What happened to the crazy king of bavaria from neuschwanstein castle. Germany, Bavaria. Fairy tale castle Neuschwanstein

Why is Neuschwanstein Castle famous? How to get to Neuschwanstein, what to see in the surroundings and why it is called the most graceful castle in Europe.

The most famous German castle is Neuschwanstein, located in the mountains near Austria. It is depicted on numerous tourist symbols, postcards, booklets, magazine covers. The initiator of the construction of such a structure was the romantic Ludwig II, who ordered the construction of several more structures. But it was Neuschwanstein Castle that turned out to be the most majestic and graceful, embodying the romantic fantasies of the king.

• (23 PHOTOS) →

Neuschwanstein architecture

The name of the castle is translated as New Swan Stone. Ludwig considered himself the swan knight from Wagner's opera. Also, the swan was a symbol on the coat of arms of the Schwangau family, from which Maximilian II, Ludwig's father, descended.

For the construction of the castle, Ludwig II chose one of the mountains of the Bavarian Alps, the plateau of which had to be made eight meters lower. On the site of Neuschwanstein, there were previously two fortresses - the upper and lower Schwangau. Construction of the castle began in the late 1860s. and continued until 1883. Its architecture absorbed all the traditions knight's castles, but unlike real similar medieval buildings, it did not become a fortification or a royal residence.

Neuschwanstein (Bavaria)

The project of the castle was developed by Ludwig II himself, who insisted on the need to build spacious halls and luxurious royal apartments. All works were supervised by the architect E. Riedel, whose ideas were embodied by K. Jank through decoration.

In parallel with the main work on the construction of the castle, the construction of the gate was carried out. They were completed by 1873, and Neuschwanstein itself in 1883. The castle had five floors, many of which were not completed. The total number of rooms in the castle was one hundred and ten, but only 16 were completed.

Sandstone and marble were used for the construction. A portal and a bay window were built of sandstone. Marble was used to decorate window openings, columns, capitals and vault.

It was planned to build another tower, which was to become the main one in the castle. It was supposed to house a church, but Parliament refused to allocate money for their construction after the death of the king (1886). Also with west side the terrace and the bathing room were not completed, as well as the knight's overdoor premises on the third floor.

A feature of the internal and external architecture was the fact that Neuschwanstein Castle was built around the so-called singers' room. More than six million gold marks were spent on the castle, and in order to return them to the treasury of Bavaria and Germany, the castle was opened to visitors.

Fairy castle interior

Love for Wagner and Swans

The internal architecture is a mixture of styles, the dominant of which is Gothic. The walls are covered with numerous paintings, complex frescoes, reflecting the king's passion for German folklore and literature. For example, poems from sagas, songs and legends. Only in the royal bedroom is classical Gothic diluted with other, knightly motifs. But the main illustrations are based on Wagner's operas, scenes from which are reflected in many tapestries.

It was the image of this bird and the architecture of the castle that influenced Tchaikovsky when he wrote Swan Lake.

Separate rooms are dedicated to the composer's individual operas - Loegrinn, Parsifal or Tannhäuser. In those rooms that have managed to decorate, there is always an image of a swan. Even the washstand in the royal apartments is shaped like a swan.

Mystery of Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein is surrounded by a mystical aura created by the scandalous nature of the king, his desire to embody chivalrous ideals in everything. This is reflected in the internal structure of the castle. For example, a secret grotto was built near the king's rooms, the walls of which were decorated like a cave. It is connected by a secret auditory passage to the singers' hall, which became the venue for concerts in the pre-war and post-war times.

#castlebavaria

By different versions, during the Second World War, the Reichsbank gold was stored in the castle. It was taken out of there just before the surrender of Germany and disappeared without a trace. It is believed that he was drowned in Lake Alat, located near Neuschwanstein. Along with the gold, Hitler's antiques and jewels disappeared from the castle.

