During our time in London we planned to do some travel in Europe and teach the girls history and geography as we go. We are now in Bavaria and learning about the classical revival in Germany during the 19th century. John and I are learning medieval history as we go and teaching the girls as we explore the castles together. King Ludwig I (1786-1868) built many Greek Revival buildings in Munich. The most outrageous building projects culminated during the reign of "Mad King Ludwig II" who died under mysterious circumstances in 1886. Despite his strange political and personal alliances, King Ludwig II was a great patron of the arts. He supported the work of Richard Wagner.
Ludwig II became king in 1864. Two years later he was forced to accept thedefeat of his country by Prussia. Since he was no longer sovereign ruler, he was unable to cope with being a constitutional monarch so he created his own alternative world where he coud live like a king of the Middle Ages. This is the idea behind his opulent castles.
King Ludwig II built three castles - Neuschwanstein, Linderhof and Herrenchiemsee. In 1868, after a visit to the great castle of Wartburg, Ludwig wrote to his good friend, composer Richard Wagner: "I have the intention to rebuild the ancient castle ruins of Hohenschwangau in the the true style of the ancient German knight's castle." The following year, construction began on Neuschwanstein castle. But construction stopped with Ludwig's mysterious death in 1886, only 5 days after he was deposed because of alleged insanity.
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