The mountains rest majestically on the horizon, embedded in the scenery of nature and landscape. Snow-covered, peaceful and quiet, the lake lies before me and harmoniously rounds off the scenery. Its crystal-clear face reflects the majestic mountain panorama - calm, uniform, almost enraptured. In the distance, the sound of birdsong heralds the approach of spring. But the frost has not yet completely surrendered - it weaves its icy net one last time and covers the reed belt in front of me with a cool blanket. A gentle, frosty breeze touches my cheeks, lending this quiet moment by the lake a deep, alert seriousness. Thoughts rise up inside me. April has many faces - including a very chilly, unfriendly one.
The breath of frost makes me give way this morning. I leave my thoughts on the shore and make my way to the hotel. How quickly time flies - years have passed since I first stayed here. And yet I remember the exact moment when I saw Herrenchiemsee Castle for the first time. I have taken the Bavarian Sea deep into my heart and have grown fond of the landscape and its people. And anyway, I am fascinated by everything connected with King Ludwig II of Bavaria. A childlike joy awakens in me when my gaze falls on the royal palace - a feeling of rapture, as if time pauses for a breath. Such moments are rare. And precious.
From the hotel, I can see the sun slowly rising over the horizon. It warms the world - and my cheeks feel the power of nature once again. How benevolent these rays seem to me! These quiet minutes in the early morning, with a view of the lake, are my favorite. The king also loved silence and solitude. I go to breakfast, then I want to visit the castle again - before the streams of tourists take possession of it in spring and summer. I'm looking forward to the contemplative twenty-minute boat trip over to the largest of the six islands in Lake Chiemsee: Herreninsel.
After a leisurely breakfast - things are even more relaxed here than at home - I board the boat. The journey across the lake begins. I gaze at the mountain panorama and see the world reflected in the surface of the water. Only occasionally do I hear the Upper Bavarian dialect being sung. I am almost alone on board, and an almost heavenly peace surrounds me. If it is true that God is with the land of Bavaria, then it must be this silence that he has given it.
I remember a stormy crossing to Heligoland in a good swell - and wonder whether you can also get seasick here, on the calm sea. I myself am seaworthy, but I have heard seasoned men whimpering in the corners of the ship, tormented by the merciless sea. Today, however, everything is calm. The sun warms my skin, my mind finds peace in the gentle rhythm of the waves. The ship docks and I step onto the island. The calm remains my companion - until I reach the castle.
When I get there, I am greeted by a sublime sight. I can almost feel the king, he has left such a deep footprint on this island. I wonder if the other visitors feel the same? The Bavarians still love their fairytale king to this day. Lost in thought, I imagine the island at the time of Ludwig II. He only spent a few days here himself - after his tragic death, construction of the palace was abruptly halted. So this work also remained unfinished.
I stand in the park and look at the palace façade. Versailles - that's my first thought. The resemblance is striking, and it's no coincidence. Ludwig II revered the Sun King Louis XIV, and you can feel that in every detail of this building. The Hall of Mirrors is an exact copy of its counterpart in Versailles. Everything here awes the eye. But today I'm staying outside, taking in the atmosphere of the palace gardens. I'm here to think, to recharge my batteries of inspiration.
The hours go by, the sun dips towards the horizon. Tired of thinking, but enriched inside, I leave the island. This time I am no longer alone - many tourists accompany me. My head is empty, but my heart is light. I listen to the conversations on board, letting the words pass me by carelessly.
Until a single word suddenly pulls me out of my quiet world:
«Wos des alles o’ Diridari gekost hat!»
A smile flits across my face. You can lose yourself in the art, in the beauty that is revealed in every corner of the castle. But in the end, many are interested in the mundane: how much did it cost?
I get out and return to the hotel. Time for a good dinner.
Sapere aude!
S.
The link to the original German text: https://www.ganjingworld.com/s/kyp4obpOYa
Lyrik: Schloss Herrenchiemsee (german version)
Im bayerischen Meer
liegst du,
lieblich eingebettet.
Die antiken Uhren schlagen
im Takt vergangener Zeit.
Ein Inselreich –
fern dieser Welt.
Die Sterne über deinem Himmel
leuchten hell,
als wären sie von ihm bestellt.
Unsichtbare Fäden verbinden die Dinge,
spannen sich leise von Hier nach Dort.
Die Wolken ziehen sanft und friedlich,
hinauf zur gold’nen Spur am Ort.
Wie schön war einst die alte Zeit,
fern von Arbeit, Müh’ und Last.
Er ritt durch seinen Park,
furchtlos, kühn, von Freiheit erfasst.
Dem Himmel nah,
zum Greifen nah,
bis diese Welt im Nebel schwand.
Ein König war er –
groß und einsam,
mit schwerer Krone in der Hand.
Doch Bayern blieb ihm stets ergeben,
die Treue fest in seine Hand gelegt.
Der Himmel – weiß und blau geblieben,
sein Königreich, das weiterlebt.
S.
Poetry: Herrenchiemsee Castle (english version)
In the Bavarian sea
you lie,
lovely embedded.
The antique clocks beat
in time past.
An island kingdom -
far from this world.
The stars above your sky
shine brightly,
as if they were ordered by him.
Invisible threads connect things,
stretch quietly from here to there.
The clouds move gently and peacefully
up to the golden trail in the place.
How beautiful the old days once were,
Far from work, toil and burden.
He rode through his park,
Fearless, bold, seized by freedom.
Close to the sky,
close enough to touch,
until this world faded into the mist.
A king he was -
tall and lonely,
with a heavy crown in his hand.
But Bavaria always remained devoted to him,
loyalty firmly placed in his hand.
The sky - remained white and blue,
his kingdom that lives on.
S.
Herrenchiemsee Castle - King Ludwig II - Photo impressions:
Herrenchiemsee Castle in the Bavarian municipality of Chiemsee and impressions of Lake Chiemsee (Bavaria - Bayern)
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