Fairy-tale images created by Walt Disney not only delight and educate our children, but also transport adults to wonderful time fantasies and incredible possibilities. The image of the pointed turrets of the castle begins the countdown before the start of the 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 at Disneyland Paris for Sleeping Beauty became the prototype for the initial logo of the Disney company. And now it’s no longer a secret that the magical “house” 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 called the “fairy-tale king” by the Bavarians themselves, and to this day he is recognized as the most mysterious historical figure of these lands. His whole life and even his mysterious death was accompanied by legends and speculation. AND main reason this was deep loneliness king, which he enjoyed with greater vigor from year to year.
Before starting a conversation about any of the castles built by Ludwig II, each guide certainly turns to the life history of the Bavarian king: to his childhood and adolescence, the time of his reign, and, of course, his overthrow and mysterious death.
Family estate of the Wittelsbach family, feudal dynasty medieval knights, was located on the shores of the beautiful lake Schwansee (“swan lake”) near the town of Fussen. This is a south-eastern Bavarian state 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 young scion of a feudal family spent his childhood and adolescence. The entire interior of the castle, including the wall tapestries, was imbued with romantic scenes from medieval legends about Lohengrin - the Swan Knight, Tannhäuser, Parsifal and Richard the Lionheart. The boy, who imagines himself as a participant in fairy tales, and most of all inspired by the image of Lohengrin, grew up dreamy, impressionable, trying to isolate himself from the realities of reality.
A connoisseur of nature, music and poetry, he also had great architectural talent. This passion for construction was impressively realized during his reign over the country. And the goal of his whole life was to translate his fantasies into real ones. architectural plans. And there were many plans. Ludwig II wanted to build several castles that would embody 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 the cars and tourist buses are parked. From here you can see a “postcard” view of the fabulous structure perched on the top of the mountain. In contrast to European castles, which were built as defensive structures to demonstrate strength and power, Neuschwanstein looks like a doll's palace for a fairy-tale character, demonstrating a clear distance from real life.
But the reality is thousands of tourists trying to get inside the castle, and a terminal at the foot of the mountain that 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 get to the castle on foot (about an hour), on a special bus, or on a stylized ancient horse-drawn carriage with a colorful Bavarian coachman. Many people choose last option, thereby getting the opportunity to admire unforgettable landscapes and feel the atmosphere of fabulousness in advance.
The observation deck at the foot of the castle allows you to see all the details of the surrounding landscape. And he is impressive! On one side, the Alpine peaks are reflected in the crystal waters of the Alpsee. To the right lies a lush green valley with a white church in the village of Schwangau, and on the left side, behind the checkerboard profile of Hohenschwangau Castle, you can see small lake Schwansee.
Despite its unimpressive size, it was the landscape that inspired Tchaikovsky to create his elegant “Swan Lake.” Of course, the composer’s creative flight was born not only from the mesmerizing 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 special treatment King Ludwig II to the German composer. As a sixteen-year-old boy, 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. All his life, the “fairytale king” was a philanthropist 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 Cliff”) was determined on the site where two Schwangau fortresses, already destroyed by time, were previously located. The artificial explosion of the rock made it possible to create a site for future construction. A road and a pipeline were built to the top of the mountain, after which construction began immediately, in 1869, the pace of which surprised the entire area.
It must be said that, being an ardent supporter of all the innovations of 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, steam cranes and locomotives were used. The latest technological advances were also used inside the architectural masterpiece: plumbing, central heating and a telephone system.
The creators of the project, architect Eduard Riedel and set designer Christian Jank, presented the king with more than 60 sketches. And since the idea itself was entirely dedicated to Wagner, the inspiration of the creators was based on the impressions of the Wartburg Castle, located in the Thuringian Forest, where the legendary “Singing Competitions” were held in the 11th century. According to the project, which, unfortunately, was not allowed to be fully realized, the castle ensemble included a palace, women's quarters, a donjon, a knight's house and an access gate.
Architecture
The entrance gate, topped with the Bavarian coat of arms, greets visitors to the castle with the vibrant colors of red brick and yellow sandstone. From the territory of the courtyard, framed by two terraces, a journey through the interiors of the castle begins. The guides with great love, even with some servility, talk about every corner of the buildings where they can take visitors.
Almost everything is surprising: the plans of the project, the location, the purpose of certain rooms and interior items. The compositions of the facades, the interior decoration of the rooms and the “surprises” of the interiors, thought out to the smallest detail, create the impression that a theatrical action can unfold here at any moment. In Neuschwanschein, the basic rule of plot intrigue is obviously observed: with every step the interest increases.
There are many architectural and interior “surprises” that capture the imagination of visitors. By 1886, out of the 80 rooms in the castle planned by the king, only 15 were completed. Most of them are very intimate. The chambers are designed for only one person - Ludwig himself. The carpet paintings covering the walls of each room reveal various scenes from medieval legends and, of course, Wagner's operas.
Hall of Singers
Returning to the favorite of Ludwig II, Vanger, it must be said that the main hall, which was destined for a grandiose musical perspective with theatrical performances and singing competitions, became the Hall of Singers. The massive trapezoidal oak ceiling covering 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. The conventional small stage 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, was never here.
The journey through the castle takes place 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 amazed by the decoration.
Library
Moving through the salon - library, the design of which is entirely dedicated to Parsifal and Lohengrin, the guide stops his attention on a small door decorated with carvings. The surprise that opens behind the oak doors leaves everyone in delight and amazement. There is a grotto here. A skillfully created cave with a swimming pool and lighting is a place where the king unites with 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 general style castle
Neuschwanstein Castle (German: "New Swan Stone") is a romantic castle of the Bavarian king Ludwig II in southwestern Bavaria, near the Austrian border. This is one of the most visited castles in Germany, and one one of the most popular tourist places Europe.
