Dear Friends, it was 1999 when myself, my mum and grandma went to Germany’s Neuschwanstein Castle and enjoyed our time there. We went up to the castle and bought a copy of their book that describes the history and happenings of Neuschwanstein. We also took a horse ride up the hill to the castle. This is a first for me, my mum and grandma to take a horse ride.
This castle is one of the most visited attractions in Bavaria and is visited by at least 1.5 million people every year. These 8 key facts about Neuschwanstein Castle may tell you why. ‘
1. Hohenschwangau Castle was the inspiration for Neuschwanstein Castle Hohenschwangau Castle – King Ludwig II commissioned the construction of Neuschwanstein Castle to replicate the Hohenschwangau Castle where he grew up. As a result, the architecture and interior of Neuschwanstein Castle bear many similarities to the castle in which the king grew up, such as the artwork depicting the figures of kings, knights, poets and lovers. King Ludwig II actually named Neuschwanstein Castle ‘Nueu Burg Hohenschwangau’. The castle of his childhood and the castle he built are not far from each other. The king was looking for his own little retreat in the Bavarian part of the forest.
2. King Ludwig II never saw Neuschwanstein Castle in its entirety King Ludwig II – A sad irony that King Ludwig II never saw Neuschwanstein Castle, even though he wanted it so much and had such a clear vision of it, right down to the interior design. In fact, the castle was not fully named until after his death. Work on the castle began in 1868 and progressed piece by piece. However, the king could decide whether to inhabit the completed parts of the castle if he wished, as they were complete. The last sections of the castle were completed in 1892, long after King Ludwig II had passed away.
3. Neuschwanstein Castle is barely half completed Throne Room in Neuschwanstein Castle. While Neuschwanstein Castle is magnificent and open to the public for viewing, funds for this luxurious project were not cut until about 12 of the planned 200 rooms were completed! One can hardly imagine what would have been possible had the architectural ambition for the castle been realized. Some of the missing pieces of the puzzle are the long columns on the sides of the knight’s house, which are empty, and a large chapel and keep in the courtyard, which were never started. King Louis II died young at the age of 40 and by then had spent only 11 nights in his castle. Had he lived, he would have competed with the extravagant Neuschwanstein Castle and certainly built more, because he loved to build.
4. Neuschwanstein Castle is a tourist magnet. Picturesque Neuschwanstein Castle. Despite its fragmentation, Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the most popular castles or palaces in Europe. At least 1.4 million visitors come every year – about 6,000 of them to the rooms, which are designed for single occupancy. Tourists flock to see “the castle of the fairy-tale king.”
5. Neuschwanstein Castle is a Memorial to Richard Wagner. While Kin Ludwig II loved building and loved his Neuschwanstein Castle, he built it as a tribute to composer Richard Wagner, for whom he had great admiration. You’ll find several allusions to Wagner’s operas throughout the castle, such as the planned magnificent Singers’ Hall where the king wanted to hold performances. One bold influence is the artificial cave inside the castle, inspired by Wagner’s opera Tannhauser. The design of Neuschwanstein Castle was created by Christian Jank, an opera designer rather than an architect. So you can see the signature of an opera designer through and through.
6. Neuschwanstein Castle is not a medieval castle Neuschwanstein Castle. Neuschwanstein Castle screams medieval by its appearance and its location on a mountaintop. However, it is anything but medieval, having been built in the 1870s. Once again, it is evident that King Ludwig’s inspiration for the castle came from his childhood. He grew up in and around medieval castles, surrounded by colorful murals of German myths painted at Hohenschwangau Castle. The king rode to his home, Hohenschwangau Castle, from time to time, and so the vision for his own castle remained clear and was regularly refreshed.
7. Neuschwanstein Castle is part of popular culture Neuschwanstein Castle can be seen in the 1986 film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. If you follow the movie, the scene in front of the castle of the evil Baron Bomburst, which the family flies over in the car, was filmed at Neuschwanstein Castle.
8. Unlike what you would expect from a medieval or medieval castle, Neuschwanstein Castle is equipped with the luxury of modern technology. The castle has an electric bell for the servants, running water with hot and cold water in the kitchen, telephones and hot air central heating and even an elevator! Steam-powered cranes were also used to assemble the castle, as the building was difficult to access. Pretty advanced for the time. 10. Neuschwanstein Castle was meant to be a retreat The location and surroundings of Neuschwanstein Castle are quiet and away from “civilization”. Located deep in the Bavarian countryside, the king built a ‘small’ retreat for himself rather than a royal representation or official residence. On the contrary, the castle is always full of chatter and excitement from the crowds that flock here every year. The years King Ludwig spent at Hohenschwangau Castle as a child, coupled with his love of art and architecture, gave rise to the neo-Gothic castle. Neuschwanstein Castle is an exciting place to visit, a modern yet medieval looking castle that continues to fascinate.