The fabulous images created by Walt Disney not only delight and educate our children, but also take adults to a wonderful time of fantasy and incredible possibilities. The image of the pointed turrets of the castle begins the countdown before the start of a journey to a world where evil will always be defeated by good, where princesses and fearless knights live, where love and friendship conquer all earthly vices.

The castle, built in Disneyland Paris for Sleeping Beauty, became the prototype for the initial logo of the Disney company. And now it is no longer a secret that the magical "home" for Beauty in the amusement park was a huge model of Neuschwanstein - a Bavarian castle hidden in the Alps. Another interesting castle in Germany that deserves attention is Burg Eltz Castle.

The Bavarian monarch Ludwig II, who ascended the throne in 1864, is affectionately referred to by the Bavarians themselves as the "fairytale king", and until now he is recognized as the most mysterious historical figure these lands. His whole life and even mysterious death was accompanied by legends and conjectures. And main reason this was the deep loneliness of the king, which year by year he enjoyed with greater force.

Before starting a conversation about any of the castles built by Ludwig II, each guide will certainly refer to the history of the life of the Bavarian king: to his childhood and adolescence, the reign, and, of course, the overthrow and mysterious death.

The family estate of the Wittelsbach family, a feudal dynasty of medieval knights, was located on the shores of the most beautiful lake Schwansee (“swan lake”) near the town of Füssen. This is a southeastern Bavarian land bordering Austria, along which the historical road of the Roman conquerors "romantische strasse" (romantic road) passed. The great migration of the times of Claudius Augustus left many towns and castles along this route, reminiscent of the exploits and merits of medieval knights.

Hohenschwangau Castle, which existed until the 12th century, was raised from ruins by Ludwig's father Maximilian II. Here, in the summer residence of the Wittelsbachs, the childhood and adolescence of a young offspring of a feudal family passed. The entire interior of the castle, including wall tapestries, was saturated with romantic stories of medieval legends about Lohengrin - the swan knight, Tannhäuser, Parsifal and Richard the Lionheart. The boy, representing himself as a participant in fairy tales, and most of all inspired by the image of Lohengrin, grew up dreamy, impressionable, trying to retire from the realities of reality.

A connoisseur of nature, music and poetry, he also had a great architectural talent. This passion for construction was impressively realized during his rule of the country. And the goal of his whole life was the embodiment of his fantasies into real architectural designs. And there were many ideas. Ludwig II wanted to build several castles, which were supposed to be the epitome of the sophistication of the era of chivalry and romanticism. But he managed to bring to life only three - Linderhof, Herrenchiemsee and Neuschwanstein. The construction of the latter was completed after the death of the monarch. But this did not stop Neuschwanstein from becoming the most popular castle to visit in all of Bavaria.

How to get there

Acquaintance with the castle begins from afar, even at the entrance to the village of Hohenschwangau, where all cars and tourist buses park. Already from here a “postcard” view of the fabulous structure, fortified on the top of the mountain, opens up. In contrast to European castles, which were built as defensive structures to demonstrate strength and power, Neuschwanstein looks like a puppet palace for a fairy-tale character, demonstrating a clear distance from real life.

But the reality is thousands of tourists seeking to get inside the castle, and the terminal at the foot of the mountain, which allows you to purchase a "pass" to this fairy tale. A ticket is a visitor's registration and reservation of a place in an excursion group, indicating the start time. You can climb to the castle on foot (about an hour), by a special bus, or by a stylized old horse-drawn cart with a colorful Bavarian coachman. Many choose the latter option, thereby getting the opportunity to admire the unforgettable landscapes and feel the atmosphere of fabulousness in advance.

The observation platform at the foot of the castle allows you to see all the details of the surrounding landscape. And he's impressive! On one side, the Alpine peaks are reflected in the crystal waters of the Alpsee. To the right is a lush green valley with a white church of the village of Schwangau, and on the left side, behind the chess profile of the Hohenschwangau castle, you can see the small lake Schwansee.