Photos by Nikolai Myasnikov, liveberlin
This castle was built at the end of the nineteenth century for the amusement of the Bavarian king Ludwig II, who re-read chivalric novels and adventure legends as a child. He wanted it no matter what" fairytale castle" It was lucky that the father was also a king - he left his son some money and opportunities. However, they were not enough and the construction of the castle added debt to both Ludwig and his kingdom.
You can climb to it from the town of Fussen either on foot or on horseback. (Photo by Nikolai Myasnikov):
On the way, you can admire views of Lake Alpsee and Hohenschwangau Castle - the headquarters of the parents of the “fairy-tale king”. (Photo by Nikolai Myasnikov):
Here she is close. (Photo by Nikolai Myasnikov):
Gradually, contours begin to appear in the fog... (Photo by Nikolai Myasnikov):
... and then the walls of Neuschwanstein Castle appear - New Swan Cliff, if we say so. (Photo by Nikolai Myasnikov):
Since all this was built not so much for show-off, but for the soul, a special observation bridge was also erected in a strategic place. He is not visible here yet. (Photo by Nikolai Myasnikov):
But then the wind disperses the fog and the Marienbrücke Bridge appears in the distance. It is from here that one of the two opens best views to the castle. (Photo by Nikolai Myasnikov):
There are always so many people crowding here that it is not so easy to squeeze through. Some people push baby strollers in front of them. (Photo by Nikolai Myasnikov):
I was, in fact, lucky - having settled down behind a family equipped with a battering ram stroller, I got onto the bridge. (Photo by Nikolai Myasnikov):
Even in nasty weather, the views here are quite nice. (Photo by Nikolai Myasnikov):
(Photo by Nikolai Myasnikov):
Neuschwanstein Castle stands on the site of two fortresses. King Ludwig II ordered to lower the plateau by approximately 8 meters at this place by exploding the rock and thereby create a place for the construction of a “fairytale palace”. On September 5, 1869, the first stone was laid for the construction of a huge castle.
Construction work at the castle (1882-1885). In 1880, more than 200 carpenters, masons and auxiliary workers were employed at the construction site:
Ludwig II went down in history as the “fairy-tale king” thanks to the castles he built, on which he spent all his money and time. On June 13, 1886, he drowned on Lake Starnberg under mysterious circumstances. According to one common version, it was a political assassination of an inconvenient and uncontrollable king.
After the king's death in 1886, everything construction works were suspended. Main tower The castle with the church, 90 m high, which should have towered over all the buildings, was not built at all. (Photo by Santi Rodriguez):
Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria truly gives the impression of a fairytale castle. It was built at a time when castles had already lost their defensive functions. . (Photo by Edgar Moskopp):
Inside, Neuschwanstein is very different from the Prussian royal castles of Berlin and Potsdam. But filming there is strictly prohibited. Currently the castle is a museum. Visiting is only possible as part of a group. (Photo by Jessica)
The interior of the castle is a mixture of various architectural and artistic styles, a combination of Moorish, Gothic and Baroque elements: there are columns and a throne room. Interior of the great hall at Neuschwanstein Castle:
Although throne room was not completed during construction, it is without a doubt the most impressive. Post card, late XIX century:
Ludwig's bedroom at Neuschwanstein Castle. Eyewitnesses claimed that 15 craftsmen worked on the manufacture of a carved wooden bed for Ludwig for 4.5 years:
Views from the balcony of Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria. (Photo by William McIntosh):
At the end of World War II, part of the Reichsbank gold was kept in the castle. IN last days During the war, the gold was taken away to an unknown destination. (Photo by Maria Globetrotter):
Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria primarily amazes with its cold grandeur and pointed towers among the Alpine peaks:
Views from the castle balcony. (Photo by William McIntosh):
Neuschwanstein Castle in summer:
...and in winter. (Photo by longyan79):
Every year over 1 million 300 thousand visitors pass through the gates of Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria. (Photo by Harald Mieling):
Neuschwanstein CastleCastle) is located in the south of Bavaria (in Germany) near the small city of Fussen, not far from the Austrian border.
The castle was built under King Ludwig II. By his order, a rock was chosen in Bavaria, which was lowered by about 8 meters with the help of an explosion, thus clearing the place for the construction of the castle. A pipeline was laid to the site and roads were built. The first stone was laid on September 5, 1869. Neuschwanstein Castle was finally built in 1883, but it was not until the following spring that the king was able to occupy it.
Ludwig's love for Wagner's musical creations became the embodiment of this castle. Tchaikovsky took his inspiration from the castle when creating the music for the ballet " Swan Lake" There is a Sleeping Beauty Castle, and it was Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany that became its prototype.
The construction of this magical castle was entrusted to Eduard Riedel, and the artistic design was brought to life by Christian Jank. Neuschwanstein Castle inside amazing and gorgeous. For example, fourteen carpenters worked on the carvings in the king's bedroom for four and a half years. But for a number of reasons, the western terrace was not completed; the bathhouse, the knight's room, the throne room and the third floor also remained unfinished. But the main tower, in which the church was supposed to be located, was never built.
History of Neuschwanstein Castle includes both historically proven facts and various myths. Identifying himself with the Swan Knight, King Ludwig at the first opportunity raised his dream - swan castle amazing and magical beauty. If you translate the word Neuschwanstein, you get the phrase “New Swan Stone”.
