay off his
debts and put him on salary. It is speculated that King Ludwig II was homosexual, due to his relationship with Wagner and his never marrying. Just speculation. Though he did have an intense interest in interior design…
During King Ludwig’s reign he was involved in two Prussian wars by circumstances beyond his control, despite being a dedicated pacifist. The second Franco-Prussian war resulted in the formation of the German Empire in which Bavaria was ordered to consolidate with the other German states under an Emperor.
In Munich, the Bavarian capital, Ludwig II wasn’t well liked. Mostly because he kept trying to run away from wars, and was now forced to submit to an Emperor. So Ludwig hung out in the Alps a lot, because his father’s castle Hohenschwangau was there. And Ludwig was pretty sad, but he continued to do his work as King. Finally word came that Richard Wagner had gotten married and Ludwig snapped. He decided to cheer himself up by building castles. He built three and had plans to build 2 more when his sudden and mysterious death stopped the plans from going forward. Neuschwanstein, the largest and most ambitious of the projects was intended to be
the ideal medieval castle. The ideal medieval castle for 1886 that is. The castle was built with modern plumbing, running water and all the modern comforts that a king could afford. (Or not afford as the situation was.) It has turrets and arrow windows and it is built on the side of a mountain. The inside rooms that are completed took 40 craftsman and artists 4 years to complete. The artwork inside is based on Richard Wagner’s operas. The construction and plans for his other castle drove Ludwig into massive debt, but the townsfolk loved him. His family however was concerned that he might run through 800 years of family fortune in one short lifetime. Attempts to reason with Ludwig and contain his spending fell on def ears. So his financial advisors tried to have Ludwig declared insane. It didn’t help that Ludwig’s brother Otto was Schizophrenic and was himself locked away. Eventually his opponents succeeded and he was forcibly removed from Neuschwanstein and sent to Castle Burg. He was there one day before he was found, along with his doctor; drown in the lake there on June 13, 1886. Construction on Neuschwanstein was stopped when Ludwig died and the
Sculpture in the palace
the entire room was covered in this rock looking substance. castle is only a third complete. Ludwig only lived there for about 180 days before he died. He was 14 million marks in debt.
The inside of Neuschwanstein is absolutely breathtaking. It is floor to ceiling a work of art. Mosaic floors, fresco paintings, there is even a hallway built to as an artificial cave. Of all the architectural wonders that I have seen in Europe so far, Neuschwanstein is my favorite by far. It puts Versailles to shame.
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Aunt Nancy
non-member comment
beautiful
Jenny, the castle is beatiful!! However, the bridge you had to cross to get to the castle look very scary!!! I am alittle afraid of heights I guess. Good thing that you are not. take care,