Information Board Translation
King of the mountains theme trail
Royal dining in the high mountains
In 1877, King Ludwig II of Bavaria ordered the construction of a viewing and dining hut as well as a kitchen hut on the Fahrenbergkopf. There was a portable stove, which was kept in the so-called Badkesselhütte on the front saddle. This was also used in the other kitchen hut on the Herzogstand summit. It could be dismantled into its individual parts by the servants and taken to the respective place of use. Even in the most remote mountain huts, the king was served menus consisting of several courses. Former kitchen boy Theodor Hirneis remembers the menu on the royal mountain parties: After the soup, there was always an appetizer, for example patties or mussels au gratin. The second course usually consisted of lamb chops or chicken fricassee. This was followed by roast poultry or game with side dishes. Boiled ox meat with vegetables also had to be served every day. Cream strudel with fruit, ice cream and mocha were served as desserts. Only two people, the mouth cook on duty and a kitchen boy, were responsible for preparing the food in the mountain houses. The food, napkins, cloths, crockery and pots were brought to the huts each time by local porters.
Did you know that ...
... King Max II of Bavaria owned hunting lodges above the southern shore of Lake Walchensee? In 1865, one year after the death of Max II, King Ludwig II acquired various houses from his father's estate, including four hunting lodges with stables and kitchen on the Hochkopf, Altlachberg Jachenau. There were even other lodging huts in the immediate vicinity of these houses at the time. Ludwig II used the Altlach forester's lodge as the starting point for the last section of the route to the Hochkopf. It is situated in a secluded location on the southern shore of Lake Walchensee. A room was always kept ready for the king. Ludwig's successor, Prince Regent Luitpold, used the houses on the Altlacher Hochkopf from time to time during his hunting trips. His son, King Ludwig III, had no interest in hunting in the high mountains. The houses fell into disrepair and were therefore sold to the Bavarian Forestry Administration. Only one has survived on the Altlacher Hochkopf to this day, the former royal house.
Knowledge for children
Do you like listening to music? Nowadays you just turn on the radio or stream it over the internet. That didn't exist in the time of King Ludwig II. Music was always enjoyed live. People either played music themselves or went to a concert hall. There you could watch an opera in which an entire story was told through music. One of the most famous German opera composers at the time was Richard Wagner. Ludwig II was friends with Wagner. The king loved Wagner's music so much that he paid him a lot of money so that he could compose undisturbed. On one occasion, King Ludwig II even invited his friend to the mountain hut on the Altlacher Hochkopf above Lake Walchensee. But instead of working in peace on the opera of the dragon slayer “Siegfried”, Wagner fell ill and had to leave after a few days.