The German Royal Family Built These Castles with a Curious History -

The palace grounds are surrounded with wild blooms

The year is 1664 and the Bavarian prince-electoral Ferdinand Maria and his wife Henriette Adelaide of Savoy welcome their son Maximilian II Emanuel to the royal family. To celebrate the birth of their son, the would-be king built his bride the Nymphenburg Palace, a summer retreat surround by hectares of gardens, hundreds of bedrooms, fine décor and art.

Home is Where They Hunt

The Nymphenburg Palace (also known as the “Castle of the Nymph”) is a Baroque-style palace located at Munich, the largest city and once-capital of the Bavarian states. Completed in 1675, the palace was home to members of the German royal family from the House of Wittelsbach. Today, Franz the Duke of Bavaria, occupies the palace as Head of the House making use of it as his chancery.

Designed by Italian architect Agostino Barelli, the palace has been renovated through the years utilizing mostly limestone from Kelheim. Summers in the palace were spent hunting on grounds covering over 200 hectares. The king and his wife had a fondness for the sport, and often invited friends for weeklong hunting sessions. Pumping Stations built in the early 1800s are still used to operate the water fountains and falls surrounding the property. Other structures apart from the main palace include hunting lodges, stables, chapels, and porcelain factory and several pavilions.

Frescoes on the ceiling of the Stone Hall
Frescoes on the ceiling of the Stone Hall
The author of the Nymphenburg Palace
The author of the Nymphenburg Palace
Statues inspired by Greek mythology
Statues inspired by Greek mythology

Gold Décor Surrounded by Frescoes

Bavarian kings like Max I Joseph and his grandson Ludwig II were born within the palace walls. The central pavilion, known as the Stone Hall, functions as an entrance hall and stands three-storeys high. It is filled with gold décor by Francois de Cuvilles and surrounded by hand-painted frescoes by Johann Baptist Zimmermann and F. Zimmermann. Frescos in the hall portray scene of the titan Helios on his chariot, surrounded by other Greek gods.

Beauties in the King’s Gallery

On both sides of the main pavilions are wood paneled anti-chambers connecting the northern and southern wings of the palace. The Southern Pavilion is also known as the Gallery of Beauties by King Ludwig I. It is a gallery that features the portraits of 36 women whom the king deemed as the most beautiful in the land. The king’s selection was not based on social stature. Instead, it focused on attributes the ruler deemed as appealing to his eyes.

Court painter Joseph Karl Stieler was commissioned to paint all 36 portraits. Dark hair and deep-set eyes were traits that the royal found particularly attractive. One of the most notable portraits was that of 15-year-old Helene Sedlmayr. A shoemaker’s daughter, Helene sold toys on the palace grounds. The king was said to be fond of her childlike charm. She later married the king’s valet.

Another notable figure in the gallery was that of the infamous courtesan Lola Montez. An actress of Irish decent, she pretended to be a famous Spanish dancer in court and was said to be King Ludwig I’s mistress. She used her influence over the King to gain the royal title of Countess of Landsfeld. It was not long before she lost the king’s affections. She was remembered for her bad temperament and was disliked in Bavaria for her strong opinions against Jesuit conservatives. She was exiled at the start of the 1848 Revolution and died at the young age of 39. Historians say that Montez is the only woman on the wall of great beauties who had romantic relations with the king.

The queen's private space is decorated using French furniture
The queen’s private space is decorated using French furniture
The Gallery of Beauties located at the palace's south pavilion
The Gallery of Beauties located at the palace’s south pavilion
Gold trim by François de Cuvilles adorn the palace walls
Gold trim by François de Cuvilles adorn the palace walls

The Queen’s Personal Space

The south wing is where the Queen Caroline first took residence. Wife to King Maximilian I Joseph, Queen Caroline was Bavaria’s first Queen Consort. She preferred an elegant space that was functional. The chamber houses mahogany furniture upholstered with green velvet with gold prints. The bedroom has remained untouched despite it being lived in by other monarchs over the centuries. It is a space that continues to reflect the matriarch’s contemporary tastes, with décor custom made by French artisans.