Despite its unimpressive size, it was it that inspired the landscape for Tchaikovsky's creation of his elegant Swan Lake. Of course, the composer's creative flight was born not only by the bewitching Bavarian landscapes. The birth of images and magical music directly related to Wagner's opera and the legend of the swan knight Lohengrin.

When talking about Neuschwanstein, one cannot fail to mention the special attitude of King Ludwig II towards the German composer. At the age of sixteen, the king was fascinated by Wagner's music at the premiere of the opera Lohengrin. All his inspired fantasies were embodied on that stage, and a few years later the king met the great composer. Throughout his life, the "fairytale king" was a patron and patron of the musician. He dreamed that Wagner would write his future creations in Neuschwanstein's Swan Castle.

Construction

The construction of Neuschwanstein (“New Swan Rock”) was determined on the site where two Schwangau fortresses, already destroyed by time, were previously located. The artificial undermining of the rock made it possible to create a site for future construction. A road and a pipeline were laid to the top of the mountain, after which, immediately, in 1869, construction began, the pace of which surprised the entire district.

I must say that being an ardent supporter of all the innovations of the technical progress of that time, Ludwig II sought to apply them in the implementation of his projects. To facilitate the transportation of goods and building materials at the construction site, a steam crane and locomobiles were used. The novelties of technological progress were also used inside the architectural masterpiece: plumbing, central heating and telephone system.

The creators of the project, architect Eduard Riedel and set designer Christian Jank, presented more than 60 sketches to the king. And since the idea itself was entirely devoted to Wagner, the inspiration of the creators was based on the impressions of the Wartburg castle, located in the Thuringian Forest, where the legendary “Competition of Singers” was held in the 11th century. According to the project, which, unfortunately, was not given full realization, the castle ensemble was planned to include a palace, women's quarters, a donjon, a knight's house and an entrance gate.

Architecture

The entrance gate, crowned with the Bavarian coat of arms, greets visitors to the castle bright colors red brick and yellow sandstone. From the territory of the courtyard, framed by two terraces, a journey through the interiors of the castle begins. Guides with great love, even with some subservience, talk about every corner of the buildings, where it is only possible to lead visitors.

Almost everything surprises: the ideas of the project, the location, the purpose of certain rooms and interior items. Compositions of facades thought out to the smallest detail, interior decoration rooms and the "surprises" of the interiors create the impression that at any moment a theatrical action can unfold here. In Neuschwanschein, obviously, the basic rule of plot intrigue is observed: with each step, interest increases.

There are many architectural and interior "surprises" that strike the imagination of visitors. By 1886, only 15 of the 80 rooms of the castle planned by the king were completed. Most of them are very intimate. The chambers are designed for only one person - Ludwig himself. The carpet paintings that cover the walls of each of the rooms reveal various plots of medieval legends and, of course, Wagner's operas.

Hall of Choirs

Returning to the favorite of Ludwig II Wanger, it must be said that the main hall, which was intended for a grandiose musical prospect with theatrical performances and competitions of singers, became the Hall of Singers. The massive trapezoidal oak ceiling that covers the hall not only makes a strong impression with its shape and decor, but also serves as an excellent resonator for sound, creating wonderful acoustics. A conditional small stage, as it were, is always ready to unfold the action and fill the hall with music connoisseurs. But, sadly, Wagner, to whom the creation of this Hall was dedicated, has never been here.

The journey through the castle passes sequentially through all the living quarters of the palace, in which the Bavarian monarch managed to live for just over five months. And here, surprises await visitors who are amazed by the decoration.

Library

Moving through the salon - a library, the design of which is entirely dedicated to Parsifal and Lohengrin, the guide stops his attention on a small, carved door. The surprise that opens behind the oak gates delights and amazes everyone. Here is the grotto. A skillfully created cave with a swimming pool and lighting is a place of unity between the king and nature. According to the project, the grotto is a through room. From it, the monarch could get into his office, where the surroundings again corresponded to the general style of the castle.

