Villa Ludwigshöhe

The Villa Louis height, site often only the Ludwigshoehe called Edenkoben in Rhineland -Palatinate is a small castle and the former summer residence of King Ludwig I of Bavaria.

Geography

West of the southern Palatinate town Edenkoben and the local community Rhodt the Villa Louis altitude is on the eastern edge of the Palatinate forest with sweeping views over the Rhine valley. The Rietburgbahn, a chairlift runs from the station near the villa where there is a public car park, up to the Riet castle on the north west slopes of the mountain leaves. Accessible for motor traffic, the villa is by a good road up from Edenkoben to Ludwigshoehe ( 3 km ) and from there back down to Rhodt (1.5 kilometers). Below the villa operates the West German football federation 's sports school Edenkoben.

Architectural History

1843 King Ludwig I took the decision to can be built in the time belonged to Bavaria Palatinate, from which his father Maximilian I came, a summer villa. You should be on the edge of the mountain range of the Haardt. 1845, the required properties have been purchased at the feet of Rietburg by the municipalities Edenkoben and Rhodt.

The construction of the castle by Italian influence in the classical style forms began with the groundbreaking 1846. The works designed by the architect Friedrich Wilhelm von Gärtner led the architect Joseph Hoffmann from Ludwigshafen am Rhein. The completion of the construction lasted until 1852. First, the architect was passed in 1847, which is why Leo von Klenze had taken the further construction management; also had abdicated in favor of his son Maximilian II in 1848, the king.

Ludwig I was staying every two years during the summer months of July and August at the Villa, where he celebrated his birthday. His last visit to the villa dates from 1866.

Building

Originally belonged to the group of buildings next to the Königsbau, as the actual castle is also called, a Kavaliersbau and a stables. The Kavaliersbau is still present, the stables no longer.

The two-story main house consists of four square-shaped buildings that are grouped to the sky directions at right angles to an atrium. The side facing the east front of the main building is divided vertically by two superimposed rows of columns. While the lower row has Doric columns, is the top row of columns of the Ionic order. On the north side of the porch is attached, which is similar to a covered terrace.

The Pompeian wall paintings by Joseph Black man in several of the 62 rooms of the villa are preserved; the mosaic floors after Roman models have survived. 1899 painted Adalbert Hock from Aschaffenburg the walls of the dining room with Pompeian motifs new.

Use

Especially for visits of former Bavarian King received a great reception building, leaning on the architectural style of the Viila of 1855 opened at the Palatine Maximilian Railway Station located Edenkoben. In the era of National Socialism a 1.8-kilometer branch line of the Palatinate Oberland Railway was built to promote tourism, linking the Edenkobener custodian of the Regional tramway with the Villa Louis height. The line was opened on 9 April 1936. On 17 May 1954 she was re- decommissioned after the phasing out Oberlandbahn had begun.

1975 acquired the land Rhineland- Palatinate the castle for 1.9 million DM of the Wittelsbach family and restored it at a cost of 5.7 million DM is used for the performance of concerts, especially in collaboration with the Villa Musica Foundation. Furthermore, the villa houses the scientifically supervised by the Landesmuseum Mainz Max Slevogt gallery with 130 works. In addition, temporary exhibitions are organized by paintings. 2007 took place in the vaulted cellars the Hinder / Reimers Collection with 1588 ceramic exhibits of the 20th century their final place. Since the same year located to the southeast outdoor café is open on weekends and holidays in good weather, the guests also views of the Rhine valley offers.

The villa Ludwigshoehe is open during the summer months from April to September daily except Mondays, guided tours every hour instead. The number of annual visitors is 40,000 people. Lock manager is Andreas Spiess, has the Directorate General Cultural Heritage Rhineland -Palatinate in 2002 entrusted with this task.

Every year in late August, the anniversary is celebrated by King Ludwig I to the Castle Festival.