Berg brings together the history of King Ludwig II with different ways to explore: a hiking trail with a described route, an audio walk with no fixed order of stops, and observations at the observatory, which depend on the current positions of the planets. When planning your visit, it is worth distinguishing between these offerings. This way, you can decide whether you would rather focus on historic sites, a set route, or audio stops you can access at any time.
The Votive Chapel and the history of King Ludwig
The Votive Chapel in Berg Palace Park was built in the Neo-Romanesque style. In June 1896, on the tenth anniversary of King Ludwig II’s death, Prince Regent Luitpold laid the foundation stone. This firmly establishes the start of construction in the chronology: it came ten years after June 13, 1886, the day Ludwig II was found lifeless.
A simple wooden cross in the shallow waters of Lake Starnberg marks the spot below the Votive Chapel where King Ludwig II was found lifeless after a walk with Prof. von Gudden. The chapel and the cross thus represent two distinct points of reference in the story: the chapel’s construction in 1896 and the place where he was found in 1886. The cross marks a specific spot on the shore, not merely a general connection to the lake.
Every year, around June 13, a solemn memorial Mass for King Ludwig II is held at the Votive Chapel in Berg Palace Park. If you would like to plan your trip around this occasion, check the current arrangements locally.
Hiking trail or audio walk?
The King Ludwig Trail starts at the Votive Chapel in Berg and runs through Starnberg and the Maisinger Gorge to Maising. If you choose this hike, you can follow its named starting point and route. The trail runs from the chapel through Starnberg and the gorge to Maising.
The King Ludwig II audio walk is set up differently. It comprises seven stops in total, in Starnberg, Kempfenhausen, Berg and Leoni. The stops have no fixed order, are free of charge and can be accessed independently; the offering is suitable for all ages. The hiking trail has a described route to Maising, while you can access the audio stops in any order you choose. This comparison can help you choose between a hike with a set route and a more flexible audio format.
Culture and observations in the municipality
The Berger Culture Walk uses information boards to explain places of cultural and historical interest in the municipality of Berg. Its focus is on the municipality’s themes, while the Votive Chapel and the wooden cross are specific historic sites. If you are interested in local history, you will find two different ways to explore it here: information boards about several places of cultural and historical interest, and precisely located points of reference around the chapel.
At the Berger Observatory in the associated municipality, planets in the solar system can be observed, depending on their current positions. These include Saturn’s rings, Jupiter’s cloud bands and some of its moons, as well as the polar caps of Mars. Which observations are possible depends on the planets’ positions, so the possibilities are not the same at all times.
The Bismarck Tower stands near Assenhausen in the municipality of Berg. It is the only Bismarck monument in Upper Bavaria whose planning and construction began during Bismarck’s lifetime. This site also broadens the focus beyond the history of King Ludwig II and adds another historical figure to the themes surrounding the Votive Chapel.
The memorial Mass and stargazing differ particularly in how they can be planned: the Mass takes place every year around June 13, while possible planetary observations depend on the planets’ current positions. When planning your stay in Berg, you can therefore distinguish between a recurring occasion and a variable opportunity for observation.
Discover more destinations: Bernried Am Starnberger See, Inning Am Ammersee, Feldafing, WeĂźling, Tutzing, Seefeld, Gauting, Krailling
To the main travel guide: Starnberg.