Address: Germany, Bavaria, near Fussen
Start of construction: 1869
Completion of construction: 1886
Architect: Christian Jank
Coordinates: 47°33"26.8"N 10°44"58.9"E

AT the most beautiful corner In the Bavarian Alps, on a high hill overgrown with dark green fir trees, Neuschwanstein Castle majestically rises. Its slender silhouette with pointed, "toy" towers resembles a picture from a fairy tale.

Castle from a bird's eye view

And all because its creator Ludwig II embodied his fantasies and dreams in him. Ever since childhood future king was fond of medieval legends about knights and ancient Germanic sagas, and from the age of 16 he became a passionate admirer of the work of Richard Wagner. Having ascended the throne, Ludwig II made Wagner his favorite, provided the composer with a luxurious country villa and, impressed by his operas, decided to build a castle.

View of the castle from Mary's bridge (Marienbrücke)

Neuschwanstein - Castle of the Swan Knight

Neuschwanstein Castle was built in 1869-1886 in the style of a knight's fortress. It is no coincidence that the king appointed theater artist Christian Jank as the architect and head of the work. First of all, Ludwig II sought architectural picturesqueness.

The name of Neuschwanstein Castle - "New Swan Stone" - is associated with the opera "Lohengrin" by Richard Wagner, written based on the legend of the Knight - Swan.

View of the castle from the east

Tradition says that once in the Duchy of Brabant, the ruler died without an heir. The Duke's daughter Elsa is afraid that the kingdom will be lost, but suddenly a knight appears on a boat pulled by a swan. He marries Duchess Elsa, promises to protect and love her, and in return asks for only one thing - her beloved should never ask about his origin. For many years the Swan Knight rules Brabant, but one day the duchess asks a forbidden question.

View of the castle gate and square tower

Then a swan immediately appears to the knight and takes him to unknown lands, from which he once appeared. The monarch decorated his entire castle with swans. They are everywhere - in the form of vases and wall paintings, embroidered in gold on curtains, carved on the facade and carved on wood paneling. The swan became a symbol of the castle also because it was depicted on the coat of arms of the family of the Counts of Schwangau, from which Ludwig II came.

View of the balcony on the northwest facade of the castle

Throne room

There are more than 360 rooms in Neuschwanstein Castle, and each of them is dedicated to the heroes of Wagner. The most impressive room is, of course, the Throne Room, decorated in Byzantine style. In it, the king wanted to embody the "Hall of the Holy Grail" from Wagner's drama "Parsifal".

Huge room with high ceilings support two rows of columns. The lower row of purple columns is finished in porphyry, while the upper row is made of artificial lapis lazuli.

View of the gate from the lower courtyard

The steps of the marble staircase, framed with images of 12 apostles, lead to a niche where the royal throne, decorated with a cross and the coat of arms of Bavaria, should have stood. But the throne was never made. The paintings on the walls illustrate early Christian stories. At the level of the gallery with the second tier of columns, a huge gilded chandelier in the shape of a Byzantine crown is suspended. The floor, paved with mosaics, depicts a stylized flora and fauna.

View of the castle from the courtyard

Singing Hall

The Singing Hall was intended for productions of Wagner's operas. During the life of Ludwig II, not a single concert was given in the Singing Hall, but today a classical music festival is held here every year. This is the largest and most luxuriously decorated room with numerous canvases and tapestries dedicated to the knight Parzival. Parzival is the hero of a medieval legend and one of Wagner's operas, who went from being naive to not knowing life youth to the Grail King.

Throne room

The largest, central painting of the Song Hall captures the climax of the legend, when Parzival first enters the Grail.

Royal chambers

Carved oak panels, massive wooden furniture and curtains (curtains) embroidered with silk are present in all the rooms that make up the royal chambers - in the bedroom, chapel, dining room, living room, study.

Royal chambers

The royal bedchamber, made in neo-Gothic style, is quite remarkable. It is replete with carved decorations and ornaments, which were made by 14 craftsmen for 4.5 years. Paintings hang on the walls, telling about the tragic love of Tristan and Isolde. The design of the living room is permeated with a swan motif, its interior is subject to a single plan - the legend of the Swan Knight.

Living room

Neuschwanstein - a fairy tale with a sad ending

Neuschwanstein Castle Palace became the favorite residence of Ludwig II. But the happiness of the king did not last long: having lived in Neuschwanstein for only 170 days, he was taken under house arrest and transported to Berg Castle. Doctors declared Ludwig II "terminally mentally ill", accusing him of a fanatical passion for Wagner and that he spent a huge amount of money on the construction of "unnecessary" castles and got into debt.

Lock
Schloss Neuschwanstein
Country	Germany
Website	Official site
at Wikimedia Commons

Coordinates : 47°33′27″ N sh. 10°45′00″ E d. /  47.5575° N sh. 10.75° E d.(G) (O) (I)47.5575 , 10.75

Construction history

Construction work at the castle (1882-1885)

It is difficult to imagine what problems one had to face then and how much building material was required. The cement manufacturer alone, Jakob Lang of Schongau, supplied no less than 9,000 quintals of cement in 1872. In the same year, the Unhoh company supplied 184,500 liters of lime. There are usage statistics building material: 9300 centners of Salzburg marble 91000 centners of Nürthing sandstone 400000 bricks 3600 cubic meters of sand 12000 centners of cement 1000 centners of charcoal 2050 cubic meters of boards (for scaffolding). Sandstone for the portal and bay window was brought from Nürtingen, Württemberg. For windows, arches, columns and capitals, marble from near Salzburg was used. Great amount building materials were lifted from the west side of the building in trolleys using a steam-powered crane. They were delivered and installed in the right place using a special system of lifting blocks. Construction machines were already checked annually for safety and reliability by the "Bavarian Audit Commission for steam boilers", from which came today's Association of Technical Supervision(TUV). In 1880, 209 carpenters, masons and auxiliary workers were employed at the construction site. After the death of the king (in 1886) all construction works were suspended. The third floor of the castle and the knight's quarters were not completed. The main tower of the castle with a church, 90 m high, which was supposed to rise above all the buildings, was not built at all. The western terrace, which was supposed to lead to the unfinished bathhouse, was not finished either.

Interior decoration

Throne Room (postcard, late 19th century)

Ludwig II embodied the idea of ​​the Wartburg halls, Festive and Song, in the hall of singers. The king definitely wanted to build this hall, so the Neuschwanstein castle itself was built, as it were, around this hall. Numerous wall paintings illustrate motifs from the legend of Parzival, which inspired Wagner to create his stage work. During the life of the king, the hall of singers was not used in any way. Only in 1933, on the 50th anniversary of the death of the composer Richard Wagner and until the outbreak of war in 1939, were held in the castle holiday concerts. In 1969, the decision was made to resume the concerts, which can still be attended today.

Although the throne room was never completed, it is without a doubt the most impressive. In it, the king wanted to sing the grace of God. A basil-like bookmark with a special niche for the throne was supposed to speak of a religious connection between God and the king. Paintings by Wilhelm Hausschild over an empty throne place depict six kings who are numbered among the saints. The niche ends with images of Christ, Mary and John. Right and left, next to marble staircase, depicts 12 apostles - bearers of God's will. Particularly beautiful in this room is the mosaic floor by Deton from Vienna. On its surface is a celestial globe with images of animals and plants. The columns of the lower and upper parts of the throne room are made of artificial marble. The lower part of the columns is purple, top part made of artificial lapis lazuli.

View from the Marienbrücke

Illustrations for Wagner's operas and old German legends play the main role in the interior of the castle. The swan motif is what permeates the entire architecture and artistic decorations of the castle. The swan is the heraldic bird of the old family of the counts of Schwangau - the father of Ludwig, Maximilian II of Bavaria, considered himself the successor of this family.

