During his short life, 1845 to 1886, King Ludwig created his a universe of his own. He delved into the worlds of music and theater, and commissioned the construction of new castles - all of which reflected his own desires.

Now, 125 years after his death, the fairytale monarch is still capturing attention. The Herrenchiemsee Palace was built on an island in the middle of Bavaria's largest lake, the Chiemsee. It was modeled after Versailles in France, but the hall of mirrors there is 77 meters long (253 feet) - four meters larger than its French inspiration.

This year, a special exhibition is dedicated to the monarch, titled "Twilight of the Gods: King Ludwig II."

The Allgäu region further west is home to Bavaria's most famous castle, Neuschwanstein. It was built to resemble the ideal medieval residence, but Ludwig died before construction was finished. Today, the castle draws about 1.3 million visitors each year.

Its idyllic location is part of what makes Neuschwanstein unique. It is just an hour west of Linderhof Palace, which was completed while the king was still alive. The palace served as Ludwig's home and features the famous "Venus Grotto."

From Visit Germany

Editor: Kate Bowen