Linderhof Palace

This palace, though the smallest of Ludwig's three royal estates, is arguably the most intimate and personal, reflecting the king's unique tastes and his desire for solitude. The gardens are as impressive as the palace itself, if not more so. Designed in the style of the French formal gardens, they are a harmonious blend of nature and artistry. The central axis leads to the famous Neptune Fountain, which, when active, shoots water high into the air, creating a mesmerizing spectacle. The Venus Grotto, an artificial cave on the grounds, is one of the palace's most unique features. It was designed to fulfill Ludwig’s love of opera, specifically Wagner’s works, and was equipped with a wave machine and colored lighting to create different moods. Although artificial, the grotto is a magical, almost otherworldly place that highlights Ludwig's imaginative mind. Other highlights include the Moorish Kiosk and the Moroccan House, exotic structures that showcase Ludwig's fascination with the Orient. These pavilions are richly decorated and provide a stark contrast to the predominantly European style of the palace and gardens.

Beautiful palace built by King Ludwig. The 25 minute tour of the palace cost 10 Euro and was well worth the money! No photos could be taken inside. All of the furniture was original. There was lots of original art and wall and ceiling paintings. Most were original and some were touched up/restored. There is lots to see and the art and gardens reflect Versailles.

The Versailles of the Tirol. Within a marvellous park surrounded by mountains. The flowers garden and fountain ⛲ are a really amazing. Take the time to stroll all around the property to discover the other attractions. Possibility to book in advance on the official site.

Beautiful palace and gardens, the tickets for palace and gardens are only 10 euros for adults and children up to 16 go free. It worth a visit if you are in the area, the interior of the palace is luxurious and impressive and the gardens very well maintained. The fountain in front of the palace goes on every half an hour.

We had an amazing time visiting Linderhof palace. It is a beautiful Palace with a precious garden. I recommend going specially in the summer to be able to appreciate the best of it’s garden and also buying tickets in advance (in case you want to do the tour visit inside, that is totally worth doing in my opinion).

This villa is built in a beautiful landscape among the mountains. I went there in September as the snow was starting to collect between the slopes. Really in love, great for pleasant walks.

Had a chance to visit this quaint yet beautiful palace of King Ludwig II of Bavaria as a part of an Alpine tour by Collette along with some family members. The outer gardens contain numerous sculptures as well as a fountain that shoots up a large sprout of water every 30 minutes. Tours of the palace are done in groups and no photo/videography is allowed inside. Be also wary of European Hornet nests that are near the trails leading to the castle.

Linderhoff is a truly beautiful place. Ornate doesn't even begin to describe the interior, the tour is only about 30 minutes but fascinating and impressive. Plan on lots of walking and make sure you set aside plenty of time to explore the park as well. The gardens on each side of the palace and on the terraces are worth exploring, and the views of the surrounding mountains are always great. Sadly the grotto was closed when we visited.

This palace, though the smallest of Ludwig's three royal estates, is arguably the most intimate and personal, reflecting the king's unique tastes and his desire for solitude. The gardens are as impressive as the palace itself, if not more so. Designed in the style of the French formal gardens, they are a harmonious blend of nature and artistry. The central axis leads to the famous Neptune Fountain, which, when active, shoots water high into the air, creating a mesmerizing spectacle. The Venus Grotto, an artificial cave on the grounds, is one of the palace's most unique features. It was designed to fulfill Ludwig’s love of opera, specifically Wagner’s works, and was equipped with a wave machine and colored lighting to create different moods. Although artificial, the grotto is a magical, almost otherworldly place that highlights Ludwig's imaginative mind. Other highlights include the Moorish Kiosk and the Moroccan House, exotic structures that showcase Ludwig's fascination with the Orient. These pavilions are richly decorated and provide a stark contrast to the predominantly European style of the palace and gardens.

Beautiful palace built by King Ludwig. The 25 minute tour of the palace cost 10 Euro and was well worth the money! No photos could be taken inside. All of the furniture was original. There was lots of original art and wall and ceiling paintings. Most were original and some were touched up/restored. There is lots to see and the art and gardens reflect Versailles.

