Broken Down Walls

Hohenschwangau Castle is a nineteen century palace situated on a hill near the town of Fuessen in southwestern Germany near the Austrian border.



 

 

This castle was built by King Maximilian II of Bavaria on the remains of the medieval Schwangau fortress that was built in the twelfth century.

 



 

King Maximilian II's, his wife Maria of Prussia and their two adolescent sons spent their summers here.

 



 

When the King died, his son Ludwig II succeeded the throne at eighteen years of age. His younger brother Otto was declared insane at 23 years old.

 



 

Ludwig's younger brother was declared insane at 23 years old. However, Ludwig wasn't much better mentally. He was extremely introverted and creative, therefore spending much of his time daydreaming. During his reign, Ludwig spent all the royal revenues and also borrowed extensively to fund extravagant artistic and architectural projects. He built two lavish palaces and a castle for himself, plus he was a devoted patron of the composer Richard Wagner.

 

 

No one was able to restrain Ludwig from his uncontrolled spending. At the age of 41, Ludwig was also declared insane. A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.

 

"A person without self-control

is like a city

with broken-down walls."

Proverbs 25:28 (NLT)

Tragically, the day after Ludwig was declared insane, he and his doctor were both found dead on the shores of Lake Starnberg. Some say it was murder suicide, but most believe the were both murdered.

Because Ludwig never married, his mother remained at the castle until her death.