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Neuschwanstein Castle (Schloss Neuschwanstein) Guide
Neuschwanstein Castle is one of three castles built by 'mad' Ludwig II of Bavaria, who was born in 1845 and died in 1886. This fairytale castle sits perched among the natural splendour of the Alps. Its Neo-Romanesque architecture imitates that of a medieval castle and, in turn, Neuschwanstein was the inspiration for Disney's Magic Kingdom. Built between 1869 and 1886, only about a third of the castle was actually completed as Ludwig II was found to be mentally unfit by a government commission. Nearby Marienbruecke (Mary's Bridge), which spans a deep gorge, provides magnificent views of the castle.
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Neuschwanstein Castle, which King Ludwig II built on a rugged hill against a backdrop of picturesque mountain scenery, was prompted by the idea of rebuilding an existing ruin "in the authentic style of the old German knights' castles", as he wrote in a letter to Richard Wagner.
The castle was built by Eduard Riedel and Georg Dollmann from idealized sketches by the scene painter Christian Jank. While the building itself imitates the 13th-century Romanesque style, the paintings inside predominantly depict scenes from Wagner's operas such as "Tannhäuser" and "Lohengrin". |
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| Neuschwanstein Castle construction |
Neuschwanstein Castle Architechture |
Begun in 1869 and left unfinished at Louis's death in 1886, the castle is the embodiment of 19th century romanticism. In a fantastical imitation of a medieval castle, Neuschwanstein is set with towers and spires and is spectacularly sited on a high point over the P?t River gorge.
The construction of the castle was carried out according to a well thought-out plan. The castle was equipped with all kinds of technical conveniences which were very modern, if not to say revolutionary at that time. Running water on all floors. The spring which supplied the castle with excellent drinking water was located 200 meters above the castle. There were toilets equipped with automatic flushing on every floor. A warm air heating system for the entire building. A hot water system for the kitchen and the bath.
The entire facade of the castle was covered with slabs of limestone. This material was found in Alterschrofen near Swan Lake (Swansee). The supporting walls were built of brick
The Throne Room was created as the Grail-Hall of Parsifal. It was designed in elaborate Byzantine style. It was inspired by the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople (now Istanbul), the 2 story throne room with its series of pillars of imitation porphyry and lapis lazuli, was completed in the year of the Kings death in 1886. The most important object of this room, the throne, is missing.
King Louis was a patron of the German composer Richard Wagner, and the third-floor rooms reflect Louis's love of the legends used by Wagner in his operas: for Tannh?er, a winter garden and stalactite grotto; for Lohengrin, the great chamber; and the unfinished Byzantine throne room, its vaulted ceiling supported by inlaid stone columns and decorated with stars. The Singers Hall on the fourth floor, with a coffered ceiling, is dedicated to the life of Parsifal, hero of another famous Wagner opera.
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 The Entrance Hall
The Entrance hall is divided into two aisles. Groined vaults adorned with decorative paintings, floor covered with tiles from Mettlach. To the left of the corridor, behind round-arched double windows, are the servants' quarters.
Throne-Room
The Throne-Room was created as the Grail-Hall of Parsifal. It was designed in elaborate Byzantine style by Eduard Ille and Julius Hofmann. Inspired by the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople (now Istanbul), the 2-story Throne Room with its series of pillars of imitation porphyry and lapis lazuli, was completed in the year of the king's death, 1886.
Set in half-domed, golden alcove, the throne platform is approached by a flight of white marble steps. The throne itself, designed in gold and ivory, was never made. The platform is flanked by paintings of the 12 Apostles, and behind the platform is a pattern of golden lions, the symbol of Bavaria.
Dining Room
The Dining Room of carved oak is decorated with paintings by Ferdinand von Piloty and Josef Aigner. They present figures from the "Minnesinger" period and scenes from the Wartburg Castle at the time of the legendary Song Contest in 1207. Over the door to the right is Wolfram von Eschenbach, the author of "Parzival" and "Lohengrin". The interior design of the room is by Julius Hofmann. The table sculpture, over 1 meter high, shows Siegfried fighting the dragon - a gift from Munich artists to Ludwig II.
Bedroom
In contrast to the other rooms, the Bedroom is sumptuously carved in the Neo-Gothic style. 14 woodcarvers are said to have worked 4½ years to create this room. The Monarch's bed is covered with richly embroidered draperies. The wall paintings illustrate the "Tristan and Isolde" story, a story which, in Wagner's operatic realization, had deeply impressed he 20 year old King. A stream above the castle brings flowing water directly to the washstand.