The Versailles of the Tirol. Within a marvellous park surrounded by mountains. The flowers garden and fountain ⛲ are a really amazing. Take the time to stroll all around the property to discover the other attractions. Possibility to book in advance on the official site.

Beautiful palace and gardens, the tickets for palace and gardens are only 10 euros for adults and children up to 16 go free. It worth a visit if you are in the area, the interior of the palace is luxurious and impressive and the gardens very well maintained. The fountain in front of the palace goes on every half an hour.

We had an amazing time visiting Linderhof palace. It is a beautiful Palace with a precious garden. I recommend going specially in the summer to be able to appreciate the best of it’s garden and also buying tickets in advance (in case you want to do the tour visit inside, that is totally worth doing in my opinion).

This villa is built in a beautiful landscape among the mountains. I went there in September as the snow was starting to collect between the slopes. Really in love, great for pleasant walks.

Had a chance to visit this quaint yet beautiful palace of King Ludwig II of Bavaria as a part of an Alpine tour by Collette along with some family members. The outer gardens contain numerous sculptures as well as a fountain that shoots up a large sprout of water every 30 minutes. Tours of the palace are done in groups and no photo/videography is allowed inside. Be also wary of European Hornet nests that are near the trails leading to the castle.

Linderhoff is a truly beautiful place. Ornate doesn't even begin to describe the interior, the tour is only about 30 minutes but fascinating and impressive. Plan on lots of walking and make sure you set aside plenty of time to explore the park as well. The gardens on each side of the palace and on the terraces are worth exploring, and the views of the surrounding mountains are always great. Sadly the grotto was closed when we visited.

It's easily my top pick for castle visits from this trip! I would go back even if nobody else wanted to go & the only one that I felt like the tour was really worth it. Our guide was our guide, and she was knowledgeable. No listening to a device with a canned message. Our English speaking tour was a small group and the tour was about 35min. We weren't rushed along & the guide was engaging with conversation- plus pointed out countless details & personal favorites. While this particular castle was on the small side, it had more character than the others & truly made my heart pitter patter. Add in the SPECTACULAR grounds & you have a winner. I'd love to come back whenever she's in bloom. Bookmarked!

Another really spectacular though smaller castle. This castle has a beautiful garden and fountain. It sits by itself in a beautiful space in Bavaria. The tour takes you through the 4 main rooms of the home. All incredibly decorated and overflowing with the kings desires. Tapestries, wood, chandeliers and wall paintings. All extravagances in one place. So much of the interior finishing come from all over the world. Beautiful peacock s and swans, music room with ancient instruments. A bedroom like no other. I handy heard of this castle before I came but I am glad I did. Also had a great time walking the grounds to see the fountain and statuary. They don't allow pictures or video on the tour.

This palace is absolutely GORGEOUS. It is unassuming from the outside, but the interior is the most lavishly and beautifully decorated palace I have seen. They don't allow photos inside, so you'll have to take my word for it. It is a very small palace, so there aren't many rooms to go through. You have to book a tour in advance to go inside. The palace grounds are beautiful too, with fountains, gardens, and an amazing view of the Alps.

We had a limited amount of time, so we opted out of the castle tour. I was more interested in the gardens surrounding the castle. The castle has mountains and forests that serve as a backdrop. It is so picturesque here. In front of the palace there is a large pool with a fountain's water jet that can rise up to 22 meters into the air. On either side of the castle are parterres- colorful. In between nestles the Neptune fountain. Behind it there is an cascading artificial waterfall and the music pavilion above. As we were making our way back, I noticed a vine covered pergola walkway. I'm glad we walked up as we were able to view the castle from atop. Words can't describe how beautiful this place is! I also liked that it wasn't too crowded.

Came during winter time and the drive out from Munich was beautiful with the snow covered trees. We took the tour of the inside of the palace that took about 30 min. No pictures are allowed inside. It's a short walk from the parking lot up to the palace so be aware if you are traveling with anyone that has mobility issues.