Neuschwanstein offers a beautiful view from the nearby Marienbrücke bridge.

in the fog

Cultural allusions

Postcard from 1890

Museum

The castle is currently a museum. Visiting is possible only as part of a group (at the same time, automatic audio guides are issued for various languages, including Russian). To visit the castle, you need to buy a ticket at the ticket center (the desired time can be agreed on the website of the center) and go up to the castle by bus, as well as on foot or in a horse carriage. The only person who "lives" in the castle on this moment and is its guardian, is the watchman.

Notes

Literature

• Julius Desing the Royal Castle Neuschwanstein - Lechbruck am See: Wilhelm Kienberger GmbH. - 82 p. - .

Links

• Official website (German) (English) (French) (Italian) (Spanish)

The beautiful Bavarian Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the most visited in Germany. Neuschwanstein is one of the ten most beautiful similar structures world and is considered one of the most romantic places. The castle is built on a rock 92 meters high and harmoniously fits into the fabulous beauty of the local landscape.

Wonder of the World, the pearl of the Bavarian Alps - this is how this building is often called. The name Neuschwanstein literally means "New Swan Rock". For imaginative people, the graceful white silhouette of the building resembles swans. Neuschwanstein Castle is generally incorrect. This is a palace with no defensive value.

Everyone is familiar with the logo of the Walt Disney cartoon company, which depicts the outlines of Neuschwanstein. It was this castle that became the prototype of Cinderella's castle, and therefore is called fabulous by many. The slender, soaring white stone palace is crowned with graceful pointed towers with loopholes and arched balconies. The height of the main tower is 80 meters.

From the ticket office in Schwangau, you can walk up to the Neuschweinstein castle on foot along a scenic road, a distance of about 2 kilometers. But you can take a bus, a round-trip ticket costs 2.60 euros. The attraction is not for the faint of heart, it should be noted. On a rather difficult serpentine, the driver rushes at high speed. Horse-drawn carriages, which are popular, are also at the service of tourists.

From the huge patterned windows of the castle, beautiful views of the surrounding landscapes and Hohenschwangau Castle open up.

Most beautiful views the castle itself is opened from Mary's bridge.

Behind the castle you can see the artificial lake Forggensee. Best photos Neuschwanstein Castle can be made from here, or by climbing the mountain along the so-called King's Trail, starting immediately after the bridge.

The Mary Bridge (Marienbrücke) is thrown over the Pellat Gorge at a height of 92 meters. Everyone admires the 45-meter waterfall, which does not seem big at all from above.

The bridge is named after the mother of Ludwig II - the Prussian Crown Princess Maria Friederike. Initially, the bridge was wooden, and in 1866 it was replaced with metal structures.

Once upon a time, Ludwig admired his castle from here alone, but nowadays there is simply no crowding on the bridge. The bridge is hung with locks of love. The logic of those who do this is completely incomprehensible. The castle is very beautiful, but there are no romantic stories associated with it. Ludwig was considered the most beautiful monarch of his time, but he avoided women, categorically did not want to marry and continue his family, preferring to spend time in solitude with his dreams and handsome young men. Although, it is believed that the king was in love with his cousin, the Austrian Empress Elizabeth, known as Sissi, all his life. Definitely, King Ludwig was a contradictory and strange person.

Ludwig's fantasies began in his childhood, which he spent in the family castle of Hohenschwangau, richly decorated with frescoes depicting scenes from medieval legends. Fairy tales in childhood were told to the prince by Hans-Christian Andersen himself, specially invited for this by his parents. So, in fairy tales, the king lived his whole life, receiving, among other things, the nickname "fairytale king."

The swan was the heraldic symbol of the count family of Schwangau. Images of swans surrounded the inhabitants of the castle. So Ludwig II plunged into his world, the main one in which was the knight of the Swan Lohengrin. In 1861, Ludwig visited Wagner's opera Lohengrin, the plot of the opera gave rise to the idea of ​​building a fairy-tale castle in the head of the young prince. After accession to the throne in 1864, Ludwig II began to patronize Richard Wagner, giving him unlimited possibilities for creativity.

