Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
&
Grotto
Going between
the living room and study,
visitors pass through a
grotto, where a small
waterfall flowed during
the king's lifetime
(left)
.
The larger Venus grotto,
complete with an artificial
lake, is located in the
park of Linderhof Castle
(see p30)
.
(
Winter Garden
Adjoining the grotto,
the winter garden affords
a spectacular view of
Allgäu
(above)
through a
large window.
)
Hohenschwangau
Ludwig spent part
of his childhood and
youth in this summer
palace, which is located
in wildly romantic
scenery. His father,
Maximilian II, restored
the palace fully in 1832.
Hohenschwangau's coat
of arms bears a swan -
later often depicted as
Lohengrin's swan, which
is a constantly recurring
motif throughout
Neuschwanstein.
^
Minstrel's Room
*
Dining Room
New Technology
in an Old Castle
Despite the medieval
ambience, Neuschwan-
stein is full of high-tech
features from its era.
The dining room was
equipped with a serving
hatch and elevator that
went up three floors.
The kitchen had warm
running water and
automatic roasting
spits. Forced-air central
heating kept the rooms
warm. Toilets were fitted
with an automatic flush
mechanism. An electric
intercom was used to
communicate with ser-
vants, and the second
and third floors were
linked by a telephone.
Influenced by the cer-
emonial hall of the Wart-
burg in Eisenach, this is
the castle's largest room.
The walls are decorated
with scenes from the
legend of Parzival and
his quest for the Holy
Grail
(below)
.
Dishes were trans-
ported in an elevator
from the kitchen three
stories below to the
dining room, where the
shy king took most of his
meals on his own. Murals
depict the tradition of the
minstrel's song.
29
To the left of Pöllat Gorge stood the ruins of two small castles.
Ludwig II had Neuschwanstein built on the site of these ruins.
