Bavarian Birthday for Ludwig II

This year Germany is celebrating the 150th birthday of Bavaria’s King Ludwig II, the lonely “Fairy Tale King” who captivated Europe with his spectacular castles, love of music and flights of fancy.

Ludwig, also known as the “Mad King of Bavaria,” was born Aug. 25, 1845, and ascended to the throne in 1864. He was determined to be a patron of all the arts--the royal treasury’s limits notwithstanding--and bankrolled the debt-ridden composer Richard Wagner. But his greatest eccentricity may have been his mania for castles, the most famous of which is Neuschwanstein.

Some of the ongoing special events to celebrate Ludwig II’s birthday include seven-day round-trip bicycle tours between the 12th-Century town of Landsberg am Lech and Fussen in Bavaria’s Alps; 70-mile hiking tours from Starnbergersee, the lake where Ludwig II mysteriously drowned, to Neuschwanstein Castle and nearby Hohenschwangau Castle, where he grew up, and guided walking tours of Fussen.

This summer will also see several special events, including Fussen’s jubilee festivities July 14-23, marking both Ludwig’s birth and the 700th anniversary of the city’s founding. Special exhibits include “King Ludwig II,” which opens June 13 at the Kurhaus spa in Schwangau, and “Facts and Fiction,” which opens at Munich’s Valentin Museum on July 1.

For more information, contact the German National Tourist Office, 11766 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 750, Los Angeles 90025, (310) 575-9799; fax (310) 575-1565.

Festivals in Santa Fe, Taos

Ten productions make up the inaugural season of Santa Fe Stages, a New Mexico festival featuring theater and dance that runs through July 30 at the College of Santa Fe. Some of the offerings include Peter Brook’s “Le Tragedie de Carmen” with mezzo-soprano Suzanna Guzman; Snarling Beasties, a British theater troupe that brings a highly stylized cinematic approach to theater, and “The Illusion,” an adaptation of Pierre Corneille’s 17th-Century work, by Tony Kushner. Tickets and information: (505) 982-6683.

In nearby Taos, the 33rd Chamber Music Festival will take place June 17-Aug. 5, featuring the American String Quartet, the Muir Quartet, pianist Robert McDonald and violist Michael Tree. Information and tickets: Taos School of Music, Box 1879, Taos, NM 87571.

Water Restrictions in Puerto Rico

Water restrictions have again been imposed in Puerto Rico to deal with the drought that is affecting the Caribbean. Water is being turned off in the San Juan area for 12 hours every other day, but officials said the measure will not be extended to hotels and restaurants in the tourist zone. Many lodgings have their own wells or cisterns.

Tax Boost in Bermuda

Bermuda’s departure tax for visitors has been raised to $20 from $15 and its hotel occupancy tax to 7.25% from 6% to fund airport and ferry improvements.

A Guide to All That Jazz

The 1995-’96 edition of the “Music Festival Directory,” a guide to more than 1,200 popular music festivals in the United States and Canada, is now available. The 70-page guide includes jazz and blues, folk and bluegrass festivals, dulcimer workshops, fiddler’s jamborees, gospel sings and country concerts. Listings include dates, performers, contact addresses and telephone numbers. The directory sells for $12, including postage. To obtain a copy, write to the Music Festival Directory, P.O. Box 187, Washington, IL 61571.