Schloss Linderhof in the Ammergau Alps is the smallest of King Ludwig II's three palaces he built (other two are Neuschwanstein Palace, a.k.a Cinderella Castle, and Herrenchiemsee Palace), and the only one that was completed during his lifetime. Linderhof is considered to be the favorite castle of the "fairy tale king," where he stayed by far the most frequently. The castle and the gardens are accessible to visitors once you enter the property and pay the parking fee (currently 2,50 € per passenger vehicle). There's a separate entrance fee for the castle tour which we didn't partake this time. It was built in several construction phases from 1870 to 1886 in the Neo-Rococo style. The small castle was built in place of the so-called "royal house" of his father Max II, which was moved in 1874 to a place about 200 m west of today's castle. From 1868 -- Ludwig II had been crowned four years earlier at the age of 18 -- the young king began with the first plans for several castles outside the troubled capital of Munich. His interest in medieval knight culture and Richard Wagner's musical legends first prompted designs for Neuschwanstein Castle, the construction of which began in 1869. In 1867 the king had started to familiarize himself with material culture at the courts of the absolutist kings of France Louis XIV, XV. and XVI. In this context, Ludwig II had ideas about building a palace in the Graswang Valley near the hunting lodge based on the model of the Palace of Versailles to build, which should be entirely under the sign of the French Bourbon kings. This project was initially called "Meicost-Ettal," which is an anagram of the quotation "L'État, c'est moi" (I am the state) attributed to Louis XIV. The area of ​​the narrow valley turned out to be too small for the planned palace construction, and so the palace was finally built from 1878 on the Herreninsel in the Chiemsee, the New Herrenchiemsee Palace. The palace grounds are beautiful with reflecting pool with golden statures with magnificent water fountain. Both in front and back of the palace are the tiered gardens with water fountains and flowing water cascades. Unfortunately, some of the structures are currently in repair/reconstruction, and we were unable to access behind the palace ground. There's also a Wagner-famed Venus Grotto you could visit, but it is also in repair until 2024 according to the sign. Too bad. It's a must visit when you are in Bavaria. Although it's a little trek from Munich, I believe you'll not regret it.

This place is actually pretty awesome. It was one of the three castles built by King Ludwig (third I think), though it is nowhere near as famous as some of his other palaces. Also, unlike the other ones, this one has been completed. It is supposed to be a cut down version of Versailles, except it really isn't namely because, well, the Hall of Mirrors is actually a hall of mirrors, which the more famous one in Versailles actually isn't (it looks as if he is trying to do one better). In fact, this one you should be able to look away into infinity because the mirrors literally surround you. The palace itself is nothing short of amazing, and is certainly well worth checking out.

This, in my opinion, is a palace and not really a castle. Just like Neuschwanstein. The place is freaking spectacular, built in the 1800's by Mad King Ludwig II. Unfortunately, they forbid picture taking while inside on the tour. However, I have found many interior pictures on line, and you should do that if interested...gold leaf and excessive artsy farts trim and details everywhere. The dining room has a large dining table that got lowered in the room below, where the servants would set it, often with place settings for imaginary guests of the king. Hmmm, wonder if the food got wasted? Then the table would get raised up to the dining room, and the king would not have to see the servants. Pretty odd. There were crazy detailed 3D castings of people coming out of the ceiling, viney branches, etc. The bedroom was on a raised platform area with a rail like in a courtroom to segregate the bed area from the rest of the room. As you continued thru the 1st floor, one room had mirrors on opposite walls and it was pretty cool he called it his infinity views. The effect was akin to the room going on forever... The formal gardens were impressive, English style gardens and fountains. On our visit, there were two craned in back of the palace, which took away from the pictures of the background setting, which again was spectacular. Definitely a photogenic spot. Another reason this is not exactly a castle is the location: it's not on a steep hillside, it is built on flat ground.

The late King Ludwig II had this palace built between 1874-1878. It is south of Munich, taking a little over an hour to get there. There were tour busses, so it's definitely a tourist destination, but not busy as the popular Neuschwanstein castle that even inspired Disney. We went on a rainy Tuesday. Traffic wasn't bad, but there were some delays due to construction. By the time we arrived, it started raining. Parking cost €2,50 for cars. From the parking lot, it's about a 5 minutes walk to the ticket box office, located next to the gift shop. Admission for the tour, grotto and hundings hut cost €8,50 for adults. From the box office it is about another 10 minute walk to the palace. The grounds are not disabled friendly. It started to rain quite heavy, so we decided to just take the 1:30 (English) tour, and skip the grotto or hut, even though it came with the ticket. While we waited for the tour to start, walked the grounds located around the tour entrance. Just as our tour began, the fountain outside the palace started shooting up water. I caught a little peek of the water show from the foyer of the palace. As in many historical place, Schloss Linderhof does not permit photographs inside the palace, but I did get one of just the foyer. King Ludwig was involved with the creation of this palace. He especially admired France's King Louis XIIIIV and the palace was French inspired, with his rooms filled with many gold ornate items and mirrors. He purchased rare stones for his chandeliers, his fireplace and even to decorate the mirrors. It's the smallest of the King's palaces, and no guests stayed here. Unlike the other 2 residents, Linderhof was the only resident he saw completed. The tour took about 20 minutes and just as we walked out, the fountain started up again. After the water show, we made our way back to the car, but stopping at the gift store to pick up postcards.

One of the finest castles I have ever seen anywhere, thus far. It's small but contains amazing detail and opulence. The gardens are amazing with grand fountains and beautiful landscapes. I have been here in winter and summer and the natural beauty of the surroundings is spectacular. I much prefer the winter as there is almost no one here and it's so peaceful. You have to see it to believe it. I find if very hard to describe and something you have to go and experience for yourself. Give yourself a couple of hours to walk around and enjoy the grandeur and serenity of the place.

Came here on our Globus tour. Another Ludwig disappointment. The Palace isn't very large .. I would have enjoyed the visit much more if allowed non flash photography. The coolest part of this was the grotto which was closed while we were there. I think it's ironic that this attempt to copy the Palace of Versailles doesn't allow photography when the real Versailles which is much larger and more impressive does. The grotto is the only thing that is special about this ... and like i said it was closed. So it was underwhelming .. compared to all the other impressive places we visited.

After visiting the Neuschwanstein castle, this creation seemed inferior, far inferior. I visited right before they closed, so I only took some outside photos. It is quaint and magical when there's snow, but the grand opulence is hidden, even when walking around on the outside.

Came here during a half day castle tour, and it looked like a very mini version of Schloss Schoensburg in Vienna, Austria. Ludwig II apparently wanted it modeled in the manner of the Palace of Versailles, so well done with that! It really was quite small in comparison to the few other palaces/castles that I've seen, but still quite beautiful. I wouldn't necessarily go out of your way to come here, but the grounds were nice, and my highlight was the dome-ceiling paintings in one particular room kind of bled out onto the sidewalls into a 3-D sculpture. I can't describe it any other way, so hopefully that makes sense :)

The tour guide was exceptional, much more knowledgeable that the young lady at Hohenschwangau. People compare this love palace to the castle of Neuschwanstein, which are built with two completely different design concepts. The Linderhof Schloß is heavily influenced by French artistry of Louis XIV since Ludwig II idolized him, but also includes traditional Bavarian art style. Definitely worth a stop to enjoy the work of master artisans of days gone by. Please remember to mind your manners and follow the simple rules and instructions, help preserve the site for future generations and don't be like the fools there that litter, touch everything and ignore simple instructions. Beware of the ticket counter lady with the long face and glasses, she is the reason for the 4 stars. Ultimate sour puss.

