The Venus Grotto is an artificial stalactite cave built into the mountain starting in 1875. The stage design for the "Venus Grotto" is from Act I of Richard Wagner's opera "Tannhäuser" and was created precisely according to his stage directions.
The enormous painting depicts the Venusberg scenery. Between 1878 and 1881, the grotto received its state-of-the-art electric lighting. With the help of interchangeable colored glass panels, the grotto could be bathed in various colors. With its then highly innovative illusion technique, the Linderhof Grotto is one of the most fascinating examples of the 19th-century quest for the most perfect Gesamtkunstwerk (total work of art). The Venus Grotto reopened on April 11, 2025, after 10 years of restoration and an investment of approximately 60 million euros.
Be sure to take the guided tour and experience the grotto live.