The king had a reputation as a madman, so his resignation did not come as a surprise. It was at that moment that work on the construction of the castle was stopped. The aura of mystery around the castle gave rise to mysterious stories about the last moments of the life of the Bavarian king Ludwig II. The king personally almost never touched on state issues. There were times when Ludwig hallucinated and, according to him, he dined with the spirit of King Louis XIV. On these grounds, he was overthrown in 1886. After that, he was transported to the place of his future death. His final resting place was Berg Castle, where he drowned in Lake Starnberg. His psychiatrist suffered the same fate.
One of the attractions of Neuschwanstein Castle is the grotto connected to the singers' hall. It is located on the third floor and looks like a small room, decorated in the form of a cave from a fairy tale. He is one of the examples of Ludwig's wild imagination.
The city of Füssen is very popular among tourists. Therefore, it is not surprising that Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany has become the most photographed. Every day approximately six thousand people visit it.
You can view the castle only as part of a tour group. Tours begin every five minutes in English and German alternately. The castle is closed during the Christmas holidays, but is open daily at other times. Summer operating hours are different from winter ones. In summer the castle is open from nine in the morning until six in the evening, and in winter from ten in the morning until four in the evening.
Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria rightfully tops the list of the most magnificent castles in Germany.
Neuschwanstein Castle
- a romantic castle of the Bavarian king Ludwig II near the town of Füssen and Hohenschwangau Castle in southwestern Bavaria, near the Austrian border.
History of the castle
Neuschwanstein Castle located in Germany, near the town of Fussen. It was built in 1869-1891. King Ludwig II of Bavaria. The castle is a place of pilgrimage for tourists from all over the world. This is not so much a castle in the usual sense of the word among people of the 10th-13th centuries - it is a palace, the “dream palace” of its creator, which he never managed to see in its full splendor.
Ludwig II, Bavarian, the founder of the castle, spent his childhood in Hoeschwangau Castle, built in 1832 by his father, Maximillian II of Bavaria. The walls of Hoeschwangau were decorated with scenes from medieval legends, including the tale of the swan knight Lohengrin. Maximillian II made the swan the leitmotif of the entire Hohenschwangau Castle. As for Ludwig, as a child he often imagined himself in the place fairy tale characters, Lohengrin especially excited his imagination. Ludwig II of BavariaLudwig II of BavariaIn 1864 at the age of 18 years after unexpected death Ludwig's father becomes king, without having any experience either in life or in politics. In 1873 he writes: “ I became king too early. There was a lot I didn't know yet. I just started learning the laws. Suddenly I was pulled out from behind my books and placed on the throne. Well I'm still learning..."Ludwig was obsessed with the idea of the holy kingdom of the Divine Grace. And in real world he was a constitutional monarch, the ruler of Bavaria with rights and responsibilities and too little freedom of choice.
In 1866, Bavaria, in alliance with Austria, was defeated in the war with Prussia and was forced to accept a “defensive and offensive alliance,” which abolished the king’s right to summon an army in case of war. Since 1866, Ludwig II ceased to be a sovereign ruler. Ludwig begins to build his own fictional world around himself, in which he can feel like a real king. Including the construction of Neuschwanstein Castle. To escape from reality, he gradually changes his routine and prefers to sleep during the day and stay awake at night. " The most beautiful place you can find, Ludwig wrote to Richard Wagner, his favorite composer, Here I will build a castle in the style of old German knightly fortresses... My fortress will be more beautiful and comfortable than Hohenschwangau».
Previously, the Vorder-und-Hinterhohenschwangau castle stood at the chosen construction site, but early XIX V. All that was left of it were ruins.
First foundation stone “New Hoeschwangau” (the castle will receive the name “Neuschwanstein” after the death of Ludwig) laid down September 5, 1869. Construction of the castle did not proceed as quickly as the king wanted. Placing such a complex piece of architecture in the mountains was quite difficult. A huge number of artists, architects and craftsmen worked to realize Ludwig’s ideas and dreams. The unrealistic deadlines he sometimes set required work day and night. During construction, the king became more and more distant from people, so the plan of the castle was constantly revised. For example, the guest room was excluded and 
added a small grotto. The modest audience hall became the Throne Room. The departure from the leadership of Bavaria could not go unnoticed. His rash actions and poor management of the lands led to the government declaring him crazy and removing him from office in 1886 - although the Bavarian Constitution of that time did not provide for such a possibility. Ludwig was sent to Berg Palace. The day after arriving at the place, he died under mysterious circumstances, drowning in Lake Starnberg along with his psychiatrist, who declared him crazy. In 1886, the construction of the castle was not yet completed. Work stopped on the main tower, the donjon. Seven weeks after the death of King Ludwig II, the Bavarian castle was opened to the public. The construction of Neuschwanstein Castle was completed only in 1891.
About Ludwig II and the history of Neuschwanstein Castle
In the Bavarian Alps, not far from the Austrian border, stands Neuschwanstein- a castle of unearthly beauty, its slender silhouette with pointed turrets against the background of the sky and mountain peaks- like a fantasy come true. This is the most famous and truly “fairy-tale” castle of the Bavarian king Ludwig II. Not without reason, it was Neuschwanstein that later became a symbol of the wonderful world of Walt Disney, the film studio and Disneyland. While building this castle, the Bavarian King Ludwig II was obsessed with the idea of realizing his ideas about romance, his fairy-tale fantasies.
