In the Footsteps of King Ludwig
Neuschwanstein Castle
Kaffee und Kuchen (Coffee and Cakes)
Lakes, Gorges and Mountains
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Walk in the footsteps of Bavaria's eccentric King Ludwig to Neuschwanstein Castle. Also known as the Koenig Ludwig Weg or King Ludwig’s Way, this walk links the site of his death at Berg, with his finest legacy, the eccentric Neuschwanstein Castle; the model for Disney Land and well known from the film Chitty Bang-Bang! The eccentric Ludwig II succeeded to the throne of the then independent kingdom of Bavaria in 1864, as a youth of 18. On 13 June 1886 he and his physician Dr Godden were found dead in the water of the Starnbergersee (Lake Starnberg); the question still remains - was he murdered? He was a strong swimmer and a post-mortem established that he did not drown. But no one has succeeded in unraveling the mystery. The Koenig Ludwig Weg starts at the Votivkapelle (shrine), which marks the actual spot on the lakeshore (near the hamlet of Berg) where the bodies were found. The route ends 60 miles away near Ludwig's own fairy tale castle at Neuschwanstein.
This walk, which is one of the favourite longer walks in Germany, links places particularly dear to King Ludwig who was himself a keen walker. It is not a mountain walk, although there are a few steep hills, it is more a cultural journey and much of the route is on farm tracks and quiet country lanes, but the surroundings are rural and delightful, showcasing some fine landscapes and and Baroque churches and monasteries. There are a host of splendid buildings to admire in magnificent settings and plentiful opportunities to stop for refreshments! The walk misses out an official section around the Ammerssee, where we use a ferry to shorten the walk.
The plains surrounding Munich give way to gentle rolling hills that become ever higher as one approaches the great wall of limestone that marks the start of the Alps proper. The route passes two of Bavaria's most scenic lakes and through charming villages of geranium bedecked chalets with typical onion shaped church spires. There are masterpieces of baroque architecture, the Andechs monastery, the wonderful cathedral of Diessen on the Ammersee Lake; the monasteries of Wessobrunn and Rottenbuch, as well as the Wies or 'Meadow' church are on the route. The highest point (988m) on the walk is the summit of Hohenpeissenberg hill, considered by many to be the finest viewpoint in Bavaria. We end our tour at King Ludwig II’s most famous architectural masterpiece- the castle Neuschwanstein and at the nearby castle Hohenschwangau, both in Allgau on the Austrian border, where Ludwig spent most of his childhood. To celebrate the 150th anniversary of King Ludwig II (in 1995), the route was extended to begin at the Votivkapelle in Berg. It is a popular walk so early booking is recommended.
Make your own way to Starnberg. This small wealthy resort town is attractively situated by the Starnbergersee (Lake Starnberg), with views up the lake to the distant Alps. Those arriving early can take a boat trip to Leoni on the first afternoon and walk the first 7 km/4 miles of King Ludwig's Way back along the lakeshore via Berg to Starnberg. At Berg a chapel overlooks the point with a cross in the lake where the then deposed King Ludwig was found dead with his doctor, both mysteriously murdered together in June 1886. They did not drown, as the autopsy revealed no water in their lungs.
Accommodation: A modern 3* hotel located only a couple of minutes from the scenic promenade of Lake Starnberg. The cosy rooms are all ensuite, with either lake or town views. Great breakfasts and there is an Italian styled restaurant attached to the hotel if you don't want to wander far for dinner.
On occasions such as the annual Munich Oktoberfest (from mid September to early October), accommodation in Starnberg may be fully booked well in advance, but in this case we may be able to provide alternative hotel accommodation in the delightful lakeside village of Leoni, which is only 1 km from the start of King Ludwig’s Way at Berg. Leoni has a ferry service from Starnberg, so it is possible to reach; however if the ferry is not operating you will need to take a taxi from the S-Bahn station in Starnberg for the 7 km/4 miles to Leoni.
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