The castle itself is very beautiful. I visited it many years ago and remembered it as not so commercialized. The lady at the ticket booth was beyond unfriendly and yipped about us - being just another stupid tourist- to her coworker while we were standing at the window. Two tickets where 17 Euro. When my husband handed her our credit card she bluntly asked if it was just the two of us or if we would be planning to buy an additional ticket since we are trying to pay by card. Please note that we where the only ones in line. No other customer behind or beside us. We stated again that we needed two tickets. She smirked and asked us why we gave her the credit card then because she would only accept cash since the purchase is under 20Euro. She also made a comment about me speaking German and my husband speaking English with her. We should make up our minds in what language we would address her she said. I am fluent in German and made a comment to her about her rudeness. She just pretended not to hear me. What an awful first impression!!!! Shame on the management to even hire someone like that!!! The castle was under renovation when we visited it. There where 3 giant cranes hovering over the castle, the grotto was closed for renovation as well. The tour guide was friendly but rushed everyone through the rooms, leaving many important historical facts out. No non flash photography allowed in the castle. The castle grounds itself where beautiful but again most of the areas under renovation as well.

Holy Wow!!!! What a beautiful experience. It's another Ludwig construction. To the tourists benefit he did not design his houses to be cookie cutter model homes to a neighborhood. His most famous might be Neushwanstein castle. Linderhof is the only of his houses that he actually lived in and saw completed. It's spectacular. I don't want o give away the views because you have to see with your own eyes. It wouldn't be fair to influence a personal experience to someone who hopes to visit one day. It's our favorite of his houses, and I promise you won't be disappointed.

The best interiors of King Ludwig's homes. I went here with a tour group, so not really sure how easy it is to get to without the drivers. We went as a package deal with Neuschwanstein from Munich. Not as glamorous or convenient as Ludwig's other two castle's, but still an impressive site in Bavaria. The interior and grounds are git for a king and is worth a visit if you have time and it can be reached without too much hassle.

I liked Schloss Linderhof WAY better than Neuschwanstein - it's less crowded and I got much more out of the visit. The tour guides here are great - ours talked a lot about Ludwig II's life and personality and how it affected the construction of the castle. Linderhof is much smaller than Neuschwanstein - it was effectively built for the king alone. And he liked to be alone, so much so that he had a dining table that lowered into the basement kitchen to be fully set so he didn't have to see servants. The decor is absolutely lavish. You see much more (proportionately) of the castle than at Neuschwanstein. I hesitate to say that Ludwig II was "completely batshit" - but he did build a grotto with an artificial lake so he could be rowed around in a swan shaped boat. Linderhof is a great place to see what happens when you mix a ton of cash with a questionable mental state.

Tickets are sold away from the palace. Ludwig II's other castle/palace. The homage to Louis XV is everywhere. Once you get in, you'll see a bust of Louis front and center. The palace is very French. Baroque facade and Rococo motifs. There's a bit of German Rococo style on the exterior as well. The detailed figures of men with abs caught my attention. This is way smaller than his Neuschwanstein Castle. Don't miss the grotto. Photography isn't allowed inside the palace. But there are so many things on the outside you can take pictures of like the gardens and the Flora Fountain.

This is an absolutely gorgeous site to visit if you're in Germany. I don't know if it was because our tour went earlier in the day or if this palace isn't visited as frequently, but it was one of the less crowded attractions we saw. If you have the time, go on a sunny day and just walk around the grounds and take a million pictures. The tour of the castle is enjoyable but it's very short and they sort of rush you through the building. I don't think I really absorbed any information and the only thing I remember about the interior was that there was a lot of gold and a lot of embellishment. The amount of gold and embellishment is so overwhelming that you need to focus to see all of the details. The fountain does have a jet that shoots water up periodically. I have included a photo. I have also included photos of the grotto with the advice that you skip it. Seriously, look at those photos. There is nothing to see and you'll waste time going there. Especially if you're with a tour group and you're given a choice of whether you want to visit the grotto, just stay around the palace and take more photos. I'm really disappointed we didn't take that option and instead wasted time walking all the way to the grotto to see something less impressive than an attraction at Disney World. Do not go to the damn grotto.

This is the villa built for Ludwig II to live in, but the best part was the gardens. Give yourself a lot of time to walk around and experience this place. There is so much to see and very well maintained.