"I want to always remain a secret, both for myself and for others"
The future king of Bavaria, Ludwig II, once said these words to his governess. The crown prince's wish came true. He was not understood during his lifetime, his death was mysterious, and after his death, even more so, the number of versions and explanations for his quirks only increased. From childhood, Ludwig was immersed in himself, in his dreams and fantasies. Ludwig spent his childhood in the family castle of Hohenschwangau, which was restored in the Gothic style by his father Maximilian II of Bavaria on the site of the destroyed Schwanstein Castle. In Hohenschwangau, Ludwig II became acquainted with the legendary world of the Swan Knight Lohengrin. It was with this hero that Ludwig II, a passionate admirer of German mythology, an impressionable and romantic person, subsequently identified himself. Having attended the premiere of the opera of the same name, Vag 
Nera in 1858, he was beside himself with delight. Since childhood, Ludwig idolized Wagner; the mystical operas of the great composer replaced fairy tales for the future king. And when, at the age of eighteen, Ludwig inherited the royal throne, he immediately invited Wagner to Munich. By this time the composer was in a very difficult financial situation. The young king paid all his debts for Wagner, brought him closer to himself, and placed the largest composer in his care. Opera theatre. Romances of chivalry and German mythology are the themes of Wagner's operas. In his works, Wagner brought the world of myths and legends to the stage on a large scale. Ludwig ordered the construction of a truly “ancient” knight’s castle to begin, the walls of which he planned to paint with scenes from the operas of his beloved Richard Wagner, as well as paintings on themes of German mythology.
It is no coincidence that Neuschwanstein Castle, despite its impressive size, seems like a theatrical set, because it was built under the direction of the famous theater artists Georg Dolman and Christian Janck. Construction of the castle began in 1869 under the strict control of the king himself. The king's mother was dissatisfied with the construction of the new castle, the country's parliament tried in every possible way to cut costs on it, but Ludwig, in spite of everything, stubbornly pursued the goal of making his fantasies come true. As soon as possible, Ludwig moved to live in Neuschwanstein, effectively becoming a recluse there. The foundation stone of the "New Castle" was laid on September 5, 1869. But a habitable palace could not be built as quickly as the king expected. The project was too extensive, and the construction site on the mountain presented difficulties. First the Gate Building was built, and Ludwig II lived here for many years. As the king increasingly avoided any contact with outside world and focused on the idea of his royal dignity, the construction program changed. The guest rooms were replaced in the plans by a "Moorish Hall" with a fountain, which was never actually built. The "Writing Room" has been transformed since 1880 into a small grotto. The modest "Reception Hall" became a huge Throne Room. The castle was no longer intended for receptions and guests, but was transformed into a monument to royal grandeur and a copy of the legendary castle of the Holy Grail. Since 1875, Ludwig II has led an active life at night, often walking through the mountains in a carriage or sled designed using the latest technology of the time. The king often wore historical costumes on such walks. In a word, he was reincarnated. His fantasies were also supported by private performances in the family castle: operas and theatrical performances were given only for Ludwig II. 
Neuschwanstein not only must become an example of the ideal medieval castle, but behind the medieval appearance was hidden modern technology comfort. Indeed, at that time the castle was equipped with “the latest technology.” The rooms of the royal residence are equipped with hot air central heating. Running water was available on every floor, and the kitchen was supplied with both hot and cold water. The toilets had an automatic flush system. To call servants and adjutants, the king used an electric bell system. There were even telephones on the third and fourth floors. To serve food upstairs accurately and on time, a lift was used. Technical innovations were also used directly in the construction process, for example, cranes were powered by steam engines. One of the distinctive features of Neuschwanstein is its large window glass. Windows of this size were still rare in the days of Ludwig II.
At the end of his life, Ludwig began to show obvious signs mental disorder. On June 9, 1886, a special state commission officially declared the king mentally ill. Literally three days later, Ludwig went for a walk with his personal doctor, and soon their bodies were found in Lake Starnbergsee. The mystery of his death has never been revealed. A cross was erected at the water's edge where the unfortunate king was found. Not far from the castle, over a 90-meter abyss stretched suspension bridge, which Ludwig II named after his mother, Queen Mary, Princess of Prussia. Initially this bridge was wooden, but in 1866 its structure was replaced with a modern metal one. 
Architecture Features
Neuschwanstein Castle is a symbiosis of three different, in terms of use, parts: this central building castle - Palace and wings extending from it. The left one is called the Kemenate Building (entrance to the castle), the right one is the House of Knights. The interior decoration of the grandiose building is made in an incredible mixture and variety of styles belonging to different eras. Moorish, Gothic and, at the same time, Baroque elements coexist in the rooms, but, oddly enough, there is no feeling of a tasteless eclectic hodgepodge. In total, the castle has about 360 rooms and halls, but since construction in full it was never completed, the final finishing was carried out only in some of them. The interior decoration of the already mentioned Singers' Hall, the walls of which are decorated with frescoes based on the opera of Wagner's favorite composer Ludwig II, "Tannhäuser". The central, largest fresco immortalized the knight Parsifal at the moment when he first saw the Holy Grail. The luxurious patterned ceiling of the hall is decorated with wooden panels with images of the Zodiac signs on them. The ceiling, walls, and the Singing Arcade of the building are also decorated with rich ornamental paintings. Currently, classical music concerts are held in the Singers' Hall. This hall occupies the entire fourth floor of the five-story Palace.
