Herrenchiemsee Palace: Bavarian Versailles on the Lake

What to Expect

The king's desire to build Versailles on Bavarian land exceeded the magnificence of the 'model'. The halls are much more spacious, the cabinets - more luxurious. The spirit of French absolutism is everywhere. The palace is located on the island of the largest Bavarian lake Chiemsee, surrounded by water and mountains. Ludwig, who sought solitude, could not find a better place for the castle than the deserted Herreninsel Island ('male island'). The road to Herrenchiemsee Palace by car amidst lush Bavarian nature and then by boat through the emerald waters of the lake is already a delightful journey in itself.

With the entrance ticket to the palace, you can also visit the Ludwig II Museum with unique exhibits: the king's baptismal shirt, his photographs, portraits, original furniture from the Munich residence, and models of the 'mad' projects of the fairy-tale king.

The fountains and sculptures in the park are another reason to immerse yourself in the fantasies of Ludwig II: mythological characters, gods, dragons, half-human half-amphibian creatures. In hidden corners of the park, you can find remnants of the iron railway, which delivered construction materials to the center of the island, and nature lovers can feed wild deer right from their hands.

On the island, there is also the Augustinian Monastery Museum and the Constitution Museum (it was here in 1948 that the convention on the development of the FRG constitution took place). If desired, you can have lunch right here. The menu of the family restaurant, located in the former monastery building, offers dishes of regional cuisine: cheese pâté 'Obatzda', liver dumpling soup, white sausages, fish assortment 'Herrenchiemsee', or a grilled dish for two 'King Ludwig II'. Historical brewery beer, fruit schnapps grown on the island, and herb liquors made at the neighboring women's Benedictine monastery distillery. Special Bavarian whiskey and heavenly desserts, I'm sure, will delight you separately.

If you wish, we will visit the neighboring 'female island' - Fraueninsel, where a functioning Benedictine women's monastery has been located for over 1300 years. Here, following the long-standing monastic tradition, the nuns make original marzipan of unusual shapes: fish, flowers, motifs of the island, or gingerbread, with a recipe consisting of only the best ingredients: almonds, walnuts, honey, flour, and spices. These and other gifts and souvenirs can be purchased in the monastery shop or, wandering along the coast, visit authentic pottery or glassblower shops of local craftsmen.