The Ludwig II Musical
Continued from page 2: Musical Theater Neuschwanstein

ABOVE: Ludwig II dances with his beloved cousin Sissi, who--unfortunately for Ludwig--is already married to the Emperor of Austria.

Archived article

Update: The musical, Ludwig II: Longing for Paradise, is no longer running (or at least it wasn't running the last time I checked). The Festspielhaus in Füssen in Allgäu now stages operas and other productions and continues to offer gastronomy at various price levels in the theatre's restaurants.

The production

Ludwig II: Longing for Paradise had its premiere on April 7, 2000. The producers spent nearly 15 million euros to stage the musical, which was a smash hit before it opened with more than 500,000 tickets sold.

The show has 29 different sets and 152 period costumes, plus real horses that pull a sleigh on treadmills while fog swirls around them on the revolving stage. But the most spectacular effect is during the final scene, where Ludwig disappears beneath the surface of a lake (yes, the water is real) before ascending to the heavens on a rainbow.

Large supertitles above the proscenium translate the dialogue into English, Italian, Japanese, and (on request) into French, Dutch, and/or Spanish.

The musical lasts three hours, including a 45-minute intermission that allows time for a drink, a snack, or browsing in the excellent souvenir shop (where you can buy a plastic poncho if it's raining at the end of the show).

Next: Dining at the theatre

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