Herrenchiemsee Palace

Ludwig II bought Herreninsel in 1873 to stop it being logged and began building a homage to Louis XIV, with a Hall of Mirrors ninety-eight metres long, longer than the original at Versailles, lit by more than two thousand candles when in use. Money ran out; work stopped in 1885, and the king stayed there for about ten days in total before his death the following year. Whole wings were never built and the unfinished sections remain as bare brick, shown as part of the visit. A museum in the former monastery covers the 1948 constitutional convention held on the island.

What you actually see

• The Hall of Mirrors - a gallery longer than the Versailles original.
• The unfinished wings - bare brick rooms left when funding stopped.
• The state staircase - a grand ceremonial stair completed in full.
• The garden fountains - formal parterres running toward the lake.

When to go

April to October; the boat crossing runs year-round but less often in winter, and the fountains operate only in the warmer months. Entry is by timed guided tour.

Honest expectations

Access is by boat plus a walk or horse carriage, then a timed guided tour. Much of the building was never finished. The island has limited facilities.

Nearby

Fraueninsel lies across the water; Prien is on the mainland.