2023 See Schloss Herrenchiemsee Castle near Munich in Bavaria

Versailles-like Schloss Herrenchiemsee Castle on Herren Island in the Chiemsee Lake near Munich in Germany is an opulent fantasy palace built by Bavarian King Ludwig II.

See Schloss Herrenchiemsee Castle near Munich in Bavaira — Photo Guido Radig / Wikimedia Commons

Mad, or Fairy Tale, King Ludwig II of Bavaria, is famous for the three fantasy castles he erected in his kingdom during the nineteenth century. The most popular is the Disney-like, neo-Romanesque Schloss Neuschwanstein Castle, while the small Schloss Linderhof is the only palace he actually completed. However, the opulent Schloss Herrenchiemsee was intended to surpass all others. Herrenchiemsee was to be King Ludwig’s Versailles complete with a Hall of Mirrors longer than the original in France.

The Building of the Neues Schloss Herrenchiemsee

In 1873, Bavarian King Ludwig bought Herreninsel, the largest island in the Chiemsee Lake, with the explicit idea of erecting his new Versailles here. Georg Dollman mostly drew up the plans for a huge palace while Carl von Effner designed splendid Baroque gardens.

Construction started in 1878 but by the time of King Ludwig’s mysterious death in 1886, only twenty rooms were actually completed. These twenty rooms alone cost more than Ludwig’s other two follies – Schloss Neuschwanstein Castle and Schloss Linderhof Palace – combined.

Touring the Neues Schloss Herrenchiemsee Palace

The interior of the Neues Schloss (New Palace) Herrenchiemsee may only be seen on a guided tour. Highlights of the tour include the monumental staircase inspired by the Duke’s Palace in Venice and the Great Hall of Mirrors, which at 98 m (322 ft) is actually slightly longer than the original at Versailles.

King Ludwig was somewhat eccentric: he valued his privacy to the extent that he had his dining table hoisted — fully decked — from a floor below so he could eat without servants hovering about. His desire for privacy did not prevent the construction of a state bed chamber like the one the French Sun King Louis XIV had used for going to bed in a public ceremony. Although Ludwig was a tall man, the bed measuring 2.6 by 3 m (8.5 by 9.8 ft) in the state bed chamber is a bit massive.

It is easy to see why the building of this palace bankrupted the king – no surface was left ungilded or unadorned. The Meissen porcelain used in the construction of the elaborate candelabras was one-offs – the king insisted on all molds being broken to ensure that no copies could be made.

King Ludwig II Museum at Schloss Herrenchiemsee

The König Ludwig II.-Museum is in the south wing of Schloss Herrenchiemsee Palace. It is seen without a tour and a good place to wait for the commencement of the guided tour of the palace itself. (The palace café with outdoor terrace in summer is not a bad choice for lingering in either.)

The museum has numerous displays and furniture related to the life of King Ludwig II, his fantasies, opera sets, as well as his friendship with composer Richard Wagner. He is often referred to in English as “Mad King Ludwig” although in German his romantic notions made the title “Fairy Tale King” (Märchenkönig) more popular.

Note the displays related to the planned Burg Falkenstein Castle – it would have made even Schloss Neuschwanstein look unambitious.

Despite its island location, good transportation links and long opening hours make Schloss Herrenchiemsee Palace easy to visit on day trips from Munich (München), Berchtesgaden, and Salzburg. Tickets are mostly sold on-site but a limited number of tickets are also offered online. Day-trip excursion tours are also available from Munich.

More on King Ludwig’s Castles and Palaces

The three fantasy castles of King Ludwig are all near Munich and are popular day trips whether on bus tours, driving, or using public transportation. Schloss Neuschwanstein and Schloss Linderhof are to the southwest and may be seen on the same day when driving or on tours. Schloss Herrencheimsee is to the southeast and also a good stopover en route to Salzburg.

Savings Deals in Bavaria:

Schloss Neuschwanstein and Schloss Hohenschwangau:

Schloss Linderhof:

Schloss Herrenchiemsee: