Information about Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle, royal palace in the Bavarian Alps of Germany, is one of the most popular destinations in Europe. Neuschwanstein Castle is the most famous of three royal palaces built for Louis II of Bavaria. Neuschwanstein Castle is located in the German State of Bavaria close to the Germany's border with Austria, not far from the popular ski resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The closest airport is Munich, 128km to the north east.



Neuschwanstein was built by King Ludwig II, the eccentric ruler of Bavaria in the mid 1800s. King Ludwig lived in the castle for just 180 days before he mysteriously drowned along with his doctor. Seven weeks after the death of King Ludwig II in 1886, Neuschwanstein was opened to the public. The shy king had built the castle in order to withdraw from public life – now vast numbers of people came to view his private refuge.



Neuschwanstein Castle is the inspiration for the fairy tale castle at Disneyland. Today Neuschwanstein is one of the most popular of all the palaces and castles in Europe. Every year 1.3 million people visit "the castle of the fairy-tale king". This is also the castle that Walt Disney patterned his theme park after. With its turrets and mock-medievalism, and its interior styles ranging from Byzantine through Romanesque to Gothic, Germany's number one tourist spot is a real fairy-tale fantasy come true.

The scenery around Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau is spectacular, and the castle offers a splendid bird's eye view of the countryside below.



The castle comprises a gatehouse, a Bower, the Knight's House with a square tower, and a Palas, or citadel, with two towers to the Western end. The effect of the whole is highly theatrical, both externally and within. The king's influence is apparent throughout and he took a keen personal interest in the design and decoration. An example can be seen in his comments, or commands, regarding a mural depicting Lohengrin in the Palas; "His Majesty wishes that .. the ship be placed further from the shore, that Lohengrin's neck be less tilted, that the chain from the ship to the swan be of gold and not of roses, and finally that the style of the castle shall be kept medieval."



The suite of rooms within the Palas is intoxicating and overwhelming; the Throne Room followed by Ludwig's suite, followed by the Singers' Hall and by the Grotto. Throughout, the design pays homage to the operas of Richard Wagner, a reflection of Ludwig's love for Wagner's work, and perhaps for Wagner himself. However, many of the interior rooms remain undecorated; only 14 rooms were finished before Ludwig's death.

Europe has many historic castles. You can find castles just almost anywhere in Europe and there are many types of castles. Some castles are the center of tourist attractions in a city, while other are located high in the mountains or off in the fields -- many of which have been standing, in one form or another, for more than a thousand years.