Construction of the famous castle began in 1869 as part of the then-ruling monarch's desire to construct a home for himself that he could consider his refuge. King Ludwig II had spent much of his childhood at nearby Hohenschwangau castle, which had been decorated by his father with stories of medieval knights and fairytales. He chose the spot for Neuschwanstein just above Hohenschwangau village because of his fond memories. Construction lasted for decades and was not finished by the time Ludwig II died in 1886 from suicide. The castle was opened just six weeks after his death, has been open to tourists ever since. Ludwig II never intended for the castle to be made public. Many of the rooms remain empty as only 14 of them were finished by the time Ludwig II died.
Ludwig II had a fondness for all things medieval and in particular the saga of Lohengrin, a knight bound to serve a village away from his true love. This saga was portrayed in an opera by Richard Wagner, who was a personal friend of Ludwig II's. Ludwig II wrote to Wagner after he conceived Neuschwantsein and told him of the importance of his opera as inspiration for the project. The image of the swan is displayed in the opera and was a leitmotif throughout the castle.
The design and architectural elements of the castle are a mix of Romanesque and Gothic styles. Today, Neuschwanstein is considered the prototypical "medieval" castle, however this mixture of styles is simply known as historicism. Historicism not only sought to re-create styles of the past, but to alter them through the architect's idea of "perfecting" them. The castle was meant to look like a picturesque relic of the past, but Ludwig II made sure to incorporate modern technology throughout. The castle has central heating, hot and cold water, running toilets and dumb waiters to help the staff transport food through the castle.
Fussen is the highest town in Bavaria. Bavaria is German state located in the southern tip of the country. Fussen is a popular tourist town due to its location near three castles, including Neuschwanstein. Fussen has its own charms, however. The river Lech, which begins in Austria, flows through Fussen and adds to the picturesque surroundings of the Bavarian Alps. The "Romantic Road" is a well-known trip through Germany that includes beautiful walled towns and picturesque villages. The "Romantic Road" ends in Fussen, with breathtaking views of the Bavarian hillside.
As of 2010, tickets can be purchased for a guided tour through the Ticketcenter Hohenschwangau, which is located at the bottom of the castle. This is the only place tickets may be purchased. You may purchase tickets up to two days in advance, via phone. Or you may purchase tickets in person the day of your visit. Ticket prices are nine euros per ticket.
Ticketcenter Neuschwanstein - Hohenschwangau
Alpseestrae 12, D-87645 Hohenschwangau
Telephone +49 (0) 83 62 - 9 30 83 - 0
Fax +49 (0) 83 62 -9 30 83 - 20
www.ticket-center-hohenschwangau.de
