Neuschwanstein castle

Just seven weeks after the mysterious death of King Ludwig II. the Neuschwanstein castle was opened to the public in 1886. Initially the „Kini“ had intended the place as a retreat – yet soon it became one of Bavaria’s most popular pilgrimage sites.

The castle’s worldwide popularity is due to the magic history of the fairy tale king. Born in Munich in 1845 and named Otto Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig, he early discovered his love for the arts and particularly for the operas of Richard Wagner. At age he was proclaimed king of Bavaria after the death of his father Maximilian in 1864. He indulged in the fine arts extensively for many tastes and cumulated many debts with his building passion that today’s free state (since 1918) had to carry.

Ludwig conveys his first ideas for the castle in his letters to Richard Wagner in 1868. He got inspired by a journey to Wartburg castle in Eisenach, among others. On September 5th, 1869, the cornerstone was laid. In 1880 the topping-out ceremony for the Palas was celebrated before it was finalized in 1884.

Ironically Ludwig II. died in 1886 and had only lived in the castle for 6 months. The circumstances of his death are still a mystery to this day. After his incapacitation by the Bavarian government on June 9th, 1886 he was accommodated at Berg castle at Lake Starnberg (“Würmsee” back then). On Juni 13th he went for a walk with Dr. von Gudden in the Schlosspark, from which they wouldn’t return alive. The official version says that the doctor wanted to hold back Ludwig from suicide and that they drowned during this attempt. The rumours won’t end, only the cross in the lake at the alleged scene of accident is a fact.

But speaking of the castle: It wasn’t finalized when Ludwig died, only one third of the planned rooms. After this the Viereck tower and bowers were built.

But the „moon king“, as he was called for his inclination for the night, had proven a sense for innovation. For his retreat of the poetic world he used modern technique. The rooms of the Palas were heated by a hot air central heating and all floors had running water.

For Ludwig, another recurring element besides the medieval times was the swan. As a Christian symbol of purity, pursued by him, the swan was the heraldic animal of the count of Schwangau, in whose line Ludwig saw himself. In the throne room without a throne you can comprehend his religious and political notions: a kingdom by grace of God as a holy duty.

The castle serves as an allegory of romanticism and counts 1.3 million visitors per year. Besides the common tours you can also book a mythological theme tour. The castle has been a film location for numerous fairy tale movies and, together with Oktoberfest, stands for the genuine Bavaria.

 

by Christopher Willis