Mad Money

Mad King Ludwig II

Bavaria October 6th and 7th 2008

It has been said that the only difference between insanity and eccentricity is money. The famous King Ludwig II became King at just 18 years of age. While he was technically the King I tend to think he was more of a "Queen". Never married, he was a lover of poetry, music, opera, architecture, and all things Richard Wagner. During his brief reign, he built several castles, including the famed Neuschwanstein, aka the Sleeping Beauty Castle. This castle was built as a retreat and an homage to Richard Wagner, the kings inspirational muse.

Above is the view we had of the Castle from our room at our Bed and Breakfast.

Unfortunately the young king died before the castle was ever completed. The next few pictures are from the Marien Bridge behind and above the castle. These pics don't even look real, the background is simply stunning!

I had to have a picture of a guy in Leiderhosen and a sweet ole hat with a feather. Jeff wasn't biting on that one but this guy asked to take his picture with me, so I guess he'll have to do. This castle looks down on Hohenschwangau, another castle that was actually Ludwig's boyhood home.

HOHENSCHWANGAU

I think I could definitely have gotten used to living here! This castle is still owned by members of Bavaria's royal family. While no pictures can be taken inside the castle I think the best shots are the ones of the grounds and the fantastic view from the rooms!

LINDERHOF

I think my favorite of Ludwig's castles was his favorite too. He actually spent at least 2 weeks of every month here. Linderhof is nestled in the mountains near Oberammergau Germany. It was once his fathers hunting retreat. It is the smallest of three palaces built by Ludwig and the only one he saw to completion.

It felt so intimate and really gave you a feel of what this king was all about. It was full of paintings of scenes of the history of French king Louis the 16th. There was even an incredibly ornate piano Ludwig had made and carried into the Palace in hopes that Richard Wagner would come and play for him there. The grounds are fantastic and impressive.

He was totally innovative and way ahead of his time with what was then thought to be eccentric little things. One of them being a grotto built entirely to resemble the first act in one of Richard Wagners plays. Complete with a golden swan boat which he liked to be rowed around in while actors performed the play in his own little set.

Unfortunately Ludwig was more of an artist than an accountant. He was spending so much money building these palaces and buildings from which to watch Wagners plays that eventually he not only ran out of money but rang up so much debt that it actually took the royal family 40 years to pay off all of his debt. Upon the realization that he had gone through the family fortune, his relatives had him declared insane. Just two days later Ludwig was found at lake, in waist deep water with the doctor who made the declaration, drowned.

And so the "queen" of a King went from eccentric to insane to dead.

Guess that's how it goes with Mad Money.