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Top 10 Intriguing Facts about Herrenchiemsee Palace and Park

Aerial image of the New Palace Herrenchiemsee Photo by Carsten Steger –

Herrenchiemsee is a complex of royal buildings on Herreninsel, which is the largest island in Chiemsee lake. King Ludwig II of Bavaria used the leftover building on the island for his private use, he later named the complex “Old Palace” he stayed there and surveyed the construction of the now Herrenchiemsee Palace. 

Construction of the palace started on May 1878, Ludwig regularly supervised the building progress but it was created by Georg Von Dollman. After the building was done, it wasn’t designed to host a thousand-headed royal household.

In 1885, all the rooms were richly decorated and covered by beautiful canvasses. However, when the king died in 1886, all the construction was stopped but it was opened to the public. 

All in all, the palace was built to fit the high standards the king deserved, with the greatest architect working on the palace. It now stands as a monument of Ludwig’s admiration. 

The King was a great admirer of Sun King Louis XIV which in turn made the Herrenchiemsee palace look exactly like the Palace of Â鶹APP. 

In 1923, Crown prince Rupprecht ceded the palace to the state of Bavaria.

1. Prestige Architechture

The Neues Schloss in May of 2005 Photo by Werner Hölzl –

The palace was shaped in a ‘W’ with wings flaking the central edifice. The ground floor has only 16-70 rooms and when the king died, the construction of 50 of the 70 rooms remain incomplete.

The palace was meant to be equivalent to the Palace of Â鶹APP but it turned out to be the exact replica of the French royal palace. Like Â鶹APP, it has a hall of mirrors, a hall of peace, and a hall of war with six windows each.

The palace has toilets, water, and central heating making it more modern that the Â鶹APP Palace.

The palace was not designed to become a seat of government but a private resident thus the keen observation the King had while it was being built.

2. Inaccessible Location

The palace was built in the middle of the forest on a more or less remote lake island which was only accessible by boat.  Its location makes it less appealing, it has been perched right upon the blasted away tip of a steep rock.

However, its location makes it possible for tourists to go to more than one site. Being that Linderhof is located in the same direction and not far from Neuschwanstein.

After a couple of modifications and planning, visitors can now access the site by boat and during the summer they can take a horse carriage ride from the pier to the Palace.

3. It’s Used As A Museum

Dvorac Herrenchiemsee – vodoskoci sa sjeveroistoka.jpg Photo by Silverije –

The palace highlights its medieval origins and houses an Augustinian Monastery that dates back to 1645. It has several art galleries with work by famous Bavarian painters from the 19th century until the 20th century.

4. The Famous Gardens

Herrenchiemsee Schlosspark.JPG Photo by Bbb –

The formal garden is filled with fountains and statues in both the classical style of the gardens of Â鶹APP. The work on the gardens started in 1882 which was four years after the palace foundation was laid, the work was carried out under great pressure and directed by Carl Von Effner from 1875 onward. 

The gardens have statues of Fama and Fortuna to highlight the mythological effect, the Grand Canal which is in front of the mirror surface where an Apollo fountain was meant to be. 

By the time the king died everything was done except the Apollo fountain and the boat landing stage remain uncompleted. 

5. Guided Tours

Herrenchiemsee Neues Schloss Ost Auffahrtsallee.jpg Photo by Isiwal –

The tour lasts 35 minutes and the tourists are able to visit every room while learning the story of the palace came to be. The tour guides take the tourists to every inch of the palace even the unfinished rooms.

From the month of May to October, water games can be admired in the palace gardens. The tour also reveals the interesting history of Ludwig II from birth to his tragic death. With busts, portraits, historical photographs, furniture, and original examples of his memorable dress.

6. Striking Features

Schloss Herrenchiemsee Parkseite Westen.jpg Photo by Guido Radig –

The monumental marble staircase under a room constructed of iron and glass is the one feature all tourists adore about the palace. However, that’s not all, the king had commissioned special systems for heating both water and the interior rooms. 

The king’s dining table was operated mechanically and could be lowered to his delight, this enabled him to each without being served. It was named “Tischlein- deck-dich” which means wishing table. It was inspired by a Grimm Fairytale.

7. The King’s Projects

Not only was the king strong in building projects, but he also had inventions that remain in the palace. For example, his flying machine was meant to take him over Lake Alpsee. 

He also has a royal sleigh which was the first vehicle in the world to have a battery-powered light bulb. However, it was taken to the Marstall museum where it is now on display.

During the tour, it is mentioned that the King had a musical history and was the patron of composer Richard Wagner, the museum has portraits, documents, model theatres, and set designs that support the theory.

8. Intriguing ground floor rooms

10. Day trip choice of a tour