Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle is a castle in Bavaria, in the village of Schwangau near Füssen, Germany.

Neuschanstein is one of the Gothic and Romansque revival castles best known in the world. It was built by order of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, the 'mad king' in 1866 and it was originally known as the New Hohenschwangau in honor of the place where King spent much of his childhood. Note that the castle was built near the castle of Hohenschwangau, the castle owned by his father Maximilian II King Baviera.Afther his father death it was renamed as Neuschwanstein.

The castle was built on top of a cliff  which gives it a distinctive look to your access and the totality of the castle. This is the most visited castle in Germany and perhaps one of the most famous, mainly because there are fantastic stories about the life of Ludwig II and his eccentricity and undisclosed mysteries about his death. The castle is one of the major tourist destinations around the country, partly because of the tale of 'Beauty and the Beast' where Walt Disney drawed the castle in a clear  reference to Neuschwanstein.

Neuschwanstein Castle was built in a time when castles and fortresses were no longer needed from the strategic point of view, and it was the romantic desire of the king. The castle, of pure fantasy with its towers, castles and walls intended to be harmonized with the surrounding mountains and lakes. It is considered a treat excessive for some and a marvel of architecture as well as other wonderful setting in which sample is a delicious mix of historic architectural styles, Romanesque and Gothic medieval. It houses many handicrafts and interior decoration is not functional, but aesthetic, being largely the product of the mind of a theatrical set designer.

King Ludwig II, mad for some people but very popular for others, was a king who liked to get close to citizens, never invested public money  in the construction of their properties and also Bavaria didn't take part in any war during his reign, perhaps because he had no interest in politics.

The king left the capital, Munich, and settled permanently in the castle in 1884 to oversee its construction even though he died before the castle was finished. Various government positions  wanted to inhabilitate him due his 'crazy status' and they wanted to establish the regency of his cousin. Finally he was incapacitated in 1886. He drowned in Starnberg Lake in Munich, under mysterious circumstances.

The descendants of Louis II sold the castle to the Bavarian government, later passing into German. The palace is owned by the State of Bavaria, unlike Hohenschwangau Castle, which is owned by Franz, Duke of Bavaria. Neuschwanstein participated in the election of the New Seven Wonders of the World, but did not win.

The castle was built with the most modern means. The base of the castle was secured with cement and at first it was built of brick, as can still be seen in the front door. Later part of the building was covered with limestone from near quarries. It consists of several areas such as the home of knights, the servants at the entrance, the dependencies of ladies among others. There are two courtyards from which the views of the valley, lakes and mountains are insurmountable. The interior decor refers primarily to religious motives.