Two generations later, Queen Marie of Prussa, wife of King Maximilian II took residence in the palace. She took Caroline’s room as her private chamber. She later gave birth to her two sons, Prince Otto and King Ludwig II, in the very same space.

A view of the Neuschwanstein Castle from the man-made bridge in the woods
A view of the Neuschwanstein Castle from the man-made bridge in the woods

A Castle for Sleeping Beauty

King Ludwig II was crowned in his adolescent years and took an interesting in building palaces all over Bavaria. The Neuschwanstein Castle, found near the German-Swiss border, was one of the most famed structures constructed under his reign. Intended to become the countryside residence of the young King Ludwig II, the 19th century Romanesque Revival castle is said to be Walt Disney’s inspiration for the animated classic Sleeping Beauty.

The palace is an ode to the forgotten beauty of the Middle Ages, constructed in the likeness of 11th Century castles. It features several courtyards, watchtowers and white-brick exteriors. The hillside village of Hohenschqangau was the chosen location, nearby his parents’ summer home. The king’s fascination for the period was piqued after coming across several works of German composer Richard Wagner. Romanticized versions of German legends resonated with the young ruler who soon commissioned stage set designer Christian Jank to illustrate his vision for the palace. Architect Eduard Riedel executed plans for the property. Construction began on the 5th of September in 1869 but unfortunately never reached its full completion. Originals plans were drafted for 200 rooms but only 15 rooms were completed.

A view of the Hohenschwangua village from the palace
A view of the Hohenschwangua village from the palace
Watch towers surrounding the structure
Watch towers surrounding the structure

Hidden Electric Bells, Telephone Lines and Vents

The unfinished throne room is modeled after the Court of Church of All Saints (the Allerheiligen-Hofkirche) located in the Munich Residenz. Floors are patterned like a tile mosaic with illustrations of exotic animals like camels, lions and peacocks. Images of Jesus, the 12 apostles and six canonized kings are painted on the walls. Overhead hangs a large chandelier fashioned after a Byzantine crown made of solid gold.

The King’s private chambers and stateroom are found on the upper levels. His fascination for old, classical design also extended to modern technology. Beneath murals, Romanesque revival interiors are electric bells and telephone lines installed for efficient communication between with household staff. Swan figures filled the chamber of King Ludwig II. The decorative elements also functioned as vents from a centralized heating system to warm him during the cold German winters.

Ludwig’s Magnum Opus

The Hall of Singers is the largest room in the palace and was intended to serve as the ballroom and concert hall. It was built to enhance acoustic sounds. Murals in the hall depict images from Wagner’s opera performances. The grand chamber, although equipped for holding large banquets and performances, was never utilized during the king’s life in the palace. It was only used in 1933 when the hall opened for a commemorative show celebrating the life of Richard Wagner.

The courtyard leading to the palace's main entrance
The courtyard leading to the palace’s main entrance
One of the 15 completed rooms in the palace is King Ludwig II's drawing room
One of the 15 completed rooms in the palace is King Ludwig II’s drawing room
King Ludwig II's private chamber
King Ludwig II’s private chamber
A Byzantine-inspired chandelier hangs in the throne room
A Byzantine-inspired chandelier hangs in the throne room
The unfinished throne room is decorated with religious paintings
The unfinished throne room is decorated with religious paintings

The Mysterious Death of King Ludwig II

King Ludwig II lived in Neuschwanstein Castle a total of 172 days. Immediately after his coronation, construction of the castle began, taking a toll on his fortune. Not too long after, he was borrowing money from kin to sustain an extravagant lifestyle and the palace he was building. Those close to him later declared that he had gone insane and committed him to an asylum. Days later, his body was found in a river. Others speculate that he was assassinated while there are those who concluded that his madness and loneliness drove him to commit suicide.  He was 41 when he passed in the year 1886 and with no clear explanation of his death.

Despite the castle not being complete and the curious death of its builder, it is one of the most visited historical sights in Germany. Trams and horse-drawn carriages are available for easier access to the hilltop marvel. The option to go on a 20-minute hike through the Bavarian woods is also available.

Text and photography by Chino R. Hernandez 

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