http://community.luxurylink.com/t5/At-the-spur-of-the-moment-foot/Exploring-Linderhof-Palace-the-favorite-hideaway-of-Bavarian/ba-p/21624 <p><span class="hype">Hello,</span></p><p> </p><p>Here are some more reports from our exploratory trips around Garmisch-Partenkirchen.</p><p> </p><p>&quot;Enchanting&quot; isn't aword I use willy-nilly. We found ourselves awstruck by the slice of heaven they call Schloss Linderhof.</p><p> </p><div class="top_content_left"><div class="logo"><a href="http://www.alpenhof-murnau.com/index.html" target="_blank"><br></a></div></div><div align="center" class="top_content_right"><img src="http://www.alpenhof-murnau.com/images/topbilder/landschaft/linderhof-01.jpg" alt="Schloss Linderhof" height="340" title="Schloss Linderhof" width="730" border="0"></div><p><br>This pint-sized palace was the favourite address of Bavaria’s <strong>“fairytale king”, Ludwig II</strong>, after a quick tour you’ll understand why.<br><br>Expectations were high. It would be hard to beat <strong>Neuschwanstein</strong>, Ludwig II’s infinitely more famous fairytale castle they’re now calling the eighth wonder of the world.<br><br>Compared to Neuschwanstein this palace was tiny. And quiet. Only a few groups of tourists were lingering at the long pool in the forecourt. It’s an incredibly peaceful setting nestled in a valley at the foothills of the Bavarian Alps. Ahh…the serenity! So much serenity.</p><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.destination-munich.com/images/linderhof2.jpg" alt="linderhof-palace-southern-bavaria-royal" height="280" width="408" border="0"></div><div align="center"><span class="style16"><strong>MAGNIFIQUE!:</strong> The palace was inspired by French Sun-King Louis XIV.</span></div><div> </div><p><strong><span class="hype">The tour begins...</span></strong><br><br>An English-speaking group assembled in the<br><strong>vestibule</strong> (entrance hall) where a tour guide came out to meet us.<br><br>She said this was Ludwig’s favourite home, built on the site of his father’s old cottage and finished in 1878.<br><br>Ludwig lived over seven years of his life here compared to his 11 nights<br>at Neuschwanstein before he was declared insane and carted away.<br><br>The guide said Ludwig drew inspiration for Schloss Linderhof from his hero <strong>French “Sun-King” Louis XIV</strong>. Traces of the Sun-King’s Versailles palace are all over the palace and grounds.<br><br>We were led through a succession of rooms, each somehow more opulent than the next. First stop up the stairs was a <strong>tapestry chamber</strong>. Talk about spiffy! Every wall, chair and chest of drawers was gilded in gold and a fine mural graced the ceiling.<br><br>Next up the <strong>audience chamber</strong>. Quite small, but then again, the king never asked anyone over for tea and crumpets.<br>Ludwig was an incredible recluse and preferred to study in here, devouring books on art and architecture and thinking up grandiose schemes to glorify his kingdom. Still, I couldn’t imagine a finer setting for an afternoon sandwich with the Queen of Spain or whoever.</p><div align="center"><br></div><div align="center"><img src="http://www.destination-munich.com/images/linderhof.jpg" alt="schloss-linderhof-munich-ludwig-II" height="408" width="280" border="0"></div><div align="center"><span class="style16"><strong>IMMACULATE:</strong> The palace and grounds of Schloss Linderhof were exquisitely designed.</span></div><div align="left"> </div><p><strong><span class="hype">The masterful bedroom</span></strong><br><br>The audience chamber was amazing enough, but the <strong>bedchamber</strong> took the prize. It’s the largest room in the palace and crowned with a 108-candle crystal chandelier.<br><br>The golden balustrade blocking off the bed must surely have been a recipe for disaster. Just think of the trips he must have had making midnight runs to the bathroom after all that delicious  Bavarian beer!<br><br>The tour guide explained that the balustrade was to give the Ludwig’s resting place the appearance of an altar, further glorifying his kingly goodness.</p><p> </p><p align="center"> <img src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_9zoqvNVU7Cs/SCBqswp27KI/AAAAAAAAAD4/zz0YBCvKG2o/S1600-R/lindhof.jpg" height="392" width="315" border="0"></p><p> </p><p>Ludwig subscribed to the <strong>absolutist</strong> school of rule, believing the king was anointed by God and could do whatever the hell he liked.