Bavarian Castles Tour  In Depth

Research – Links to More Detailed Information

King Ludwig II of Bavaria

Biographical note on Ludwig Friedrich Wilhelm II, King of Bavaria from 1864 to 1886

King Ludwig II of Bavaria

English translations from a German website dedicated to the life and legend of Ludwig II  (keonig-ludwig.org site)

Nymphenburg Palace

Immense Baroque palace on 200 acre estate in Munich where Ludwig was born

Schloss Hohenschwangau

Castle near Fussen (Füssen) where Ludwig spent most of his childhood

Neuschwanstein Castle

Schloss Neuschwanstein – Ludwig's first and most famous castle, a dramatic Romanesque fortress build on a commanding hilltop high above the village of Hohenschwangau

Linderhof Castle

Schloss Linderhof – Ludwig's second major creation, an ornate palace in neo-French Rococo style with elaborate formal gardens, nestled in a secluded forest valley about 15 km from Fussen (as the crow flies)

Herrenchiemsee

Ludwig's third extravagance, a replica of the central section of the palace at Versailles, meant to outdo its predecessor in scale and opulence, built on an island in the middle of Lake Chiemsee

Town of Fussen

Home base for this tour is at Hopfen am See, just outside Fussen, at the southern end of Germany's famous Romantic Road.  Fussen is the town where Ludwig was raised, and where he constructed two of his three new castles and palaces.

Village of Hohenschwangau

Hohenschwangau is the small village located between the Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein castles.

Village of Oberammergau

Oberammergau is a picturesque village famous for the elaborate passion play staged every ten years and also for its beautifully painted houses and woodcarving.

Town of Bad Tolz

Bad Tolz (Bad Tölz or Bad Toelz in German) is know for its historic medieval town center, an architecturally significant church from 1466, its spas, its spectacular views of the Alps, and its lunch-time specials.

Munich

Munich (München) is the capital of the German state of Bavaria, Germany's third largest city (1.3 million), the home of world famous beer gardens and the annual Oktoberfest, and the origin and termination city for this tour.

Wieskirche

The Wieskirche, also known as The Church in the Meadow, is a Rococo church built between 1745 and 1754 in a remote location near the foothills of the Alps.  It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983.

Andechs Abbey

The Benedictine abbey of Andechs is a former place of pilgrimage famed for its flamboyant Baroque church, its modern farming operations, and its brewery.

Zugspitze

The Zugspitze is the highest mountain in Germany at 2,962m or 9,718'.  It is located on the Austrian border and two cable cars go directly to observation and restaurant facilities at the peak, one from each country.

Lake Constance

Lake Constance (Bodensee) is a large lake on the Rhine between Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.  It is central Europe's third largest lake, and the regional destination for the itinerary visits to Lindau and Mainau.

City of Lindau

Lindau is a German city on the eastern end of Lake Constance dating back to early Roman times.  Its historic walled medieval city centre, picturesque harbour, and decorated Town Hall are popular attractions.

Mainau

Mainau island on Lake Constance, often called Flower Island, is an internationally renowned floral showcase and paradise for garden lovers.  Every year hundreds of new flower beds are planted in different patterns.