Neuschwanstein Castle
If Neuschwanstein looks familiar, it is probably because it was the inspiration for Cinderella's Castle. Long before the image became synonymous with Disney, it was home to the Bavarian King, Ludwig II, who commissioned the Romanesque-style Neuschwanstein Castle during the late 19th century. Idyllically situated in the foothills of the Alps in the southwest area of Bavaria, it was to be a place of refuge for the reclusive king. He spent his childhood in the Hohenschwangau Castle nearby whose gothic motifs of Bavarian legend influenced the young and fanciful Ludwig II. As an adult, he was passionate about the arts, most specifically opera. He formed a great friendship with Richard Wagner who dedicated Lohengrin to the young “Swan” King in 1850. Neuschwanstein was to be a place where Ludwig II could live out his medieval fantasies in solitude.
After losing a war with Prussia in 1866, Ludwig II lost his rights of sovereignty but remained a constitutional monarch. He turned his attention to the creation of the Neuschwanstein Castle. Construction began in 1868 using the latest technology and by 1882 it was complete enough for Ludwig II to take up residence. He employed a team of architects, artisans, and designers to bring his dream castle into fruition. As construction forged on, the king’s plans became more and more elaborate replacing guest rooms with a Moorish inspired hall, a writing room with a grotto, and an audience hall with a throne room.
Contrary to rumors, Ludwig II funded the construction of Neuschwanstein privately--not with the Bavarian treasury. Since the plans for the Neuschwanstein were increasingly becoming more elaborate, the cost naturally increased. He sought credit from his cabinet but was denied. In June of 1886, King Ludwig II was disposed from the throne, declared insane, and died mysteriously in Lake Starnberg days later. He never lived to see his beloved Neuschwanstein completed. Some seven weeks after his death, the fairy-tale castle was opened to the public and has been attracting millions of visitors annually ever since.
