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Linderhof Castle (pic1) may have been the smallest of Mad King Ludwig II ambitious building of castles, but it was also absolute proof of "big things come in small packages." Done in the French Neo-Rococo style, the interiors were completely off the chain when it came to gilding , arches, scroll detail and other extraneous frilly detail as well as elaborate, imaginative features (even more than Neuschwanstein Castle!, Picture 2). A good example is the "Wishing Table" in the dining room; Ludwig preferred to dine alone with no servants being seen, so using a crank system, servants could lower the table into the kitchen (directly below), fill it with food and then crank it back up into the dining room. To all accounts, nightly Ludwig was delighted by the "illusion" of the food appearing as well as any guests he may have had.
ReplyDeleteLinderhof also featured the fantastical "Venus Grotto" in the basement of the palace. A big fan of the composer Wagner, Ludwig II designed the grotto as an homage to his work, with a lake, dramatically creative and focused lighting, murals and full-sized fairy-tale creatures. The lake was large enough to support a full sized boat for one and was pushed by servants, so Ludwig would ride around in to see his creation as if it were a ride at Disneyland. The water (only about 2' deep, because Ludwiig II was terrified of drowning) was heated by a series of boilers - further manned by male servants - and kept the water at a comfortable temperature 24 hours a day just in case the child-like King wanted a ride in the middle of the night.
Linderhof was the only of his three grand castles (Linderhof , Neuschwanstein and Herrenchiemsee, a "replica" of Versailles) that was ever finished before his death. His end was mysterious: tragically by drowning, despite his fear of water and not being able to swim. There are a lot of conspiracies around his death - was he murdered because (a) it was widely believed that he was gay, or (b) because his building projects were breaking the Bavarian royal bank after he poured his own personal fortune into his dreams? Was it suicide or did he just decide in the middle of the night to go walking and on a lark, attempt to learn to swim in Lake Starnberg with his "close friend" and psychiatrist, who also was found drowned near him? Tragic Lovers pact? Who knows?
Regardless, with such a boundless imagination it's dizzying to think about where his desires would have taken architecture had he survived a little further past his 22nd birthday.
Going back to Germany to see Ludwig's castles is on my bucket list (last time I saw them I was eight years old). Thanks for reminding me, Rick!
Yes, that's the cutest little castle I've seen, but we've got a green algae Epstein Reflecting Pool that puts that little puddle to shame, courtesy of our Mad King, Donald the Destroyer!
DeleteRBrysco - Thanks for the interesting background info.
DeleteIdunno... I just got the music from "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" on repeat when I look at the photos of the castles...
ReplyDeleteLOL no wonder, Rade... Neuschwanstein was used as the shots for the castle in the imaginary land of Vulgaria... 😁 There's probably a child catcher or two in one of those towers...
DeleteLes caprices des rois.
ReplyDelete-Beau Mec à Deauville
Jawohl, Schloss Linderhof ist ein technisches Wunderwerk.
ReplyDeleteEr war eines allerersten Gebäude der Welt mit Elektrizität - noch vor Edison.
In Deutschland überlassen wir die Therion über Ludwigs Tod den Bayern.
(vVs)