Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein is a 19th century castle located in the German state of Bavaria. Built by King Ludwig II after his defeat against Prussia in the German War, the castle was intended to be his private refuge. Today, Neuschwanstein Castle is visited by more than 1.3 million people every year and is one of the most photographed buildings in Germany.

Ludwig II was a reclusive dreamer who had a long-standing fascination with medieval legends. This interest was reflected in the fantastical architecture and interior designs of the Neuschwanstein Castle. The rooms were filled with pictures of poets, lovers, kings, and knights. Romantic concepts of love, salvation, and repentance were depicted on the walls.

The Neuschwanstein Castle's visual showcase may that be of the Middle Ages but the amenities were of a far more advanced era. The rooms and the royal residence had a central heating system. The plumbing was a 19th century technological marvel: toilets with automatic flush, running water on every floor, and hot and cold water in the kitchen. The king employed an electronic bell system to call his servants and telephones were used as well in other floors. The castle also had a lift so that meals could be more easily delivered upstairs.

The King never saw the completion of his castle which was supposed to be finished by 1893. He died in 1886 and construction was stopped on the main tower. Five years after his death, the Kemenate or women's chamber was completed but the chapel building which was planned to be built in the middle of the Upper Courtyard was missing. The North Tower was also not as high as it was originally designed.

Today, the State of Bavaria is responsible for the maintenance of the Neuschwanstein Castle. It has spent about 11.2 million euros on the upkeep and renovation of the structure.