Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the world’s most famous castles. The castle seems to rise out of a rock in a wooded area in the state of Bavaria in Germany.
With its many turrets and towers, Neuschwanstein resembles a fairy-tale medieval castle. Neuschwanstein and other European castles inspired the design of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland in Anaheim, California.
Neuschwanstein Castle – the dream of a king
Neuschwanstein Castle was the dream of King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Ludwig was fascinated by the operas of the German composer Richard Wagner, with their celebration of Germanic mythical gods and legendary heroes.
Ludwig planned the castle with architect Edward Riedel and the assistance of Christian Jank, a theater designer. The structure reflects both Gothic and Romanesque elements from the Middle Ages, the period from about A.D. 400 through the 1400s.
Neuschwanstein is constructed of gray granite. Construction began in 1869 and ended in 1886, the year of the king’s death. The castle was never finished.
In his romantic vision of Neuschwanstein Castle, Ludwig was strongly influenced by Wartburg Castle, a medieval fortress in Germany. Wartburg is the setting for Wagner’s opera Tannhäuser (1845). Neuschwanstein’s elevated setting gives visitors a panoramic view of the surrounding wilderness and helps make the castle one of Germany’s most popular tourist attractions.
The interior of the castle reflects Ludwig’s passion for the Middle Ages. Artists painted the walls of many rooms and vestibules with scenes from German myths and legends. Marble, gilded paneling, and tapestries also decorate many of the rooms.
The Study features frescoes showing scenes from Tannhäuser. Ludwig’s bedroom is dominated by a giant Gothic-style bed decorated with intricate carvings. The Throne Room, which has no throne, resembles a church interior and includes a large mosaic floor and a chandelier that resembles a huge crown. The Singers’ Hall has an elaborately decorated ceiling and many impressive chandeliers and candelabra. The Salon is decorated with scenes from Wagner’s opera Lohengrin.
However, Ludwig II was only to live in his castle for 172 days. At his death in 1886, the “new fortress” was not yet complete. The keep had been started on but was left unfinished; the “ladies’ quarters” on the southern side of the upper courtyard were completed in a simple form by 1891.
Neuschwanstein Castle Visitor Information
Today, Neuschwanstein is among the most visited castles and fortresses in Europe. 1.3 million people a year look through the “fairytale king’s castle”, which inspired Walt Disney’s “Cinderella’s Castle” in Disneyland.
And in fact, Schloss Neuschwanstein, nestled in one of the most beautiful landscapes of the eastern Allgaeu region, creates such a fairytale-like impression on the approaching observer that it could be from another world.
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Neuschwanstein Castle Location
Neuschwanstein Castle has located about 3 km away from Fussen, Bavaria, Germany. See below the address and a map to help you with directions: Neuschwansteinstraße 5, 87645 Schwangau, Germany