Neuschwanstein, Bavaria 🇩🇪

Neuschwanstein Castle - @lanju_fotografie Unsplash

In 1868 the castle begins to take shape in a letter to a man King Ludwig II admired, the German composer Richard Wagner.

Ludwig II wrote, "It is my intention to rebuild the old castle ruin... in the authentic style of the old German knights' castles." A year prior, Ludwig II had taken a trip to Wartburg castle (Germany) and Château de Pierrefonds (France).

Taking inspiration from both he created Neuschwanstein as a retreat for himself in a romantic version of the Middle Ages. The style is Historicism, a revival of styles of the past. And coupled with the Romantic movement of the late 1800s with a strong preference for medieval style.

King Ludwig II borrowed from medieval styles and others to create Neuschwanstein. During the construction of this castle Bavaria joined the German Empire in 1871.

With most of the castle in the Romanesque style and some parts Gothic. Other parts are Byzantine and an unfinished part of the castle was to be Art Nouveau. The cost was equivalent to €47 million today.

Why was the castle left unfinished?

Originally funded by his personal fortune but when he ran out of personal funds King Ludwig II opened up multiple credit lines. Even after the credit lines, he still needed more funds. He asked the Bavarian Parliament to help and he was denied.

In June of 1886 he was deposed by the Bavarian government and deemed 'mentally ill'.

A few days later (June 13th) he was put under supervision. Both Ludwig II and his supervisor died, some say under suspicious circumstances. Others say he drowned.

What happened to the castle?

Construction continued for the next few years until the family of Ludwig II decided to halt building. The castle was left unfinished. And today, you can join one of the 1.5 million visitors annually that visit this (still unfinished) romanticized version of a Knight's castle.