Museum of the Bavarian Kings Lively and illuminating, this richly illustrated volume presents the history of the House of Wittelsbach from its beginnings to the present day. A spotlight is shone on those who built the castles of Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein, King Maximilian II and his son King Ludwig II of Bavaria. How did they shape the places, the inhabitants and the landscapes that surrounded them? What is the significance of the mediaeval sagas in the decoration of both of these castles? This volume provides an in-depth response to these questions. It also discusses the tensions between Bavarian monarchical representation and the social and political changes that began to take place in the industrial age."