Schachen

The Schachen (Königshaus am Schachen) is a hunting lodge designed and built for King Ludwig II of Bavaria. The lodge is built below the summit of the Dreitorspitze, a mountain in the Wetterstein range of the Alps, which lies on the German/Austrian border. The lodge is the least accessible of King Ludwig's building projects, requiring a hike of four to six hours from Garmisch-Partenkirchen, slightly less from Schloss Elmau, to reach. It is the least known, and least visited of all of Ludwig's building projects. King Ludwig celebrated his birthday at the Schachen, and to this day, his birthday is celebrated at the site. Many artifacts, including several large pipes for smoking opium, found at the Schachen are now located in the King Ludwig II museum at Schloss Herrenchiemsee.