Not in His Right Mind: the Castles of a Mad King Online Quiz | People

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Ludwig II was born on 25 August 1845 to Maximilian II of Bavaria and Princess Marie of Prussia. In which castle did this happen?

Answer: Nymphenburg

Nymphenburg Palace is located in Munich, Germany. Construction started in 1664 to plans by the Italian architect Agostino Barelli. It was added to by several kings and finished on its present day size and present grounds about 1742. When Bavaria become a kingdom in the early nineteen century, it became the main residence of the Bavarian kings.

The architectural style of the palace is French Baroque.

2. When not at the royal court in Munich, where did Ludwig and his younger brother Otto live while growing up?

Answer: Hohenschwangau

Castle Hohenschwangau is near the town of F�ssen, Germany. Construction of the castle started in 1833 and was finished in 1837 by Crown Prince Maximilian (later King Maximilian II of Bavaria). There were additions that continued until 1855. The castle's style is Neo-Gothic. It is built on the ruins of a old castle dating from the 12th century.

3. This is the only castle that he commissioned and was completed during King Ludwig II reign. Which?

Answer: Linderhof

Schloss Linderhof is located in Ettal, Germany. Construction began in 1869 with rebuilding of the forester's house into the royal lodge. The palace continued under construction through six phases ending in 1886. and was completed during King Ludwig II reign.

The castle is completed in the rococo style. Ludwig used his personal funds and fortune for the construction of all his castle projects.

4. Ludwig II enjoyed Richard Wagner's operas so much that he had this built at Linderhof from the first act of Wagner's "Die Walk�re"?

Answer: Hunding's Hut

Hunding's Hut was not the only thing he built there. Hunding's Hut is complete with a sword embedded in an artificial tree. The Venus grotto, illuminated by electric light, is where a shell shaped boat was rowed. (The first electric power plant in Bavaria was built to power them). Also there is the Moroccan House, purchased in 1878 from the International Exhibition in Vienna (1873).

The Moorish Kiosk was acquired from the International Exhibition in Paris (1867). This building is noted for its peacock throne.

5. Ludwig II had this castle built on a island. Which was it?

Answer: Herrenchiemsee

Herrenchiemsee is located on the island of Herreninsel in Lake Chiemsee. The land was acquired in 1873 and building began in 1878. When Ludwig died in 1886 it was not complete: only the center section of the castle exterior was completed; the two side wings were taken down at this time.

The only parts of the gardens completed were main axis with their famous fountains and waterworks. Highlights include the State Staircase, the State Bedroom and the Great Hall of Mirrors.

6. Herrenchiemsee is modeled after a castle that Ludwig II admired in his travels aboard. Name this castle of Louis XIV?

Answer: Versailles

In 1867 Ludwig visited Versailles along with other palaces and castles. He was amazed by the French style of building that glorified culture (architecture, art, and music). At that time Bavaria was lacking in this, and he wanted to corrected this, so he started planning his personal castles.

Herrenchiemssee is basically the central section of Versailles modernized to the the time of construction.

7. This Ludwig II castle is perched on top of an Alpine ridge near F�ssen, Germany.

Answer: Neuschwanstein

Neuschwanstein overlooks Hohenschwangau, his father's castle. This foundation stone was laid on 5 September 1869 and was completed in its present form in 1892, six years after his death. This castle is a Romanesque fortress with soaring fairy-tale towers.

The castle interior is based on three main fantasy tales: the poet Tannh�user, the swan knight Lohengrin and his father, the Grail King Parzival (Parsifal).

8. Neuschwanstein is said to the inspiration for a fairy tale castle. Can you name it?

Answer: Cinderella

Cinderella Castle is located at two Disney theme parks (Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World and Tokyo Disneyland). The tour guides at Neuschwanstein will mention this. At the Disney would site also says this castle was one of many real and fictional palaces used in the design.

The Sleeping Beauty Castles at both Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland also were inspired by Neuschwanstein, but not mentioned by the tour guides.

9. On 13 June 1886, King Ludwig II drowned near this castle while he was awaiting psychiatric assessment?

Answer: Berg

Castle Berg is located on Lake Starnberg. Ludwig II along with Dr. Gudden drowned one day after being seized to be evaluated for insanity, even though no doctors had seen him prior to this. At the time of his government detainment he had already been ruled insane. Ludwig was a strong swimmer, and supposedly drowned in water waist deep.

The official autopsy found no water in his lungs, but officials ruled suicide by drowning. The King's watched stopped at 6:54. The court was upset with him not tending to official court business and his spending on his castle projects.

10. At the time of Ludwig II death, he was planning three more castles. Which in NOT one of them?

Answer: King Arthur palace near Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Of the three he was planning (Falkenstein, Byzantine, and Chinese), land was purchased only for Falkenstein. All of three only had initial plans drawn for them.

Source: Author gshorey

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Not in His Right Mind: the Castles of a Mad King Quiz

Take this quiz and learn about the castles in the life of the Mad King, Swan King or the "Fairy Tale" King of Bavaria, King Ludwig II. It covers all the castles in his life, form birth to death, and the ones he built and planned to build.

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