Herrenchiemsee Palace

Herrenchiemsee Palace was King Ludwig II of Bavaria's most ambitious project, conceived as a complete replica of the Palace of Versailles on the Herreninsel, the largest island in Lake Chiemsee. Construction began in 1878, and only the central wing was completed before Ludwig's mysterious death in 1886, yet even unfinished it is breathtaking. The Hall of Mirrors is actually longer than the original at Versailles — 98 metres of glittering crystal chandeliers, gilded stucco, and mirrored arches. The State Bedchamber follows strict French court ritual with a gilded balustrade for courtiers to watch the king rise, while the formal gardens replicate André Le Nôtre's symmetrical parterre layout with fountains and sculptures. Getting to the palace is a highlight in itself: a 20-minute passenger ferry from Prien am Chiemsee crosses the lake to the Herreninsel, followed by a pleasant 15-minute walk or horse-drawn carriage ride through forest to the palace. The island also holds the Augustinian monastery (now a museum on Ludwig's life and the history of the island) and a restaurant. Herrenchiemsee is best visited in summer when the gardens are in bloom and the boat schedule is most frequent. Reach Prien by direct train from Munich Hauptbahnhof in under one hour.