Neuschwanstein

Neuschwanstein Castle is a 19th-century Romantic palace on a rugged hill above the village of Hohenschwangau near Füssen in southwest Bavaria, Germany. The palace was commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria as a retreat and in honour of Richard Wagner. Ludwig paid for the palace out of his personal fortune and by means of extensive borrowing, rather than Bavarian public funds.

History

The palace was intended as a personal refuge for the reclusive king, but it was opened to the paying public immediately after his death in 1886. Since then more than 61 million people have visited Neuschwanstein Castle. More than 1.3 million people visit annually, with as many as 6,000 per day in the summer.

Architecture

The palace was designed by Christian Jank, a theatrical set designer, rather than an architect, which perhaps explains the fantastical nature of the design. The architectural expertise, vital to such a perilous site, was provided first by the Munich court architect Eduard Riedel and later by Georg von Dollmann and Leo von Klenze.

The suite of rooms within the palace followed a logical plan, with the King's rooms located in the upper floors, and the servants' rooms located in the basement and ground floor. The upper floor was a homage to Wagner's characters with the rooms based on the themes from the composer's operas.

In Popular Culture

Neuschwanstein Castle has appeared prominently in several movies and was the inspiration for Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle and later, similar structures.

See Also

• List of castles in Germany
• Schloss Neuschwanstein
• Ludwig II of Bavaria