King's House on Schachen, Alpine villa in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
King's House on Schachen is an alpine villa in Swiss chalet style with wooden balconies, standing at 1,866 meters in the Wetterstein Mountains. The compound includes the main residence with multiple rooms and an attached botanical garden.
Architect Georg von Dollmann built this mountain retreat between 1869 and 1872 according to King Ludwig II's wishes. It served as the king's private hideaway away from public life.
The upper floor features a hall decorated with Oriental patterns and furnishings inspired by Istanbul's Palace of Eyüp. This reflects the king's fascination with Eastern artistic traditions.
You reach the house on foot via a hiking trail from Garmisch-Partenkirchen or Schloss Elmau, which takes about three hours with a steep climb. Sturdy boots and reasonable fitness are needed for this mountain hike.
The adjacent alpine botanical garden displays over 1,000 plant species from various mountain regions, including specimens from the Alps and Himalayas. This collection showcases the diverse ecosystems of high mountains in one location.
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