Once upon a time, there was a handsome king. To his subjects he appeared tall and dignified, but at heart, he was a shy person who preferred to hide away in the fantasy palaces of his creation. There he would read his favourite poetry and listen to his favourite music, deep into the night. Often-times he required his servants to cover their faces in his presence, and usually, he liked to eat alone, occasionally sharing his meals with his favourite horse.
Storybooks do love a dotty king, and this monarch was certainly that. Storybooks also love a happily-ever-after ending, which this story doesn’t have. For one day this king, having been declared insane by his government and put under house arrest, was found floating face down in shallow waters, in a baffling – and not particularly storybook – ending.
Yes, the story of Bavaria’s King Ludwig II is an odd one, particularly as his short life – he was just 41 when he met his end in 1886 – left a legacy of spectacular castles and palaces, one of which regularly marches onto the front covers of magazines all over the world. That castle is Neuschwanstein, a salvo of turrets and towers perched atop a rock in the foothills of the Alps, and the inspiration for the Sleeping Beauty Castle of Walt Disney fame. Even if you don’t know its name, you have probably seen it in photographs.
This story is from the June/July 2022 - Issue 221 edition of Wanderlust Travel Magazine.
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This story is from the June/July 2022 - Issue 221 edition of Wanderlust Travel Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Vermont, USA
The Wanderlust team relocated to New England for part of this issue, as we explored a lush state filled with outdoor escapes, historic towns... and lashings of maple syrup
Unique North America
See a side to the USA and Canada beyond the big cities and discover incredible stories and special wildlife with our pick of the trips
The call of the Rockies
From historic ski lodges to rustic backcountry cabins and a mock-Scottish castle, we pick the stays in Canada's Rocky Mountains that make the most of their setting
A new dawn for the Garifuna community
When the Garifuna people settled in Belize, they had to carry their traditions and culture with them; now a new trail is inviting visitors to explore this heritage through local communities
On the edge of history
In south-west Colorado lies the largest archaeological preserve in the USA, a series of vast cliff dwellings whose residents 'vanished' overnight. But was the answer to their disappearance in plain sight?
Tigers burning bright
As India celebrates 50 years of its Project Tiger conservation scheme, we visit the reserves of Madhya Pradesh to see how its success has impacted a tiger population that once looked in danger of disappearing
SEASON'S GREETINGS
From fiery fall foliage to art fairs and harvest festivals, opens up a wealth of across the USA and Canada autumn experiences
Waking a sleeping GIANT
A slow drive along the North Wales Way, from the English border to Anglesey, reveals not only a land of incredible local food and castles, but a region that is slowly reimagining itself
The rebirth of old JEDDAH
As efforts to restore Al-Balad, Jeddah's historical district, take hold, we get an exclusive peek at how art and culture are taking centre stage
Star-studded escapes
Wilderness, history and wildlife combine at some of Britain's most iconic stargazing sites, as more and more travellers are looking to the heavens