Chapel
Adjoining the bedroom is the small Chapel, dedicated to the Patron Saint of the King - Louis IX of France (St. Louis). The richly carved winged-altar is set into the decorated wall, and the altar paintings show scenes from the life of St. Louis. The stained glass windows to the right show St. Louis receiving the last sacraments. The windows are the work of the "Mayerischen" Court Art-Studio.
Dressing Room
The dressing Room is completed in relatively simple oak paneling, and the trellis-work painted on the ceiling gives the impression of the room opening to the sky. The wall paintings illustrate the life and work of Walther von der Vogelweide and Hans Sachs - after the "Siegfried" motives of the Entrance Hall, and the "Tristan" motives of the Bedroom, this room is given over to the world of the "Mastersinger" period.
Living Room
The richly decorated Living Room with its extension chamber, the so-called "Swan's Corner", is completely dedicated to the legend of the Swan Knight Lohengrin - a saga of great meaning and importance for Ludwig II.
The Large murals by Hauschild and von Heckel depict "The Miracle of the Grail" and "The Arrival of Lohengrin in Antwerp". The motive where - on the carved and painted paneling of the walls and ceilings and in the golden needle-point of the silk upholstery and draperies. Ludwig II, who as a young prince was so overwhelmed by Wagner's opera Lohengrin that he considered it a form of enlightenment, identified himself wholly with the Swan Knight, and enjoyed dressing up as Lohengrin. The tragedy of Lohengrin was his essential loneliness. This was also the fate of the King.
Grotto and winter garden
Between the Living Room and the Study Ludwig II had an artificial stalactite cavern built. These were in romantic vogue at that time. The landscape sculptor, Dirrigl from Munich, who had also built the grotto in the park of Schloss "Linderhof", built this grotto out of oakum and plaster-of-Paris, which has an artificial waterfall and which, with its illumination from above, is very effective.
As one goes out of the grotto, immediately to the right, after the Living Room, one comes to the entrance to the Winter Garden which is closed off by means of a glass door, sunk into the rock. The fountain in the Winter Garden was originally intended for the second floor. There it was to have graced a Moorish hail (with the Alhambra in Granada as its model). Because of the ceasing of the building work, with The Moorish hall not being built this fountain was placed in the Winter Garden. As in Wagner's opera "Tannhäuser", the grotto was to have represented the introduction to the study, in which room the painting of the legend is to be seen.
Study
The Gothic-styled Study of the King is stamped with references to the history of the Wartburg Castle. The paintings, set in finely carved wall panels, are carried out on Gobelin canvas by Josef Aigner and illustrate the Tannhäuser saga and the Song Contest of the Wartburg.
Singer's Hall
The Singer's Hall occupies the entire 4th floor of the castle and is a copy of the Minstrels Hall of the Wartburg Castle in Thuringia, designed by Julius Hofmann. The murals in the hall and in the corridor depict scenes from the "Parzival" saga of the middle-ages, which were, to a certain extent, incorporated by Wagner in his Sacred Festival-Drama Parsifal.
Neuschwanstein Caslte, created by Ludwig as a Grail Castle and simultaneously a Castle of the Swan Knight Lohengrin, embraces yet another hero in this hall, namely Tannhäuser.
Kitchen
The completely intact Kitchen shows how modern technology was allowed to take its place whitin the atmosphere of the middle ages captured in the upper stories. The elaborate equipment includes hot and cold running water, and automatic spit roasters.
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Neuschwanstein Today
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". In the summer around 6,000 visitors a day stream through rooms that were intended for a single inhabitant.
The setting of Neuschwanstein could not be more idyllic. However, movement in the foundation area has to be continuously monitored, and the sheer rock walls must be repeatedly secured. The harsh climate also has a detrimental effect on the limestone façades, which will have to be renovated section by section over the next few years.
Since 1990 the Free State of Bavaria has spent around 11.2 million euros on the renovation and maintenance of the castle and improvement of the visitor service.
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| Opening time |
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April - September: 9 am - 6 pm
cash desk open from 8 am - 5 pm
October - March: 10 am - 4 pm
cash desk open from 9 am - 3 pm
open daily
Closed on the following days:
1.1., Shrove Tuesday, 24.12., 25.12., 31.12.
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| Getting There
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By air: Munich International Airport
By rail: Train: Füssen Station
By road: Coach: Services from Füssen to Hohenschwangau. Car: A9 (from Berlin and Nuremberg); A92 (from Passau); A95 (from the Alps); A8 (from Salzburg); B17 (from Munich).
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