This summer I had the pleasure of visiting an amazingly extravagant architectural palace built by King Ludwig II and saw first-hand how the old, in this case a 19thcentury edifice, and contemporary artwork can be brought together successfully to create a compelling alternative experience to that offered by our city museums and art galleries.
Ludwig II reigned for just 22 years from 1864, but rather than concern himself with the practicalities of government, he preferred to build castles, four in total. Most people visit the famous fairy-tale Neuschwanstein, which I also did. For me, however, his Royal Palace of Herrenchiemsee is far more impressive and beautiful. Ludwig II intended it to be a copy of the Palace of Versailles, in honour of the Sun King Louis XIV of France, but also superior to the original palace in every possible way.