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The Fairytale Castles of King Ludwig II
The Fairytale Castles of King Ludwig II

The Fairytale Castles of King Ludwig II

Genres

HistoryDocumentary

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Ludwig II of Bavaria, more commonly known by his nicknames the Swan King or the Dream King, is a legendary figure - the handsome boy-king, loved by his people, betrayed by his cabinet and found dead in tragic and mysterious circumstances. He spent his life in pursuit of the ideal of beauty, an ideal that found expression in three of the most extraordinary, ornate architectural schemes imaginable - the castle of Neuschwanstein and the palaces of Linderhof and Herrenchiemsee. Today, these three buildings are among Germany's biggest tourist attractions. Dan Cruickshank explores the rich aesthetic of Ludwig II - from the mock-medievalism of Neuschwanstein, the iconic fairytale castle that became the inspiration for the one in Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty, to the rich Baroque splendour of Herrenchiemsee, Ludwig's answer to Versailles. Dan argues that Ludwig's castles are more than flamboyant kitsch and are, in fact, the key to unravelling the eternal enigma of Ludwig II.

Others

Budget

$--

Revenue

$--

Status

Released

Original Language

English

Runtime

59 mins

Rating

8/10

Release Date

02 July 2013

Country

United Kingdom

Cast

Dan Cruickshank

Dan Cruickshank

Himself - Presenter

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