Linderhof Palace

Linderhof Palace is the smallest and most intimate of King Ludwig II's three palaces, and the only one he lived to see finished — he spent several weeks here each autumn between 1874 and 1885, living in splendid isolation. The palace is a concentrated dose of Rococo extravagance: the Hall of Mirrors with its gilded stucco and crystal chandeliers, the Tapestry Rooms hung with woven scenes of elegant court life, the Dining Room equipped with a disappearing table that allowed servants to set and clear meals from the floor below without disturbing the king, and the opulent State Bedchamber raised on a dais behind a gilded balustrade. The surrounding park is as theatrical as the interior, designed as a series of outdoor rooms: the Neptune Fountain cascades down a marble staircase, the Moroccan House (a gift from the Sultan of Morocco) sits in a meadow, the Venus Grotto is an artificial cave with a painted backdrop of Tannhäuser's Venusberg and a wave machine, and the Moorish Kiosk features a peacock throne. The palace lies in the Graswang valley near the Ettal Abbey and the village of Oberammergau, famous for its Passion Play and Lüftlmalerei frescoed houses. Linderhof is accessible by car via the B23 from Garmisch-Partenkirchen (40 minutes) or by bus from Oberammergau in summer.