Linderhof

Linderhof Palace and gardens a few kilometres from Oberammergau was built for King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Like his other two castles it has a romantic and dreamlike quality and is said to be the King's favourite.

King Ludwig was fascinated by the mystical world of the Orient, the romantic age of chivalry and above all the splendour of the Bourbon court. At Linderhof he set out to recreate the palace and gardens of Versailles, the magnificent residence of the Sun King, Louis XIV.

The building developed around the forester's house, the ‘Alpine Hut' that belonged to his father Maximilian II and used by the king when, as crown prince, he accompanied his father on hunting trips. The palace took only four years to build as Ludwig wanted it finished as quickly as possible. Technicians were brought in to speed up the transportation of building materials and at times as many as 180 people were working on the site. Even the growth of the park trees was accelerated by means of extra fertilization - provided by some 100 cartloads of cow manure a year.

With its Baroque parterres, Renaissance-style terraces and English landscape-park to say nothing of inspiration from French and Spanish gardens Linderhof is one of the finest examples of the mixed-style garden.

Ludwig II had a profound influence on life in the Ammergau Alps and Linderhof Palace and its gardens is an impressive example.