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King Ludwig’s Tours Specialty tours for Lovers of Theatre, , Music and Nature - - Switzerland Unique & Custom Touring for the all Communities of interest including Family & Friends Schools of Music-Art-Theatre-Dance, Senior Communities, Travel Clubs, LGBTIQ Community, Religious

Three Countries, Cultures and Crosscurrents Tour King Ludwig Tours Presented by All Tickets, Inc.

Transports You to Austria - Germany – Switzerland Intellectual Curiosity, Impassioned Creativity, Inspiring Beauty Define this Region in One Wondrous Tour

Austria, Germany and Switzerland share common borders while offering interconnected cultures that are paradoxically but vividly separate and distinct. These countries, situated as they are, offer visitors a unique combination of culture, art and nature. King Ludwig Tours captures the essence of this amazingly powerful mix, offering visitors premium experiences that transport them to remarkably wondrous worlds.

It is the majestically serene , the grace and industry of the Rhine and Danube and the silent, massive intensity of the Black Forest. Over two thousand years of human history and an indefinable amount of natural history have occupied, shaped and left their impression on its regions. Joining three countries (Germany, Austria and Switzerland), acting as a keystone, is the magnificent Lake Constance (Lake Bodensee), covering more than 4,400 square miles.

Greatness defines the region. The musical power of composers such as Ludwig van Beethoven, Johann Sebastian Bach, Johannes Brahms, and Richard , the foresight of Walter Gropius and the Bauhaus Movement and the inspiring intellect of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Friedrich Schiller, Thomas Mann and Bertolt Brecht are just a sampling of what makes this area artistically and intellectually stimulating.

Our Prefered Port of entry and departures and/or Zurich

^ Munich & the Bavarian Alps ^ Munich Marienplatz , Square since 1158

^ Our Home in Munich, Eden Wolf Hotel – 4**** Accommodations

^ Munich Philharmonic Orchestra ^ Munich Opera, Bayerische Staatsoper

^ Our Home in Zurich, The Ambassador Hotel – 4**** Accommodations

^ Zurich Opernhaus Our travel Destinations to: Land of Austria and the regional area of Kleinwalsertal, Austria Germany’s Fuessen area and King Ludwig’s Neuschwanstein Castle Brengenez, Austria’s Brengenzer Festspiele for Opera and Theatre

^ Festspiele on Lake Constance

Time for nature’s beauty & art in Riezlern - Mittleberg / Kleinwalsertal Austrian Region

^ Hotel Alte Krone, Mittleberg Kleinwalsertal Austria – Our Home base!

Hotel Alte Krone – Resting with Nature

Visiting & Attending Wagner’s Festspielhaus, Germany

Touring the Margravial , Bayreuth Germany

Visiting & Touring of Fussen, Germany / Neuswanstein Castle

Attending a concert performance in the Neuswanstein Castle!

Travel to this land of kings, natural majesty and vibrant art. Thousands of years of recorded history Fascinatingly diverse styles of architecture Resplendently pristine forests, lakes and mountains King Ludwig Tours - your gateway to the greatness of this stunning region

Three Countries, Cultures and Crosscurrents Tour Experience, Enjoy and Embrace the Cities and of Reizlern, Bayreuth, Füssen, Munich, Zurich You’ll Enjoy the Region’s

Theatre Music Art Architecture History Natural Beauty Outdoor Activities And much more…

Reizlern / Middleberg

Reizlern, which is in Austria, is a mix of theatre and outdoor experiences that includes walking, horseback riding and hiking trails in the parks of the Kleinwalsertal. Reizlern is also located near Bregenz, Austria, which is the location of the Bregenz Festival, a performing arts festival held every July and August. The Bregenz Festival, which is on Lake Constance, is idyllically situated. With its highly regarded festival of opera and orchestral concerts, endless natural beauty and a classic European casino for those who enjoy a little gaming, this region offers visitors an interesting combination of entertainments.

Bayreuth

A journey to Bayreuth, Germany, will take you to the Festspielhaus, the theatre where redefined the power and imagination of the stage and created theatrical events that in their time were unprecedented. This charming city, which was founded in the late 12th century, offers visitors an array of musical and theatre experiences as well as deep historical connections.

Füssen

Your visit to the Bavarian of Füssen situates you just three miles from Austria. At 2,651 feet above sea level, Füssen, which was first an Ancient Roman settlement, is the highest town in the State of . This quaint area, whose population is less than 15,000, is beautifully located in the Alps. Gothic, Renaissance and architectures are laced into the fabric of this charming community.

There are numerous attractions, including Neuswanstein Castle, which served as King Ludwig's little home and the Neuswanstein Wagner Concerts, which is a wonderful music hall built by King Ludwig. As a bit of an entertainment and cultural contrast, the Skyline Park in Allgäu, which is the region’s amusement park, is nearby.

Munich

Munich, which was founded in 1158, is located on the elevated plains of Upper Bavaria. The capital city of the Bavarian state, it is defined by architectural styles as far ranging as its history. Some of the city’s highlights include the German Museum and many important art galleries; the National Theatre, which is the home of the Bavarian State Opera, the Munich National Theatre and the Bavarian State Orchestra and the Hofbräuhaus am Platzl, the most famous beer hall in the world.

Old Town Munich, Alstadt, is brimming with history. Various churches, including the richly styled Asamkirche, the overpowering and expansive Frauenkirche, which features two dominant Renaissance domes, and the oldest church in Munich, Peterskirche, built in 1180 in the Romanesque style, are a few of the awe- inspiring highlights.

