Linderhof Palace is the only palace that King Ludwig II of Bavaria (1845-1886) had completed in its entirety. It was his preferred retreat and the only one of his three major palace projects - alongside Neuschwanstein and Herrenchiemsee - to be completed during his lifetime.
Linderhof Palace and King Ludwig II
Linderhof was built between 1869 and 1886 in the Rococo style and was strongly inspired by the French culture of Louis XIV. The sumptuous interior, the Hall of Mirrors, the tapestries and the ornate furniture reflect Ludwig's penchant for opulence and his longing for an idealized world. Particularly noteworthy are the park grounds with the famous Venus Grotto, in which Ludwig had musical scenes from Wagner's operas recreated.
Ludwig's stays at Linderhof
Of all his palaces, Ludwig II spent the most time at Linderhof. He spent more than eight years of his life there, mostly for longer periods of time. He enjoyed the secluded location in the Ammergau Alps and indulged his imagination and his love of music and literature.
Ludwig II's daily routine
Ludwig II had a very different daily rhythm. It is said that he often got up at 4 pm and turned night into day. His daily routine at Linderhof looked something like this:
After getting up, he would take a long bath and often only had breakfast in the late afternoon.
In the evening, he would go for walks through the park or take a gondola ride around the artificial Venus Grotto while listening to music by Richard Wagner.
At night, he often dined alone in a sumptuous atmosphere, using the famous “little table set for you” mechanism, which raised his dining table from the lower floor so that he did not have to see anyone.
In the early hours of the morning, he would work on his architectural projects, read or listen to music before going to bed at sunrise.
Comparison with Neuschwanstein and Herrenchiemsee
Of his three main castles, Ludwig II spent by far the most time at Linderhof.
Neuschwanstein: Although it is his most famous castle, he only spent a few days there as it was not yet fully completed at the time of his death in 1886.
Herrenchiemsee: This castle also remained unfinished and Ludwig only stayed there for around ten days.
Linderhof: He spent the longest time here and lived there for many years.
Ludwig II preferred Linderhof Palace as his main residence, while Neuschwanstein served more as a dream world for his imagination, but was hardly ever inhabited by him. Herrenchiemsee was intended as a tribute to Louis XIV, but was only used by him briefly. Linderhof was his personal retreat where he could indulge in his illusions and his longing for an idealized world.
Sapere aude!
S.
The link to the original German text: https://www.ganjingworld.com/s/azmR0kJrA2
A tribute with photo gallery
Out and about in the palace and palace park. The king's soul seems to rest in every place; if you let yourself in, you can literally feel the presence of King Ludwig II and hear the sounds of Wagner in your mind. I have been to the palace twice, listened to Wagner in the park and thought about the world - the echo still resonates in me.
If you like listening to Wagner in the park, I recommend it: Twilight of the Gods - Siegfried's Funeral March
And if you want something a little lighter in terms of sound poetry, here it is: Parsifal Prelude
My lyric / poem about Linderhof (in german)
https://www.ganjingworld.com/s/JG3rel3aAR
(The lyric set to music)
Opera song: Linderhof Castle
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