Was he crazy, detached, strong-headed, or some combination thereof? 125 years later it's hard to tell, and it doesn't really matter. I always enjoyed his story, though, as well as his castles. Not too long ago I (finally) won an eBay auction for a coin with his picture on it.
Update, 6/15/11: Here is the Wikipedia entry for Ludwig II, which contains several pictures of both him and his castles. And here's a scan of the coin I mentioned above:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCQ4I5nz5SlwrQjP-Cykd2nyvtINV6PlYayTDjLxZ3argupPQclwUjLlzIggzaU66h1dQQ-naFlF8AgkBunj_7zId94f-UpW4aoFOVWW3bqYg5akQpUrtS0oNwaw7bwebNbxelQ/s320/Ludwig+II+Coin+5+Mark.jpg)
The sheer spectacle of the castles as monumental works of art make them so memorable.
ReplyDeleteLudwig's motivations are so enigmatic and romantic--we are likely to never know exactly who he was, or why he drowned.
Wow, do we have something in common. While stationed in Germany, I made it a point to tour all of Mad King Ludwig's castles. I was taken by his life and times. Read numerous books about him, have a shot glass, a wine glass, and a VERY expensive bier stein which commemorate the gentleman.
ReplyDeleteThe Venus Grotto was one of my favorite parts of all the castles. That and his bed at Neuschwanstein. A bed that took fourteen master woodcarvers four years to create is something to behold.
@Steve: Yes, that bed was something to behold. It took so long to build, and yet was slept in only a few times, by one person! (Same thing with the Venus grottos.)
ReplyDeleteAh, useless, wild romanticism of it all!