Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-07-02
HOHENSCHWANGAN.

The Romantic Summer Home of the Ba-
Varian King Perched on Lofty Peak
Description of the Castle.
Munich Special to Cincinnati Times-Star.]
One of the most charming and ro-
mantle spots in the Bavarian highlands
is Hohenschwangan, the favorite sum-
mer residence of King Ludwig, of Ba-
varia. Famed in history and legend,
the castle claims more than passing
notice of the traveller, while its owner
must ever be to lovers of music and the
drama one of the most interesting royal
personages of Europe. An idealist and
a dreamer, a filter home could hardly
be found for him anywhere than in the
lordly legendary pile whose situation
reminds of the ideal Monsalvat, the
dwelling of the mysterious Knights of
the Holy Social. Perched on the site
of lofty and rugged height, surround
ed by towering mountains, pine COW
cred and often mist enshrouded, the
Castle of Hohenschwangan looks down
upon a deep blue lake, silent
and changeful, on whose placid
bosom sail numerous swans, the
legendary bird of Scwangan,
as Of Monsalvat. Still almost I'M
sophisticated from its primitive wild
ness the place seems to be the haunt of
poverty and romance, whose shrine is
guarded by the giants of the Bavarian
alps, grim callow forms that tower up
amid alternate cloud and sunshine like
the gloomsome and radiant shapes that
people the lands of dreams, spirit in
every way congenial to those charming
surroundings is that of the youthful and
poetry-loving monarch, King Ludwig
IL, of Bavaria. Hohenschwangan, the
home of King Ludwig, and one of the
homes of the Lohengrin legend, is
about seventy miles distant from Mu-
Mich. / visited it in the fall, after
spending few days in the valley of the
Ammer and the people of the Passion
Play" From the Ammer Vale it is a
walk of four or five hours to Linderhof,
a mountain chalet, occupied by the
king on his summer excursion. From
Linderhof to Hohensehwangan is a
walk of six hours. The road leads
along the lovely Graswangthel to a
point in the forest where private bri-
die path connects over the mountains
to the castle. Although if one has time
to spare the more interesting journey
is round by the placid Planensee. You
ascend the mountain by zigzag path
and after tough bit Of climbing and a
long walk amid the most charming
scenery, you at last stand on the heights
overlooking Hohenschwangan.
1t is a scene of calm, romantic
almost indescribable beauty that then
L., Il
scend from amid the cold snow
capped mountains into a new paradise
A broad plain opens in the distance and
the course of the Leche can be followed
for miles. Away to the right stretches
the Muhlburg lake, and as far as the
eye can reach the simmer of the Hop
sensee. Underneath us, perched on the
mountain promontory that descends to
the edge of two sheets of water is Ho.
henschwangan. The water to the left,
whose deep blue is almost unnatural is
the Alpsee, the one stretching along the
promontory to the right is the Swan
lake, around which cling halo OF
legend and fable. The swan is the
legendary bird of Schwangan, and
focks of them may still be seen sailing
in all the pride of their beauty and
dignity as if they knew that they be-
longed to she whole region and had
given the name to the valley and the
castle. 1t was a charming autumn
morning when I left the Alpine Rose
the little inn of the village lying under
the shadow of Hohenschwangan, and
passed along shady park-hke way to
the castle. The scene was one which
once seen could not easily be forgotten
Below us lay the deep blue waters Of
the lake cleaning in the golden sun
light and fringed with verdure which
already began to show the charming
and varied tints of decay; above arose
the castle, empowered in trees, while
above and beyond them stretched the
snow-capped mountains, bathing theil
white heads Ii the still soft azure
What home for the poetic soul! One
might almost hope to find the genius o.
poesy there.
We enter the gateway, over which Il
conspicuous the royal escutcheon, and
find ourselves in the quaint, quiet burg
with It's great shadowy linden, beloved
of numberless fair and voiceful birds
DeneabH WHICH IS QenclOuS spring y
cool, mountain water, watched by fig
ure Of the Madonna.
Coming on to the terrace we have be
fore us the well-known copy Of the hol
fountain OF the Alhambra, the clear wa
tiers spouting forty feet high, emulating
as it we're, the beautiful swan fountain
From the mouth of the cast-iron swan
slender jet of water shoots high int
the air, lending GOODNESS, sound am
feeling to the surrounding atmosphere
The swan, the legendary and tutelar.
bird of the vale, seems more IN plac
than the lion.