Linderhof Palace
Ludwig's only completed palace
Photo: LBM1948 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Linderhof Palace in the Graswang valley is the smallest of King Ludwig II's three palaces and the only one whose construction he saw completed in his lifetime. The lavish pleasure palace, inspired by Versailles, is surrounded by an extensive park with water features. Especially famous is the artificial Venus Grotto in the palace park.
Highlights
- The only palace completed in Ludwig's lifetime
- Lavish interior inspired by Versailles
- Palace park with water features
- Artificial Venus Grotto
Good to know
| Builder | King Ludwig II |
| Special feature | the only completed of his palaces |
| Park | Water features, Venus Grotto |
| Location | Graswang valley near Ettal |
Practical info
Getting there: By car via Ettal/Oberammergau; bus from Oberammergau/Garmisch.
Best time: Year-round; park and water features in summer (Venus Grotto partly under renovation, please verify).
Cost: Interior visit with a ticket, payable (please verify).
Safety: Uncomplicated; park paths partly steep.
Tips:
- Combine with Ettal Abbey and Oberammergau into one day
- Check the current opening of the Venus Grotto in advance
Background & History
Linderhof Palace in the Ammergau Alps is the smallest of the three castles that the Bavarian King Ludwig II had built, and at the same time the only one that he saw completed in his lifetime. Built between 1870 and 1886, it reflects the king's infatuation with France and the absolutist monarchy of Louis XIV, whose Sun King's reign he revered. In lavish neo-Rococo the interiors gleam with mirrors, gold and precious fabrics, and although intended as a private retreat, even here the splendid audience hall is not missing.
The real magic of Linderhof, however, lies in the park, which surrounds the palace with French flowerbeds, Italian-style terraces, cascades and fountains. Hidden in the forest lies the artificial Venus Grotto, an artificially created stalactite cave with an underground lake and coloured lighting, in which Ludwig, in a shell-shaped boat, re-experienced the stage world of Wagner's opera Tannhäuser. Added to this are exotic buildings such as the Moorish Kiosk with its peacock throne. Thus Linderhof became the built dream of a king who lost himself in a world of his own made of art, fairy tale and solitude.
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