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Special Exhibition Celebrating 200 Years of Photography

Special Exhibition: King Ludwig II—A Life Amid Treasures and Photography

May 18, 2026

In collaboration with Dr. Bernhard Graf, the Munich Show is presenting an extraordinary and high-caliber special exhibition this year dedicated to the life of the legendary Bavarian King Ludwig II. Through 16 impressively staged chapters and several segments on the history of photography, a fascinating portrait of the “Fairy-Tale King” unfolds, vividly told through rare original photographs and precious personal artifacts from his collection and immediate circle.

Visitors gain a unique insight into the visions, dreams, and visual worlds of Ludwig II and embark on a journey through key stages of his eventful life—in a sense, through the eyes of the Wittelsbach monarch himself and his personal physician, Dr. Max Joseph Schleiß von Löwenfeld.

Marking the 200th anniversary of photography, this special exhibition uniquely combines historical photography, gem-encrusted treasures, and royal splendor into an unforgettable experience.

King Ludwig II of Bavaria (1845–1886)

King Ludwig II and his fiancée, Princess Sophie, Duchess of Bavaria