Dec 11 2008
More about King Ludwig II
As I told you yesterday, King Kudiwg II of Bavaria is also known as the Fairy Tale King or the Swan King. His castle on an island in a lake in Souther Bavaria certainly justifies that name. It’s called Herrenchiemsee and it’s an example of tremedous extravagance by an eccentric king and of what happens, when that same king runs out of money.
Although Ludwig II financied his building spree out of his own pocket, he built after all three castles and his funds were soon depleted. He didn’t put his hand into the state’s funds, but he badgered his council and ministers endlessly with request to contact other monarchs asking for loans. When he couldn’t borrow any more he just needed to stop, which makes Herrenchiemsee a unique sight.
Ludwig II adored Louis XIV of France and modelled Herrenchiemsee on the centre facade of Versailles. He eeven created a Mirrored Hall like the one of the French king. No marbles were too valuable for him, no tapestries and carpets too expensive. Whereas Louis XIV is known as the Sun King, Ludwig felt himself attracted to the Moon. His bedroom, which he used only once, is decorated in blue and a pale, shimmering moon shines at the foot of his bed.
Whereas the front rooms and reception halls were completed, he ran out of money when construction reached some living quarters, bath and kitchen. No kitchen has ever been added. The king’s food was prepared in a nearby cloister kitchen and brought over by running servants to keep it warm. It was then placed in a food elevator, known as a “silent servant” and cranked up form the ground floor to the king’s dining room. It’s reported, that his food was nearly always luke warm, which really doens’t come as a surprise.
His huge, pool like bath tub is nothing but a cement- covered big hole in the ground with the beginnings of paintings covering the walls. It’s a very disturbing sight to move from utter oppolence to no more than skeleton construction with bare walls and unadorned floors by just going up a few steps and turning a corner.