Right on the third floor, there was an artificial inclusion of man-made wildlife, which was supposed to cause surprise among visitors - a cave with stalactites and stalagmites located inside the castle. Initially, to enliven the interior and give it a greater resemblance to nature, a real cascade of water flowed here. Nowadays, the water supply system is either broken or turned off; there are no more fountains or waterfalls in the grotto. Another room on the third floor that leaves a rich impression on tourists is the king’s bedroom and personal chapel. Both of them are made in the Gothic style, and the bedroom contains perhaps the most important attraction of the castle - the carved bed of the owner of the apartment. In order to present 
to imagine its luxury and splendor of patterned painting, suffice it to say that 14 woodcarvers worked tirelessly on the production of this structure for 4.5 years. The bedroom walls are hung with paintings on the life of Tristan and Isolde - the legendary lovers from medieval European legends. The king's personal chapel is adjacent to his bedroom. It is dedicated to the owner's guardian angel - the canonized French king Louis the Saint, in whose honor the Bavarian monarch was named.
Throne room of Neuschwanstein designed by architects Eduard Ille and Julius Hoffmann in the style of Byzantine luxury. Long rows of columns run across the entire two-tiered hall with decorations made of imitation porphyry and lapis lazuli. The room ends with a semicircular gilded apse - the location of the royal throne. Nine marble steps lead to the foot of the platform, on which the throne, decorated with gold and ivory, would have been located. History decreed otherwise - the monarch died before the symbol of power was made and installed in its intended place. The dome of the apse is decorated with paintings on theological themes. Here Jesus Christ is depicted surrounded by the Mother of God Mary and the Apostle John, and below are the figures of kings canonized, among whom is the already mentioned heavenly patron Ludwig - Louis of France. The interior is complemented by a majestic chandelier made in the form of a Byzantine crown. The chandelier is made of gilded copper, designed for 96 candles and weighs almost 2 tons - 18 centners.
Another completely completed building of the castle was the royal kitchen located on the ground floor. Despite the stylization of the Middle Ages, the castle was engineered according to last word technologies of the 19th century. Excellent water supply and drainage systems were installed here, and the air heating system was advanced for its time. Water for the castle's needs was delivered from a source located two hundred meters above, and entered the premises, as in the famous fountains of Petrodvorets, by gravity, using the principle of communicating vessels. Returning to the kitchen, it should be noted that water was not simply supplied here, but was divided into cold and hot. The kitchen is equipped not only with stoves, ovens and braziers for cooking, but also with a specially designed mechanism, the function of which was to serve prepared dishes to the royal dining room, so as not to distract His Majesty from sublime thoughts with the flurry of servants. The dining room itself is decorated with oak 
panels, paintings by artists Ferdinand Riloti and Joseph Aigner are hung on the walls, depicting scenes of the legendary song competition of the Minnesingers in the Wartburg in 1207.
The architects of Neuschwanstein superbly succeeded in fulfilling one of the cornerstone tasks of architecture - to tie the structure to the surrounding area, to fit a free-standing castle into the nature of upper Bavaria. Perched on a lonely cliff with steep sides, Neuschwanstein looks like what it should look like - an impregnable medieval fortification. The windows of the castle offer an incredibly picturesque view of the Hohenschwangau valley, which Ludwig planned to improve by building another pseudo-ancient castle higher in the mountains, the purpose of which was to make the view from Neuschwanstein even more picturesque. Unfortunately, these plans were not destined to come true.
Castle today
Neuschwanstein Castle became a place of public visitation and a landmark of Bavaria in the 19th century. Since then, the flow of tourists into the building, intended by the customer for solitary dreams and escape from the realities of the world, has been increasing year by year. More than 1.3 million tourists visit the castle every year. According to this indicator, “Swan Stone” is second only to the Parisian Eiffel Tower. The influx of visitors is especially high in summer time, when about 6,000 visitors a day pass through the bedroom of a single dreamer. Inaccessibility and secluded location made Neuschwanstein attractive for utilitarian use Hitler's Germany. Here at the end of the Second World War the gold reserves of the Reichsbank were located, which later disappeared in an unknown direction. It also housed Adolf Hitler's personal collection of jewelry, art, and furniture from total mass valuables taken by invaders from Europe. 
Myths and facts
Far from noisy cities, almost at the very border with Austria, construction began in 1869 under the direction of the Munich theater artist Christian Janck. But due to Ludwig's extravagant tastes and whims, this process moved very slowly. For example, 14 carpenters worked on wood carvings in the king’s bedroom alone for 4.5 years.
Construction of the castle was stopped when Ludwig was removed from power due to intrigue in his own office. The king rarely touched government issues personally, and with his antics he earned the reputation of a madman. In addition, he suffered from hallucinations - for example, he dined with the spirit of Louis XIV. According to Bavarian law, the king can be removed from power if he is found unfit to rule. And after the report of his cabinet in 1886, he was overthrown. Ludwig was transported to Berg Castle, where he soon drowned in Lake Starnberg. However, regarding this mysterious death, which was ruled a suicide at the time, it is assumed that the cabinet was not happy with Ludwig's simple removal from power.
Unlike many medieval castles, where the walls are covered with paintings depicting hunting scenes, family estates, as well as the images of the previous rulers of the castle, in Neuschwanstein panels with mythical heroes, characters from ancient legends and Scandinavian epic hang in the halls. Each panel seems to complement each other, creating a single impression of darkness and horror. Such an interior of the castle gave rise to many legends and myths that are attributed to the madness of Ludwig II, who erected this structure of incomparable beauty and splendor.
The suicide of the king, as well as his attending physician after the ruler was overthrown from the throne, adds an aura of mystery and unreality to the castle. The drowned man seemed to have decided to remain forever in the creation of his wild imagination.