In 1869, on the site of the ruins of ancient forts on Mount Jugend, they began to build the "New Castle of Hohenschwangau". “The most beautiful place you can find. Here I will build a castle in the style of old German knightly fortresses,” Ludwig wrote to his favorite composer. The well-known name "Neuschwanstein" was given to the castle after the death of the king.

The king personally supervised the project, constantly making changes to it. The planned three-year period was constantly extended due to the incredible difficulties of building on the rock. The construction of the castle was completed only in 1883. Of the 360 ​​rooms, only 14 were finally finished.

In the design of the interiors of the castle, images of swans prevail in the most various options. Swans on walls and ceilings, on stairs and passages, carved, stone, painted, metal, glass. There is a Throne Room in the castle, but there is no throne in this room, they did not have time to make it before the death of the king. Work on the king's bedroom was carried out for more than 4 years, carved wooden bed is a true work of art.

Wall paintings in many rooms are based on Wagner operas. The fourth floor is entirely occupied by the hall of singers, it is completely decorated with images of characters from Wagner's operas.

Neuschwanstein Castle was built in the medieval style, but with modern comfort. There was air central heating, cold and hot water supply, sewerage, telephones and electric bells and electric hoists.

“I want to always remain a secret, both for myself and for others,” the young king said about himself. He remained a mystery to posterity, to this day someone considers him a romantic, and someone considers him a madman. Contemporaries eventually still leaned towards the second, calling the king Ludwig the Mad. In part, the king was called insane because of the huge expenses for the construction of the castle, because the "Toys of the King" cost the treasury exactly an insane amount. In addition to Neuschwanstein Castle, Ludwig erected 2 more castles. Liederhof and Gerrenchiimsee, each beautiful in its own way and required huge funds.

Since 1875, Ludwig II led a strange life, going for walks in the mountains at night and dressing in historical clothes. By the light of the moon, he recited his beloved Schiller, for which he was called the "moon king." Lights were lit in all the rooms of Neuschwanstein in the evening so that the king could admire his fairy-tale castle from afar. In June 1886, psychiatrists officially recognized the king as mentally ill, he was removed from the throne. 3 days later, Ludwig went for a walk with his personal doctor, and they were never seen alive again. The bodies were later found in the Starnbergsee lake.

2 months after the death of King Ludwig II, Neuschwanstein Castle was opened for paid visits. First of all, such a decision was made in order to repay the loans of the deceased. After 12 years, the debts of Ludwig the Mad were paid off, and the castle still brings tangible income to the country's treasury. They did not begin to complete the construction of the castle; among other things, it was supposed to have one more tower, higher than the existing one.

You can visit Neuschwanstein Castle only with a guided tour. When the group number indicated on the ticket lights up on the board installed at the entrance, you can pass through the turnstile by attaching a ticket with a bar code to the scanner. Groups leave every 5 minutes in the summer. Less common in winter and autumn.

During the year, the castle is visited by about 1.3 million tourists. And King Ludwig dreamed of seclusion here ...

The limestone facades of the castle are regularly restored. On the day of our trip, work was also actively going on.

During the Second World War, Neuschwanstein Castle was additionally overgrown with secrets. According to rumors, there was an ideological garrison of the Third Reich, engaged in the study of the occult. Historians believe that the Reichsbank gold could have been located in Neuschwanstein Castle, which may have been drowned in a nearby lake.

Since 1970, the Wagner Festival has been held every September at Neuschwanstein Castle, featuring the favorite music of King Ludwig II.

We did not visit inside, but outwardly Neuschwanstein Castle is incredibly impressive. It is huge, but graceful and elegant at the same time. Is it romantic? I'm not sure... The Bavarian king Ludwig II was a rare handsome man, but he avoided women and people in general. The king drank cognac and champagne immoderately, suffered from hallucinations, hiding here in his fantasies from real world. It is believed that Neuschwanstein Castle made King Ludwig's romantic dreams come true, but were they romantic? This beautiful castle built in romantic style- the house of a mad recluse, and therefore, rather, sad and tragic, rather than romantic, although unusually beautiful, which was the moon king Ludwig himself ...