Other highlights in Munich include Octoberfest, Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall) and the Residenz Munich, which served as the residence of Bavarian Kings and includes a stunning opera hall. Culturally, this is one of the richest cities in the world.

Zurich

Zurich, Switzerland, was permanently settled approximately 7,000 years ago. Its recorded history can be traced back to 15 BCE when the Romans claimed the area and named the city Turicum. In the early 16th century, Zurich was the staging ground for the Protestant in German-speaking Switzerland.

Today the city proper, which is located at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich, includes almost 400,000 inhabitants, while the metropolitan area swells to more than 1.8 million. Zurich is the hub for entry into Switzerland with one of the busiest and biggest railway stations in the country and an international airport that handles more than 2 million passenger a month.

A majority of Zurich’s sites are found between the primary railway station and Lake Zurich. In this area, you’ll discover upscale shops such as the world famous Bahnhofstrasse, homes and churches from the old town dating back to the 9th century and the historical site of the Roman castle and the Carolingian Imperial Palace.

There are numerous museums, including the world-class Zurich Museum of Art and the Swiss National Museum and a host of performance offering such as ballet, theatre and opera. The Zurich Opera House, which was built in 1834, was instrumental in the lives of many great composers, including Richard Wagner. In Europe it is a leading presenter of opera.

The city’s primary theatre complex, the Schauspielhaus Zürich, is one of the most important German-speaking venues in the world, and the Theater am , which is one of the oldest theatres in the city, produces numerous avant-garde works each year. Zurich hosts the Zürcher Theater Spektakel, which is considered to be a premium festival for contemporary performing arts in Europe.

In everyway, Zurich is a world-class city that is thriving with life, culture and art.

King Ludwig II of Bavaria

King Ludwig Tours derives its name from Ludwig II (Born August 25, 1845; Died June 13, 1886) who ruled Bavaria from March 10, 1864 until just before his death on June 13, 1886. Ludwig II was a controversial ruler who had great dreams and aspirations, supported the creation of some of grandest buildings in the region and bankrolled important works of art. But the controversial king was also seen by some as being eccentric and by others as being insane. As if to reinforce these various views of him, Ludwig II is quoted as saying "I wish to remain an eternal enigma to myself and to others."

A King by Many Names Ludwig II was officially named Ludwig Otto Friedrich Wilhelm. Sometimes known as Louis II, he also was called the “Swan King” and the “Fairy Tale King.” He is also sometimes referred to as “Mad King Ludwig.” His titles included Count Palatine of the Rhine, Duke of Bavaria, and in .

Ludwig’s Image Although many considered him to be odd and even possibly mad, the king left an amazingly rich legacy that included extraordinary and extravagant fantasy palaces and castles. He was also the patron who is said to be responsible for many of Richard Wagner’s greatest masterpieces. Although he funded projects out of his own pocket, he apparently drove Bavaria into debt.

What made matters worse was that he eschewed public life. After 1876, he no longer hosted court banquets and he refused to engage in the inspection of military parades. His ministers found his behavior perplexing in that he was a reluctant and often nonexistent public figure, a disaster at budget control and focused on a fantasy life rather than reality.

Move Towards Deposition By late 1885, his ministers had grown concerned about him and in 1886 there was a united move to depose him. In an effort to remove him from office via the constitution, the ministers had a study of the king compiled in which he was found to be insane and unable to function in the role as head of state.

With the support of Prince Luitpold and the tacit approval of Prussian Minister-President Otto von Bismarck, the ministers enlisted four leading psychiatrists to declare the king mentally incompetent.

On June 10, 1886, there was an attempt to depose the king as the commission bearing the papers declaring him insane arrived at Neuschwanstein Castle. They were driven back and then captured. Later that same day they were released and Prince Luitpold was put into power. The next few days saw Ludwig II struggle to regain his reign but on June 12, as he was preparing to escape, he was detained and taken into custody. On June 13, he and his trusted minister Gudden went for a walk alone. This may have been a planned attempt to flee. When the two did not return a search eventually resulted in the them being found dead in shallow waters near the shore of Starnberger Lake. Although it was declared that Ludwig had killed Gudden and then committed suicide, the deaths have never been fully explained and many believe both were murdered as they attempted to escape.

Legacy King Ludwig II never married and left behind no known progenitor. Although he was highly controversial and in many ways an ineffective ruler, Ludwig created some of Bavaria’s most striking structures and supported the creation of Wagner’s most important works. He did this with his own funds.

He built the expansive and complex Winter Garden, Residenz Palace, Munich; the stunning Romanesque fortress Neuschwanstein Castle ("New Swan Stone Castle"), which featured Byzantine, Romanesque and Gothic interiors; and the imaginatively rendered Linderhof Castle, which was done in in neo-French Rococo style.

Numerous other palaces, castles and buildings were either constructed or planned. Herrenchiemsee Castle was an attempt to replicate Louis XIV's palace at Versailles, France, but only a small portion of this building was ever finished. After Ludwig’s death, Wagner’s groundbreaking festival theatre at Bayreuth was built with the king’s personal funds.

After meeting Wagner for the first time in 1864 and spending almost two hours with him, Ludwig became an avid supporter of the composer/theatre artist. It’s said that if this had not occurred that Wagner, who was penniless, probably would never have had the chance to complete his great or to write his final opera, . Ludwig also sponsored the premieres of , Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg and the .

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