I propose to finish examining these
castles, probably the most famous and, in my opinion, the most beautiful and spectacular castle. Who hasn’t seen his silhouette on utensils and computer desktops?Be sure to pick up something for your desktop :-)
Seven weeks after the death of King Ludwig II in 1886, Neuschwanstein Castle was opened to the public. The modest king had built the castle in the hope of hiding from public life, and now crowds of people came to see his refuge.
Today Neuschwanstein is one of the most famous castles and palaces in Europe. Every year, about 1.2 million tourists come to see the “castle of the fairy-tale king.” IN summer period Some 6,000 visitors a day stream through halls that were once reserved for just one resident.
It would be difficult to think of a more suitable place for the location of the castle, however, movements in the area of the castle foundation must be constantly monitored, and the steep rocky walls must be periodically strengthened. The harsh climate also causes damage to the limestone façades, which need to be restored piece by piece over the next few years.
Neuschwanstein Castle (German) Schloss Neuschwanstein, literally: "New Swan Rock") is a 19th-century castle near the town of Füssen and Hohenschwangau Castle in southwestern Bavaria, near the Austrian border.
As we already know, Ludwig II began the construction of three palaces - Neuschwanstein, Herrenchiemsee And Linderhof, however, only Linderhof was completed during his lifetime. It is worth noting that Neuschwanstein is called a “castle” in vain; in fact, it never was, since it never had defensive significance. Neuschwanstein is a whim of the king, who was passionate about the music of Wagner and built this castle-palace for his favorite composer in the spirit of his works, for which the castle serves as a kind of illustration or theatrical stage.
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“I decided to rebuild the old castle. Its architectural style will reproduce the original German knightly castles. Its location is one of the most beautiful that can be found. The castle will be sacred and impregnable. Singing hall, from where it opens general form to the castle will remind you of the Tannhäuser saga, and the courtyard and chapel will remind you of the song about Lohengrin. This structure will be more magnificent than the lower castle of Hohenschwangau. Here we will feel the divine breath of heaven,” King Ludwig II of Bavaria wrote to Richard Wagner about the idea of building Neuschwanstein.
Ludwig II decided to build his first castle in his native place since childhood, on the top of a cliff next to Hohenschwangau. In total, there were four fortresses in this territory that protected the road to Tyrol. The best preserved of these is Schwanstein Castle, which was rebuilt by Maximilian II in Hohenschwangau. Further west were the ruins of Frauenstein, which Maximilian decided to keep intact as a monument. Two more castles - Vorderhohenschwangau and Hinderhohenschwangau - remained in ruins to the east of Hohenschwangau. Ludwig called this place “the rock of youth.” Initially, Ludwig planned a typical 19th-century restoration of both castles in the 12th-13th century style, based on the experience of Hohenschwangau. The first sketches of New Schwangau differed significantly from the final version of the castle. The projects involved combining two castles into a single ensemble. In this case, Vorderschwangau became the main tower of the castle, and Hinterschwangau was transformed into the main building. However, a number of circumstances changed the original idea.
Ludwig II
Ludwig II invites an architect to create a project for the future castle Eduard Riedel, who had previously rebuilt Berg Castle for Ludwig's father. A theater artist is also involved in developing the appearance of Neuschwanstein Christian Yank, which embodies Riedel’s ideas in picturesque and graphic form to provide the customer with the most complete impression of the project. Janck was considered an expert on medieval fortresses, after he created a “fortress on the Rhine” decoration, made in a romantic key, for the ball of the Jung-Munich Artistic Union. To create the Neuschwanstein plan, Riedel and Janck, as well as Ludwig, went to the Wartburg for inspiration. Yank provided several sketches of the future castle. the first of them demonstrated a desire for fanatical and Gothic forms, but after the king's editing they acquired calmer Romanesque outlines.
Work on the future architectural masterpiece began in the summer of 1868. In order to lay the foundation, it was necessary to blow up about eight meters of rock. In June 1869, the construction of the access road was completed. The first stone was laid on September 5, 1869, along with a construction plan, portraits of King Ludwig II and coins from his reign.
The most modern technologies of that time were used in the construction of the castle. Was involved in the construction advanced technology. For example, to facilitate the transportation of materials to the construction site, a steam crane was built in the western part of the site. For the same purposes, locomobiles were used - mobile steam engines, car prototypes. The “Bavarian Audit Commission for Steam Boilers” was responsible for them. Besides, latest achievements the equipment was installed in the building itself, being invisible to the viewer. Among them are running water on every floor, central steam heating, electrical telephone system, etc. All this functioned during the life of Ludwig II, and ensured a comfortable stay for the king in the castle.
It is difficult to imagine what problems had to be faced then and how much building material was required. The cement manufacturer alone, Jacob Lang from Schongau, supplied no less than 9,000 quintals of cement in 1872. In the same year, the Unhokh company supplied 184,500 liters of lime. For 1879/80 there are statistics on use building material: 9,300 quintals of marble from Salzburg, 91,000 quintals of Nurting sandstone, 400,000 bricks, 3,600 cubic meters of sand, 12,000 quintals of cement, 1,000 quintals of charcoal, 2,050 cubic meters of boards (for scaffolding). The sandstone for the portal and bay window was brought from Nürtingen in the state of Württemberg. Marble from near Salzburg was used for windows, vault projections, columns and capitals. A huge amount of building material was lifted from the western side of the building in trolleys using a steam-powered crane. They were delivered and installed in the right place using special system lifting blocks. Construction machines were already then annually checked for safety and reliability by the “Bavarian Steam Boiler Inspection Commission”, from which today’s Technical Supervision Association (TUV) emerged. In 1880, 209 carpenters, masons and auxiliary workers were employed at the construction site.
