Fifty Hectares of Lanscaping - Linderhof Castle

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While staying in Oberammergau in Bavaria, south-west Germany, we took a day trip to Linderhof Castle. Because we had so many photos of the gardens this is the second post about the palace. The man responsible for building both the Neuschwanstein and Linderhof castles was Ludwig II who was born in 1845 and died under mysterious circumstances in 1886. He was king of Bavaria from 1864 until his death. He became known as 'mad Ludwig' as he was highly eccentric. He was also a great admirer of Richard Wagner, the composer, and his support did much to enhance the reputation of Wagner. Ludwig was extremely introverted and avoided Munich and government responsibilities as much as possible. However he was very popular with the citizens of Bavaria, often stopping to chat and visit with farmers and labourers he met during his travels through the countryside. He rarely entertained but spent much of his time in a fantasy world created under his direction by his servants and staff. Thus, at Linderhof Castle, there is a man-made Venus grotto complete with lake. He would have his servants row him about in a shell-shaped golden boat while music from Wagner's Tannhauser was played. Servants would place coloured filters over electric lights to create special effects. Electricity was a novelty at that time and was provided by one of the first generating plants in Bavaria. The formal gardens also contain a replica of Hunding's Hut from Wagner's Die Walküre (Valkryie). Here Ludwig would sit down to Germanic feasts. There was also a Gurnemanz Hermitage set in a flowering meadow. Each Good Friday, Ludwig would spent some time here in contemplation. If there was no flowering meadow because of snow, the gardener was expected to plant one. The fountain was impressive, rising nearly 25 metres. Ludwig was also interested in Oriental architecture. The grounds of the palace contain a Moorish kiosk, originally designed for the 1867 International Exhibition in Paris. And from the 1873 International Exhibition in Vienna comes the Moroccan House, purchased in 1878 and decorated more sumptuously after its installation in the gardens.