This is one of the best castles we visited. We did the tour inside and I was there when the fountain came on. I would say if you have one tour of a castle to choose from choose this one!

Don't let size fool you; this little castle packs a punch! Gorgeous grounds and interior is still incredibly well maintained. I remember coming here on one occassion and having our family being tended to by one tour guide. The Venus Grotto here far surpasses the grotto at Neuschwanstein. There is a complete man made lake that was built to illuminate in changing colors as Ludwig lounged in his gold swan boat. Totally amazing for that time period and incredible to visit today. But what's really impressive? How far that water shoots out in the fountain outside. Think Bellagio, but 1800s style. Stop by, you won't regret it.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. What a beautiful place. This being the only one of Ludwig II palaces that were ever completed during his lifetime, you really get a feel for what went on in that guys head. The infatuation with Luis XIV and Versailles, of German Fairy tales, and of royal privilege. What you don't realize at first is how small the palace is, only a handful of rooms on the main floor. There are no rooms for guests, and the servants areas are all hidden from view. Ludwig built the place to be alone. He didn't want to be reminded of the world outside his window. He would be shuttled around in either his fancy dress carriages or sleds, right out of a Cinderella fairytale. These you can see at Schloss Nympenburg in Münich. It really helps to complete the picture. I wish we were here later in the summer to enjoy the landscaping, but at least there was no snow. Do not miss the Venus Grotto tour. The fact that he tried to emulate the Blue Grotto in Capri (wiki it) And the fact that he liked to be rowed around the grotto pool in a swan-boat might give you a few clues at his "orientation" and why he never married. Well worth the drive from Füssen or Ruette. Be sure to but the German castle pass and save some Euros. We had a great tour guide and no teenagers on our tour. Yey! Truly an amazing place. This is why you came to Bavaria, right?

Probably one of the best of the famous "Königsschlösser". You will do a lot of walking, up and down fairly steep walks. Nothing anyone can't handle but beware. Extremely well kept, it provides several areas to visit apart from the main attraction. At Linderhof, take the time to see the famous water fountain that goes off every 30 minutes. Sadly, you cannot take pictures inside the main Schloss, but some people did take a picture of the extremely expensive ivory chandelier...its a keeper...worth over 90 million euros, or so they say. The grounds are worth exploring but come early and avoid the huge crowds that built after opening. There is a restaurant at the entrace and several gift shops that cater to each level of budgets. Also, at the end of the schloss tour, you'll conveniently end up at the gift shop inside. Do visit the Venus Grotto, you can take pictures there.

Wow!!!! Ludwig knew who to build an extraordinary castle... Small, but with plenty of detail to keep you amazed for quite some time...! The tour through the castle was fairly quick and very informative. Close to the Ettal Abbey so easy to combine in one visit to this part of Germany.

We only walked around this castle, a tribute to farmers... Ludwig's "country" estate. Overall, I couldn't believe the people of Bavaria would pay for extravagance in the late 1800's. The estate was a site to see and at least worth the trip if you're in the area. Not as much hiking as Neuschwanstein, but still impressive, just in a different way. Not sure if the inside was impressive, but based on the postcards I saw, I imagine it is just as elegant, if not more.

Looks small compared to other castles but wow! I recommend taking a full day to explore the palace and the grounds. The grotto is a hike but well worth it.

Nothing but amazing - Although one of the smallest of Ludwig's castles, it is equally impressive. The tour of the palace itself is guided tour at a designated time. The cost of the tour is quite reasonable. The number of languages that the tour is offered in is limited, so there is a binder for folks to follow along in their language that is given at the beginning of the tour. The tour guides are well informed. There are no photos or videos allowed in the place. The "Tischlein deck dich" speaks volumes to the lengths this king went to maintain his privacy. The surrounding land and gardens make up for the small size of the palace itself. The gardens and fountains were incredible. I was amazed at the size of the gardens and of the surrounding land. The Venus Grotto is a must see with lights and a wave machine - a technological feat for it's time. It is a bit of a walk from the palace to get there. Tours are offered every 30 minutes. As you go through, the guide will explain in German and repeat himself/herself in 3-4 different languages. The Moroccan house is very ostentatious for its size, but beautiful nonetheless. The Hunding Hut is a replica, reconstructed in 1990 since the original burned down.

