HERRENCHIEMSEE CASTLE

Herrenchiemsee was the third and last castle built by Ludwig II of Bavaria. The largest of his buildings, inspired entirely by Versailles, was a tribute to his idol, the Sun King Louis XIV, and to absolute monarchy. After Ludwig II acquired the Herreninsel (literally "Island of Men") in 1873, it took no less than five years and 13 design phases before work finally began in 1878, under the aegis of architect Georg Dollmann. The aim was to create a "Bavarian Versailles" based on the original French model, including rooms that had long since disappeared. The first completed room, built between 1879 and 1881, was also the most expensive: the king's bedroom(Paradeschlafzimmer), considerably larger and more sumptuous than its French model. Ludwig II never slept in it. In fact, the Bavarian king only spent a total of 10 days in his grandiose palace. Another unrivalled room is the Hall of Mirrors: with 7,000 candles, 33 crystal chandeliers and a length of 98 meters, it is also larger than its model, the Hall of Mirrors. The cost of the work was enormous, and the construction a pharaonic undertaking. Indeed, Herrenchiemsee cost more than Linderhof and Neuschwanstein castles combined! It's all glitz and glamour, rich decorations, shimmering colors and luxury. Even the garden, with its fountains, water features and sculptures, is inspired by Versailles. The park was designed by Carl von Effner and was to encompass most of the island. By 1886, the year of the king's death, only part of the park had been completed. The castle remained largely unfinished.

As with other Ludwig II castles, Herrenchiemsee can only be visited with a guided tour.

The Augustiner-Chorherrenstift , an Augustinian monastery, awaits you on the north side of the island. A visit is included in the Herrenchiemsee Castle ticket.

King Ludwig II Museum. Since 1987, the castle has housed a museum dedicated to the life of the king, from his birth in 1845 to his tragic death in 1886. The exhibition, housed in twelve modern rooms on the first floor of the south wing, includes photographs, painted portraits, busts and clothes of Ludwig II. The museum's finest exhibits include ceremonial furniture from the royal apartments of the Munich Residence (now destroyed) and from the first bedroom of Linderhof Palace.