After the death of the king (in 1886), all construction work was suspended. The third floor of the castle and the knight's quarters were not completed. The main tower of the castle with the church, 90 m high, which should have towered above all the buildings, was not built at all. The western terrace, which should have led to the unfinished bathhouse, was also not completed.
When the first stone was laid in the foundation of the castle, the kingdom of Bavaria had already lost its sovereignty, and the imagination of the young king found solace for his wounded pride in visions of a fantastic new kingdom, where Ludwig was one hundred percent sovereign. The dream castle was built as the embodiment of the monarch’s dreams, so even the Munich theater artist Christian Jank was appointed as the chief architect.
The king, with youthful passion, devoted himself entirely to construction. Despite this, the construction of the castle did not progress at the same speed as the Bavarian dreamer had imagined. The fact is that building such a complex structure in architectural and communication terms in a mountainous alpine area was a very difficult task. People worked day and night, but still could not keep up with the flight of fancy of the ruler, who, moreover, constantly revised the project to please the visions that visited him again. As a result, for example, a rather modest reception room turned into a pompous Throne Hall.
Completely immersed in the world of his sweet dreams, Ludwig increasingly lost touch with reality. The leadership of the Bavarian lands was left to chance, the king increasingly made rash and inexplicable, from the point of view common sense, actions that resulted in natural and disastrous consequences for the sovereign. In 1886, after psychiatric examination, the king was declared crazy. Soon, under mysterious circumstances, while boating in Lake Starnberg, the deposed monarch, along with the psychiatrist who concluded his incompetence, drowned. As they say, ends in the water.
The construction of Neuschwanstein was in full swing at that time. The craftsmen began the construction of the donjon - the main castle tower. After the death of Ludwig, the construction of the century was hastily curtailed, and seven weeks after his death, the castle was open to the public. However, sluggish construction continued almost until the beginning of the 20th century. In 1891, the grandiose romantic project was finally declared completed and immediately acquired the status of a national treasure.
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Neuschwanstein Castle is a symbiosis of three different, in terms of use, parts: this is the central structure of the castle - the Palace and the wings extending from it. The left one is called the Kemenate Building (entrance to the castle), the right one is the House of Knights. The interior decoration of the grandiose building is made in an incredible mixture and variety of styles belonging to different eras. Moorish, Gothic and, at the same time, Baroque elements coexist in the rooms, but, oddly enough, there is no feeling of a tasteless eclectic hodgepodge. Perhaps, even aesthetic admiration is caused by the columns-stalactites of the artificial grotto, inscribed in the overall architecture of the building, the decadent decor of the Byzantine style of the Throne Hall, in which the throne was never installed, the exquisite and at the same time quite powerful lighting of the singing hall - a kind of castle theater dedicated to the performance of Wagner's romantic works. In total, the castle has about 360 rooms and halls, but since the construction was never completed in full, final finishing was carried out only in some of them.
The interior decoration of the already mentioned Singers' Hall is striking, the walls of which are decorated with frescoes based on the opera "Tannhäuser" by the favorite composer Ludwig II - Wagner. The central, largest fresco immortalized the knight Parsifal at the moment when he first saw the Holy Grail. The luxurious patterned ceiling of the hall is decorated with wooden panels with images of the Zodiac signs on them. The ceiling, walls, and the Singing Arcade of the building are also decorated with rich ornamental paintings. Currently, classical music concerts are held in the Singers' Hall. This hall occupies the entire fourth floor of the five-story Palace.
Directly below it, on the third floor, was an artificial inclusion of man-made wildlife, which should have been surprising to visitors - a cave with stalactites and stalagmites located inside the castle. Initially, to enliven the interior and give it a greater resemblance to nature, a real cascade of water flowed here. Nowadays, the water supply system is either broken or turned off; there are no more fountains or waterfalls in the grotto.
Another room on the third floor that leaves a rich impression on tourists is the king’s bedroom and personal chapel. Both of them are made in the Gothic style, and the bedroom contains perhaps the most important attraction of the castle - the carved bed of the owner of the apartment. In order to imagine its luxury and the splendor of patterned painting, it is enough to say that 14 woodcarvers worked tirelessly on the production of this structure for 4.5 years. The bedroom walls are hung with paintings on the life of Tristan and Isolde - the legendary lovers from medieval European legends. There is also an opera of the same name by Richard Wagner, which at one time made a great impression on the romantic soul of Ludwig.
The king's personal chapel is adjacent to his bedroom. It is dedicated to the owner's guardian angel - the canonized French king Louis the Saint, in whose honor the Bavarian monarch was named. Noteworthy is the richly decorated folded altar embedded in the painted pointed vault.
The throne room of Neuschwanstein was designed by the architects Eduard Ille and Julius Hoffmann in the style of Byzantine opulence. Long rows of columns run across the entire two-tiered hall with decorations made of imitation porphyry and lapis lazuli. The room ends with a semicircular gilded apse - the location of the royal throne. Nine marble steps lead to the foot of the platform, on which the throne, decorated with gold and ivory, would have been located. History decreed otherwise - the monarch died before the symbol of power was made and installed in its intended place.
The dome of the apse is decorated with paintings on theological themes. Here Jesus Christ is depicted surrounded by the Mother of God Mary and the Apostle John, and below are the figures of kings canonized, among whom is the already mentioned heavenly patron of Ludwig, Louis of France. The interior is complemented by a majestic chandelier made in the form of a Byzantine crown. The chandelier is made of gilded copper, designed for 96 candles and weighs almost 2 tons - 18 centners.
