It is my intention to rebuild the old castle ruin of Hohenschwangau near the Pöllat Gorge in the authentic style of the old German knights’ castles

King Ludwig

King Ludwig greatly admired and supported the world-renowned composer Richard Wagner. As a result, Neuschwanstein Castle was built in his honour. Wagner’s characters also inspired many rooms in the castle’s interior.

The Fairy Tale Castle

Neuschwanstein is a fairy tale castle with its white limestone façade and deep blue turrets. Its name literally means “New Swan Castle,” referencing “the Swan Knight,” one of Wagner’s characters. It is also rumoured to be the real-life inspiration for the castle in the Disney classic Cinderella. Work began on the building in 1868 and was financed by King Ludwig’s personal finances rather than state money.

King Ludwig

Ludwig became king at the age of 19 upon his father’s death. He subsequently created Linderhof castle, which was completed in 1878. However, Ludwig died in mysterious circumstances in 1886 before Neuschwanstein was completed. The ‘iconic’ or best view of Neuschwanstein Castle is from Marys Bridge. Unfortunately, Marys Bridge was closed for renovations at the time of our visit, and I couldn’t get the iconic shot of Bavaria’s Fairytale Castle from Marys Bridge.

Ludwig became a recluse high in his mountain castles. The costly building of elaborate castles drained his finances, and in 1885, foreign banks threatened to seize his property. Finally, in 1886, the government declared him insane and deposed him due to his irrational behaviour. Ludwig was then interned at Berg Palace. The next day, he died in mysterious circumstances in Lake Starnberg, together with the psychiatrist who had certified him as insane.

Linderhof Castle

Linderhof Castle is relatively small and modelled after Versailles, which Ludwig had visited. Ludwig fell in love with both the castle and the power of the French king. However, King Ludwig was a constitutional monarch with no power, unlike King Louis XIV, who had absolute power.

Unfortunately, photography isn’t permitted inside Neuschwanstein or Linderhof. So, if your reason for visiting is to photograph the inside, you may wish to reconsider. I wish I had known before we bought our tickets.

Hohenschwangau Castle

King Ludwig’s father, King Maximilian II of Bavaria, built Hohenschwangau Castle. It was King Ludwig’s childhood home and summer residence. He could see Neuschwanstein being constructed on the opposite mountaintop from his window.

Autumn in the forests is beautiful – trees unlike we get in Australia, and the colours were stunning.

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