Much smaller than what we would normally call a palace, this Is actually like a country villa. I have been in homes larger than this. Ornately designed, one can see the Versailles influence. The placement of the palace takes into account the mountains, water and sunrise/sunset so planning was well thought out. It had none of the earmarks of a defensible castle and we forget this by any standard is a modern structure. The tour for all intent ii is a waste of time but the only way to see the interior. The reflecting pool uses the lengthy grounds to give a feeling of grandeur. If not for the interior furnishings, this place could have actually been made "homey". I actually was more impressed by the interior here than Neuschwannstein. Worth the visit!

The interior of Linderhof Palace is far superior to that of Neuschwanstein. This one held nothing back. The extravagance in this place is ridiculous. How has it not collapsed from the weight of the gold?! In all seriousness though, it's incredibly impressive and will genuinely take your breath away. The surrounds are also incredibly beautiful and well worth a good look.

This place is small compared to other castles, but the grounds are wonderful and the palace is beautiful and interesting. It's very much worth your time to go visit this palace. Plan on spending 3 hours so you can enjoy the grounds and the different tours offered.

Of all the Konigsschlosser we visited, this was our favorite. It is the only one Ludwig II finished, and, as Karen says, " It packs a punch." It is the only one that I left from feeling satisfied. The rooms are beyond opulent--every square inch is covered with some embellishment. As in Herrenchiemsee, we see Ludwig's homage to the French autocrats he so admired. The Hall of Mirrors room is impressive as it reflects into eternity. Ludwig spent most of his last 8 years here. In addition to Linderhof Castle, there is a delightful fountain, grounds to stroll around, various and sundry little buildings like a chapel and Moroccan House, the Grotto based on Richard Wagner's opera Tannhauser, and terrific views of the surrounding mountains. There was some walking required to get to the castle and the Grotto, but everyone but the most feeble should be able to manage it. Of all the castles, this one has the warmest feeling to it, it is the most accessible, it was the least crowded with tourists, and we didn't feel as if we were being given the bum's rush to get out. The scenic drive out there along the banks of the Plansee was just astonishingly beautiful. The tour was done in English, but there were people in our group who spoke different languages, and our tour guide asked them if they wanted a tour guide book and how many in their languages--Italian, French, English, German, and others. Pretty impressive.

Schloss Linderhof is everything that's great and terrible about what's left of Germany's royal past. It's an incredible little house it's a bit of a stretch to call it a palace. It's beautiful and set in a beautiful environment with an incredible back-story (not much of a history though). The real problem is that it has been mostly neglected for 100 years. It's used as a cash cow by the Bavarian government, but they obviously put very little of it's earnings back into restoration work. Briefly, this is the back-story: Mad king Ludwig II built it in the mid-1800s, a few years before his dethroning and death. He spent a huge amount of money building a mini Palace of Versailles, complete with it's own hall (room) of mirrors. After his death it (and all of his other palaces) were immediately opened to the paying public. The public could sit in his throne, lie on his bed, whatever. Therefore, obviously a lot of it became very worn over time. That's pretty much the state of things now. You can no longer further ruin what is there, but seemingly nothing has been repaired after over 100 years of neglect. Linderhof is still very impressive, but it's also rather sad for the wrong reasons.

So, the only word of advice is to buy tickets at the bottome of the hill at the area with the restaurant and the WCs. Also, much to my amazement is the "kasse" which is reasonably well marked. I guess we just missed it. We walked to the castle and then up the hill to the Grotte to find out that you need to buy tickets at the bottom. It was 101 degrees (38.5 C) and we were pressed for time. Maybe someday I'll return. Beautiful grounds - could of had clearer markings for the ticket office.

Although small in comparison to Ludwig's other castles, this place was wonderful to visit. Beautiful grounds, very interesting palace and excellent tour. Highly recommend.