<br><br>Next up was the <strong>dining room</strong>, where Ludwig dined alone. I mean really alone. Ludwig had a “magic table” installed which could be lowered and raised to and from kitchen.<br><br>Staff cooked and served meals without ever coming face to face with the king. But who would he have complained to if there was a fly in his soup?<br><br>The final showpiece room was the <strong>Hall of Mirrors</strong>. Ludwig used to stay up late at night reading by candlelight reflected into infinity. He had the two mantelpieces decorated with lapis-lazuli gemstone and paced back and forth on an ostrich plume rug.</p><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.destination-munich.com/images/linderhof3.jpg" alt="linderhof-germany-bavaria-palace" height="408" width="280" border="0"></div><div class="style16" align="center"><strong>PERSPECTIVE:</strong> The palace grounds have some spectacular look-out points.</div><p><strong><span class="hype">Gardens of pleasure</span></strong><br><br>The tour done, we strolled the <strong>ornamental gardens</strong> and found a few more echoes of the French “Sun-King”. A flower bed shaped like a bourbon emblem graced the back courtyard and a bust of Louis XIV lorded over the eastern terrace.<br><br>At the back of the palace we found the cascade, an artificial waterfall streaming gently down 30 steps and culminating at a statue of sea god Neptune at the bottom. We headed up the hill to the <strong>Venus Grotto</strong>.<br><br>This was an artificial cave cut out of the rock. Made for private performances of <strong>Richard Wagner’s operas</strong>, it has a small lake, a waterfall and one of the first electric lighting systems in the kingdom.<br><br>The lights could even change color to suit the mood of the scene being played out.<br>Ludwig would swan about on the lake in a shell-shaped boat while actors and musicians got it on for an audience of one. How’s that for some royal privilege!<br><br>Walking back to our bikes we peeked into some of the other outbuildings. There was a cute <strong>Moroccan cottage</strong> and a <strong>Moorish Kiosk</strong> with a peacock-themed throne.</p><p> </p><div align="center"><img src="http://www.destination-munich.com/images/linderhof4.jpg" alt="linderhof-venus-grotto" height="280" width="408" border="0"></div><div align="center"><span class="style16"><strong>FANTASIA:</strong> The Venus Grotto at Schloss Linderhof was Ludwig's private theatre.</span></div><div align="center"> </div><p>They say Ludwig liked to live out flamboyant fantasies within.<br>His servants donned Eastern gowns and sat cross-legged smoking hookah pipes as musicians and dancers entertained.<br><br>The palace and gardens had us thrilled. As good as Neuschwanstein? Every little bit and more.</p><div class="message-edit-history"><span class="local-time">Article by Stuart Anderson<br></span></div><div class="message-edit-history"><span class="edit-author">Message Edited by LL_Travelfan on </span><span class="local-date">10-03-2009</span><span class="local-time"> 10:44 AM</span></div> Sun, 30 Aug 2009 15:22:52 GMT LL_Travelfan 2009-08-30T15:22:52Z http://community.luxurylink.com/t5/At-the-spur-of-the-moment-foot/Exploring-Linderhof-Palace-the-favorite-hideaway-of-Bavarian/ba-p/21624 Here are some more reports from our exploratory trips around Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Enchanting isn't a word I use willy-nilly. We found ourselves awestruck by the slice of heaven they call Schloss Linderhof. Sun, 30 Aug 2009 15:22:52 GMT http://community.luxurylink.com/t5/At-the-spur-of-the-moment-foot/Exploring-Linderhof-Palace-the-favorite-hideaway-of-Bavarian/ba-p/21624 LL_Travelfan 2009-08-30T15:22:52Z http://community.luxurylink.com/t5/At-the-spur-of-the-moment-foot/Exploring-Linderhof-Palace-the-favorite-hideaway-of-Bavarian/bc-p/21980 <p>Hi,</p><p> </p><p>Just wanted to let readers know that I wrote this story and it features on my website about Munich and Bavaria at <a href="http://www.destination-munich.com/schloss-linderhof.html" target="_blank">http://www.destination-munich.com/schloss-linderhof.html</a></p><p> </p><p>Stuart Anderson</p><p>Destination Munich</p> Sat, 03 Oct 2009 16:20:25 GMT http://community.luxurylink.com/t5/At-the-spur-of-the-moment-foot/Exploring-Linderhof-Palace-the-favorite-hideaway-of-Bavarian/bc-p/21980 stu700 2009-10-03T16:20:25Z