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Larger Pictures of Castles, Communities and
Regional Highlights
Here are additional images of tour highlights and regional scenes in
higher resolution than regular website pictures.
Most gallery pictures are displayed as approximately 800 x 600
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page.
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Neuschwanstein -
Ludwig's First Castle
(Schloss Neuschwanstein in German)
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New:
Three dramatic
and exclusive
helicopter photos of Neuschwanstein >
- An extreme wide shot,
- A medium shot, and
- A closer top view. |
Neuschwanstein sits on its
own height of land at the
base of Mount Tegelberg. |
The helicopter provides a
rare view of the castle –
the view from the north. |
This top view reveals the
audacity of the architecture
of Neuschwanstein. |
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Neuschwanstein, Ludwig's
first and most famous castle,
built between 1869 and 1886 |
Neuschwanstein sits atop
Swan Rock in the foothills of
the Alps near Fussen. |
Neuschwanstein is most
often seen in post card
photos taken from the air. |
An overhead view of
Neuschwanstein reveals
the architectural layout. |
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Neuschwanstein Castle was
designed by Christian Jank,
a theatrical set designer. |
Neuschwanstein's upper
courtyard, facing the Palas,
or citadel |
Singers' Hall occupies the
entire fourth floor of
Neuschwanstein Castle. |
Neuschwanstein Castle,
as seen from Mary's Bridge
on a clear, bright day |
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Linderhof -
Ludwig's Second Castle
(Schloss Linderhof in German) |
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Linderhof Castle is set in
a remote valley between
Fussen and Oberammergau. |
Linderhof was built between
1870 and 1879, and was
Ludwig's favourite residence. |
Flora and her nymphs adorn
the centre of the pool in
front of the central Royal Villa. |
Linderhof was built in an
elaborate rococo style,
recalling
the Burbon Kings. |
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Linderhof's Eastern Flower
Beds, with Venus and
Adonis as centrepiece |
The Moorish Kiosk was
relocated from a castle in
Bohemia and enlarged. |
The Grotto recreates the
Venusberg Mountain from
Wagner's Tannhauser. |
The Southern Terraced Hill
at Linderhof is crowned by
the classical
Venus Temple. |
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Herrenchiemsee
- Ludwig's Third Castle
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Herrenchiemsee is
hidden
on an
island in Chiemsee,
Bavaria's largest lake. |
Herrenchiemsee, inspired
by Versailles, was the most
expensive Ludwig project. |
The central Royal Palace
at Herrenchiemsee was
built between 1878 and 1885. |
Herrenchiemsee was
designed by Georg Dollman,
the architect of Linderhof. |
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The formal gardens feature
many fountains and statues,
both in the classical style ... |
... and in the fantastic style
of romanticism favored by
King Ludwig. |
Herrenchiemsee's Great
Gallery of Mirrors attempted
to improve on Versailles. |
This stairway is copied from
Versailles, which Ludwig
admired enormously. |
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Ludwig's Family's Castles and Palaces
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Nymphenburg Palace,
Ludwig's birthplace in Munich,
(München) begun in 1664 |
Nymphenburg was built to
be the summer residence
of the rulers of Bavaria. |
Visitors enter Nymphenburg
through the Great Hall of the
palace's large central pavilion. |
Nymphenburg's Great Hall
is used by the Bavarian Royal
family for major receptions. |
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Nymphenburg's facade was
redesigned in 1716 and
again in 1826. |
The grand parterre, central
feature of the 200-hectare /
400-acre Nymphenburg park |
Nymphenburg's Carriage
Museum houses the royal
family's state coaches. |
Hohenschwangau Castle,
near Fussen,
Ludwig's
boyhood home |
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Hohenschwangau Castle
and village, between lakes
Alpsee and Schwansee |
Hohenschwangau Castle,
seen from neighbouring
Neuschwanstein Castle |
Entrance to
Hohenschwangau
Castle, built between 1833
and 1837by Ludwig's father |
Coat of Arms of the house of
Wittelsbach, still the owners
of Hohenschwangau Castle |
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Bavarian Communities
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Fussen, dominated by its
High Castle, former summer
residence of prince bishops |
Hopfen am See, a "suburb"
of Fussen (Füssen), and
home base
for this tour |
Hopfensee Lake in the
morning. How necessary
is the "No Surfing"sign? |
Hopfen am See, looking
south from the back yard
of the Landhaus Koessel |
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Oberammergau is famous
for its Passion Play and the
frescoes on its buildings. |
This restaurant in
Oberammergau is a joy for
many senses. |
The picturesque town of
Bad Tolz (Bad Tölz), seen
from the
Isar River. |
Bad Tolz main street,
pedestrian-only after the
early-morning deliveries |
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Bad Tolz architecture
also features the painted
decorations of the region. |
Munich's Hofbrauhaus
(Hofbräuhaus) ,
Germany's
most famous
beer hall |
Munich's City Hall dominates
the city's Marienplatz central
square. |
Munich City Hall's animated
Glockenspiel entertains
tourists three times a day. |
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Wieskirche, Lake Starnberg, and Andechs
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Wieskirche (The
Church in
the Meadow) is a UNESCO
World Heritage site. |
Wieskirche was built between
1745 and 1754 in rococo
style, and restored 1985-91. |
Wieskirche: The Church in
the Meadow has a real
Bavarian meadow. |
Cross in Lake Starnberg
where
Ludwig II's body was
found on June 13, 1886 |
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Lake Starnberg – Ludwig
Votivchapel, near where
Ludwig's body was found |
The Benedictine abbey of
Andechs is famous for its
Baroque church (1712). |
Andechs is also a successful
self-supporting economic
entity, active in agriculture. |
Andechs operates farms, a
brewery, a restaurant, and
a very popular beer garden. |
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Lake Constance - Lindau and Mainau
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Lindau is an ancient walled
city on a near-shore island
in eastern Lake Constance. |
Lindau was first mentioned
in writing in 882, and narrow
streets speak to its age. |
The decorated rear of
Lindau's old Town Hall, built
between 1422 and 1436 |
Lindau harbour, looking
south across Lake
Constance (Bodensee) |
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Mainau is a 45 hectare /
111 acre garden island
in west Lake Constance. |
Mainau's designers and
gardeners create dramatic
floral sculptures. |
Mainau was developed as a
summer palace by Grand
Duke Frederick I of Baden. |
Mainau is now operated
by an environmentally-
sensitive trust foundation. |
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Mainau includes gardens,
sculpture, park land, and a
children's zoo and playground.
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Mainau employs 350
gardeners and support staff
during the flowering season. |
The colour schemes in the
Mainau gardens vary during
the April to September season. |
Mainau's
butterfly house,
the largest
in Germany,
hosts 25 species.
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Mount Zugspitze
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The Tyrolean Zugspitzebahn
carries visitors to the 9,718 ft
summit of Mount Zugspitze. |
The cable car travels up 1.7
km / 1.1 miles to the top in
10 minutes. |
The summit buildings
straddle the border between
Germany and Austria. |
Mount
Zugspitze offers
breathtaking views of the
Alps. |
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On a clear day you can see
4 countries -Germany, Austria,
Italy, and Switzerland. |
Looking down from Zugspitze
on the twin towns of Garmisch-
Partenkirchen |
Elbsee lake, as seen from
Mount Zugspitze above |
The comfortable Panorama
Restaurant at the summit
of Mount Zugspitze. |
