Schloss in Bavaria

Book excerpt: Schloss is the German word for castle or palace. This book visits twenty-five beautiful schlosser (the plural of schloss) in Bavaria and tells the colourful stories of historical royal characters connected with them. The history of Bavaria is closely linked with the glamourous Wittelsbach royal family, who produced such well-known celebrities as Mad King Ludwig II. This book tells their enthralling story. It also discovers other Bavarian dynasties - which got fabulously rich from inventing the postal service; specialised in being elected as church princes; or whose smart marriage policy brought them numerous thrones... Bavaria is a beautiful part of Germany and a real joy to visit. In the days of the monarchy, Bavaria was a kaleidoscope of sovereign territories ruled by dukes, princes, and bishops. From Franconia in the north to the Alps in the south, the Bavarian countryside teems with their fascinating castles and palaces. The stories include the prince who sold his country and its people to Prussia; the princess who was expected to marry an emperor until he saw her little sister; the king of Bavaria who reigned the longest but who hardly ever appears in the history books; and the duke who has been called the Bavarian Henry VIII. The fairy-tale castles built by Ludwig II are visited by tourists from around the world, but other schlosser rarely see an English speaker. This book might encourage you to get off the beaten track and see these wonderful places yourself. Schloss in Bavaria is the author's fourth book about The Fascinating Royal History of German Castles. With over 100 illustrations and 14 family trees; it should appeal to anyone who likes history, sightseeing, or is interested in people's personal stories. The author's first three books, called Schloss, Schloss II, and Schloss III, are also available on Amazon.