In her new book, the Tölz author Sandra Freudenberg walks in the footsteps of Ludwig II. She describes the “Kini” as an often misunderstood figure.
Bad Tölz - The fairytale king's retreat in the mountains? Almost every mountain friend thinks of the Herzogstandhäuser, the Königshaus am Schachen or the Altlacher Hochkopf, where Ludwig II gave his favorite composer Richard Wagner twelve "indescribably beautiful" days of relaxation in his Königshütte.
All of them are of course duly recognized in Sandra Freudenberg's new book. The Tölzerin is known as the organizer of the Bavarian Outdoor Film Festival and has now presented her third work to Knesebeck-Verlag: "Freedom lives in the mountains", it says and describes - so the subtitle - the "hiking in the footsteps of King Ludwig II. ".
Royal mountain: the Hohe Grasberg. Far below, the Isar meanders towards Vorderriß.
© Rosenboom
The enthusiastic mountaineer described twelve tours to royal huts for the book. Actually, she says, in the past five years she has located 19 huts and alpine pastures in the Karwendel and Wetterstein regions where the fairy tale king has stayed and left his mark.
Sandra Freudenberg unearthed many stories for her book
According to Freudenberg, the fact that Ludwig II lives on in people's consciousness, especially as a builder and resident of castles, is “a major misunderstanding”. The Wittelsbacher was a pronounced nature lover who was also very fond of the rural population, the farmers and alpine people. In meeting them, Ludwig saw himself as one of them. The 50-year-old author quotes Ludwig Thomas' memories of a meeting with the king in the chapel of Vorderriß. In the adjacent hunting lodge "he felt comfortable and was looking for nothing but quiet and seclusion". Nonetheless, he had cabinet meetings held on the lawn in front of the house. At least the young king maintained discipline.
“The maple keeps watch.”: The lonely Max-Ruh-Hütte, which is used by the forest today.
© Rosenboom
Sandra Freudenberg dug up many stories for her hiking and history book and not only visited the archives, but also interviewed the locals. For example, she came up with the story of the small pool that probably once existed in front of the royal house in Vorderriß. Paul Schwarzenberger from Lenggries, whose ancestor built the Herzogstand for the royal family, discovered him and told the author about it. “I like this idea very much. King Ludwig bathes on this sublime piece of earth. ”Schwarzenberger once restored the royal and forester's house.
Retreats of Ludwig II are often hardly known
Sandra Freudenberg not only describes the huts, alpine pastures and hikes. Each of its twelve chapters is accompanied by a detailed tour description with options and tips. That is also necessary. Many of the royal retreats are not or hardly known and can only be reached after a long walk or journey by bike. For example, Freudenberg's “absolute favorite hike” leads from the Ochsensitz car park to the so-called Max Ruh, where a remote and forgotten Ludwigs hut now serves the forest as accommodation. A downright “spiritual place”, enthuses the author. Freudenberg and her photographer climbed from Max Ruh to the Grasbergalm and Leining-Hütte. She has never seen “more beautiful alpine pastures”, writes the author.
The book, with its beautiful content, has one shortcoming: the paper that Knesebeck-Verlag chose for printing is pleasant to the touch, but does not always do justice to the carefully prepared pictures by photographer Stefan Rosenboom.
The book
“Freedom lives in the mountains”, 192 pages, 120 pictures. 30 euro. ISBN number: 978-3-95728-429-7.