Ludwig’s Bavaria

Was Ludwig II, the ‘mad’ king of Bavaria, actually insane? It’s furiously debated in the world of academia, but to the layperson it’s pretty clear that he was a couple of slices short of a full loaf.

A testament to Ludwig’s eccentricities are his fantastical castles, dotted around the lush Bavarian countryside and giving the whole area an fairy-tale quality. In many ways he was the nineteenth-century’s Michael Jackson - socially recluse and almost childlike in his innocence, ploughing all of his fortunes into building a series of Neverland Ranch-style retreats. He was also a patron of music, spending vast amounts of money to launch Wagner’s career as one of the most iconic composers of the era.

Somewhat ironically, while Ludwig’s flights of fancy crippled the economy of the state back in the day the castles are now Bavaria’s biggest tourism asset. This is not surprising, really, given that the castles themselves are completely and utterly awesome. A trip to Bavaria is always a delight - friendly folk and blissful scenery - and made all the more special with a visit to one or all of Ludwig’s five main palaces. They’re all unique in style and really, really over the top - these are the most extravagant castles in Europe (open to public perusal, at least) and well worth checking out. In particular, Neuschwanstein is especially astonishing… so much so, it inspired Walt Disney in his works.

Fantasy aside, Bavaria is also home to some of the best beer in Europe (strictly brewed under what is known as the Reinheitsgebot, a purity law decreeing that only water, barley and hops can be used in its production). If you’re planning on visiting the castles and surrounding countryside, try to time it with the Oktoberfest in Munich - it’s the world’s largest beer festival and an absolute haven for German culture, though we can’t guarantee you’ll remember much about it afterwards! For lodgings, we’re fond of the family-run Hotel Hanselewirt which is central to all of the above. You can even see Neuschwanstein castle from some of the rooms.