Krazy King Ludwig's Kastles

Our last big trip of the summer was to Bavaria and the last of King Ludwig's castles.  We saw Neuschwanstein, which Ludwig built, never finished, and lived in for only a few days before he was deposed and died under mysterious circumstances.  It is famously the basis for Disney's sleeping beauty castle.  It was huge.  Also, Ludwig was a great friend of Wagner and wrote the composer lengthy letters about the throne room and banqueting hall based on Wagner's operas.  He and Wagner also shared a disdain for Ludwig's parents, one letter tells how glad Ludwig will be to live in Neuschwanstein, where he will no longer share the 'polluted air' where his mother lives in the valley bottom.  Issues, eh?  

My favorite was the Linderhof, where the gardens were marvelous and the little 'huts' all over the grounds are fascinating.  My kids' favorite part of the trip, however, was the swimming pool at our hotel in Garmisch.  So much for getting them a little historical edumacation.  

The Alps

Linderhof fountain

The Linderhof--only castle Ludwig completed and lived in
It was his retreat from 'real life' in Munich.
Modeled after Versailles

Hohenschwangau  (swan castle) where Ludwig grew up