Another completely completed building of the castle was the royal kitchen located on the ground floor. Despite the stylization of the Middle Ages, the castle was engineered with the latest technology of the 19th century. Excellent water supply and drainage systems were installed here, and the air heating system was advanced for its time. Water for the castle's needs was delivered from a source located two hundred meters above, and entered the premises, as in the famous fountains of Petrodvorets, by gravity, using the principle of communicating vessels. Returning to the kitchen, it should be noted that water was not simply supplied here, but was divided into cold and hot. The kitchen is equipped not only with stoves, ovens and braziers for cooking, but also with a specially designed mechanism, the function of which was to serve prepared dishes to the royal dining room, so as not to distract His Majesty from sublime thoughts with the flurry of servants. The dining room itself is decorated with oak panels; paintings by artists Ferdinand Riloti and Joseph Aigner are hung on the walls, depicting scenes from the legendary Minnesingers singing competition in the Wartburg in 1207.
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The architects of Neuschwanstein superbly succeeded in fulfilling one of the cornerstone tasks of architecture - to tie the structure to the surrounding area, to fit a free-standing castle into the nature of upper Bavaria. Perched on a lonely cliff with steep sides, Neuschwanstein looks like what it should look like - an impregnable medieval fortification. The windows of the castle offer an incredibly picturesque view of the Hohenschwangau valley, which Ludwig planned to improve by building another pseudo-ancient castle higher in the mountains, the purpose of which was to make the view from Neuschwanstein even more picturesque. Unfortunately, these plans were not destined to come true.
The castle courtyard is a magnificent park of local vegetation, where there is even an artificial cave for the amusement of guests.
Neuschwanstein became a public destination and tourist attraction in Bavaria as early as the 19th century. Since then, the flow of tourists into the building, intended by the customer for solitary dreams and escape from the realities of the world, has been increasing year by year. More than 1.3 million tourists visit the castle every year. According to this indicator, the Swan Stone is second only to the Paris Eiffel Tower. The influx of visitors is especially high in the summer, when about 6,000 visitors a day pass through the bedroom of a single dreamer.
Its inaccessibility and secluded location made Neuschwanstein attractive for utilitarian use by Nazi Germany. Here at the end of the Second World War the gold reserves of the Reichsbank were located, which later disappeared in an unknown direction. It also housed a personal collection of jewelry, works of art and furniture selected by Adolf Hitler from the total mass of valuables taken by the invaders from Europe.
It is interesting that it was the appearance of Neuschwanstein that inspired Walt Disney to create the residence of “Sleeping Beauty” - the Fairytale Kingdom from the cartoon of the same name. That's why appearance the most famous castle in Bavaria is well known even to the smallest Russians who have never been to the lands of Germany - the central image of the Disney Hour screensaver on our television is Neuschwanstein.
The German government is attentive to the current state of the national heritage. At the end of the 20th century from state budget Over 11 million euros were spent on large-scale reconstruction. Restoration work, by the way, has not stopped to this day - tourists regularly view one or another part of the castle in the scaffolding. But this, of course, cannot spoil anyone’s impressions of visiting the most significant attraction of these places - Neuschwanstein Castle.
Currently the castle is a museum. A visit is possible only as part of a group (automatic audio guides are provided 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 upon on the center’s website) and go up to the castle by bus, on foot or by horse-drawn carriage. Only person, who "lives" in the castle on this moment and is its keeper - it is a watchman.
“I want to remain in people’s memory as an eternal secret...” the king said, and so it happened,
After his mysterious death, people made up legends. And not now complete information about death
king, it is known that two bodies were found on the river bank - the king and his attending physician.
Prince Ludwig was born on the day that Louis IX, King of France, founder of the House of Bourbon, ascended the throne. Ludwig II's godfather was Louis XVI, these friendly relations remained throughout the life of King Ludwig II of Bavaria. When the prince was 16 years old, an event occurred in his life that determined his fate; in 1861, he attended Wagner's opera Lohengrin. Wagner's music shocked him, and from then on he became a passionate admirer of Wagner and a collector of his works. After his coronation, he arranged a meeting with Wagner. In Munich they did not like Wagner for his revolutionary past and, under pressure from the people, Ludwig was forced to ask Wagner to leave Munich, but their friendship did not end there.
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In 1869, Ludwig laid the first stone on the site of an ancient fortress on the slopes of the Alps. The Bavarian Neuschwanstein Castle was built in the form of a medieval castle with a fortress wall, towers and passages and looked very beautiful against the backdrop of the park. Its construction took 17 years, but was never completed. By a cruel twist of fate, it was in this romantic castle that Ludwig II suffered the greatest humiliation of his life. In 1886, he suffered a huge disappointment in his life - the war with Prussia did not bring the desired results, but only huge losses and debts.
Unbridled construction and the funds spent on it did not contribute to the popularity of the once adored monarch. He pumped his own annual income of 5.5 million marks into his projects and dug deep into the state's pockets. At the time of Ludwig's death, his debt to the state amounted to 21 million marks. The country's wealth, acquired over 800 years by many generations of Bavarian monarchs, was wasted in just 20 years.
As a result of the conspiracy, Ludwig was declared incompetent, and power passed to his uncle Lutpold. The king himself refused to admit his incompetence, based on the fact that the doctor who made such a conclusion was never his attending physician. Ludwig II was taken to Berg Palace, where the next day he was found dead on Lake Starnberg under mysterious circumstances, along with the attending physician, who concluded that he was incapacitated.
