Neuschwanstein Castle: The Story Of Disney’s Castle Is NOT A Fairtyale

Everyone knows Disney. Even those who weren’t a “Disney kid” or who try to keep their children away from fairy tales (among other things, because they’re afraid they’ll turn into lousy horror movies) know by heart the prominent characters created by Walt Disney and others since the beginning of the 20th century. Disney’s castle is one of the most famous icons because it appears at the beginning of every Disney movie, inspires some castles in the company’s theme parks, and more.

Not everyone knows, but the inspiration for Disney’s castle is a real place named Neuschwanstein Castle in southern Germany. In a way that corresponds with the recent trend of turning Disney movies into horror movies, you’ll find that the castle’s story includes a fascinating and somewhat tragic history.

In other words, the facts about the Neuschwanstein Castle show that it is more appropriate for our reviews of scary historical sites in the world and less for Disney fairy tales. So, what is Neuschwanstein Castle, when did its history start, and what’s so creepy about it?

Where Is Neuschwanstein Castle?

Neuschwanstein Castle (or “Schloss Neuschwanstein” in German) is located in the southern part of Bavaria in Germany, near the border with Austria.

Its location, near the town of Fuessen, is one of the most impressive you will see. The castle stands on a high cliff, and below it spreads a vast valley surrounded by the Bavarian Alps. You will not get a dramatic view here like some of the other European castles – for example, Predjama Castle in Slovenia, which is located right inside a cave – but there is no doubt that the views here are breathtaking.

The castle is not very high (only about 65 meters), but still impressive. You can be impressed by the white limestone, which blends in perfectly with the blue spires. And to think that if the vision of one “crazy” man had come true, we would have a much more bombastic castle here, inside and out.

When Was Neuschwanstein Castle Built? A Story That Began With Madness

The history of Neuschwanstein Castle began in the 19th century, or more precisely, on September 5, 1869. In those years, the Bavarian King Ludwig II – better known as “Mad Ludwig,” partly because he was a strange and reclusive man – practically lost power in Bavaria after being forced to sign a treaty of surrender to the Prussians, a reminder of the loss of Austria and Bavaria to the Prussians.

Ludwig II of Bavaria had virtually no governmental authority. He decided to deal with the loss creatively: to build castles that would be his private kingdom, over which he could rule.

The castle was designed by Christian Jank, with Eduard Riedel as the architect. The location that Mad Ludwig chose was near Hohenschwangau Castle, which his father had renovated and where he spent his childhood. This castle was nicknamed “Schwanstein” (loosely translated: “Swan Stone”). As a result, the castle was called the “New Hohenschwangau,” or “New Swan Stone,” a name given to it only after the death of Ludwig II.

The Story Of Neuschwanstein Castle Becomes Creepy

Here, it is time to stop and explain a little about the myth behind the castle. Legend says that Ludwig was connected to German folk tales from a young age, influencing his behavior even when he grew up and became a ruler. When he built Neuschwanstein Castle, one of its nicknames was “the castle of the fairy-tale king.”

Ludwig loved one of the stories about the Knight of the Swan, a typical German folk tale that later became one of Wagner’s most prominent operas. The legend, which is based on the medieval story of the Swan Knight, tells of one of the knights of the Holy Grail, who goes by the name Lohengrin. According to legend, he arrived in a boat drawn by a swan to protect the Duchess of Brabant, Elsa. They married, but the knight set one condition: that the woman never asks him his name and origin. Since such a demand seemed excessive in married life, Elsa violated it at one point, which caused Lohengrin to answer the question but leave on his swan boat shortly afterward.

For some reason, Ludwig the Mad saw himself as the successor to that knight and dedicated the castle to him. He got very attached to the swan motif, symbolizing purity and beauty in Bavarian culture. Since he admired Wagner, also thanks to the opera he wrote and based on Lohengrin, he decided at one point to invite him to live with him in the castle. He decorated some rooms with tapestries corresponding to Wagner’s works to mark the occasion.

On the surface, the vision for Neuschwanstein Castle was clear: to build a neo-Romanesque castle that would honor knights in the Middle Ages, a period the king considered romantic. The castle was built on the foundations of two ancient structures: a castle that Ludwig II’s father had used as a hunting lodge and an ancient fortress whose roots date back to the 12th century.

Things quickly began to get complicated. As if to justify his name, Ludwig “drove” everyone involved in the design and construction of the castle crazy. Ludwig forced the artisans to work around the clock, including harsh and long night shifts. At one point, he moved into the castle, or at least the parts under construction, to closely monitor the progress. All the while, Ludwig secluded himself and avoided company, except in situations that required it. At the same time, he decided to change the design of the castle time and again, for example, changing the purpose of some of the rooms. All this increased the expenses and extended the duration of the castle’s construction.

The Beginning (And An End) Of An Era

The inauguration of the castle took place in 1880, although at that time, its construction had not yet been completed. In 1886, Ludwig died under strange circumstances. To this day, we don’t know what happened precisely.

The facts are that on the evening of June 13, he went out with his attending physician, Professor Gudden, for a short walk in nature. Ludwig insisted that the trip be made without companions since only that professor was responsible for treating his complex mental state. Night came, and the king did not return. The government sent search expeditions, and a few hours later, they found the body in Lake Sternberg, next to the professor. The death was declared a drowning, but the best experts were unable to determine what exactly led to the joint drowning of the two.

What is interesting is that a few days earlier, the Bavarian government had decided to depose Ludwig because they decided that he was insane and unfit to hold any governmental authority. Von Gudden watched over him until his mysterious death.

After that, the authorities stopped the construction work on the castle for a long time. The castle became a paid tourist attraction, although there were spaces in it that were far from finished. By Ludwig II’s death, only a few dozen rooms had been completed out of over 200 planned.

Neuschwanstein Castle has ghost stories, like many of the oldest castles in our world. Not surprisingly, Ludwig II stars in a large number of horror stories. Some believe that his ghost haunts the castle to this day, wandering the halls and trying to find a way to regain the throne. Some visitors claim to have felt the presence of something or someone they did not recognize during their visit or even that they saw a blurry and unclear figure.

Neuschwanstein Castle Becomes A Tourist Attraction

The Bavarian royal family benefited from the money it received from the castle, which allowed it to finance the advanced technologies for its time that were present in the castle (such as particularly modern heating and ventilation systems), thus reducing the castle’s financial impact. On the other hand, the castle was financed from the princely inheritance of Ludwig II and not from public funds, so the situation seems less harmful.

1891 is the year in which the construction of the castle was completed. However, there were many parts in the original construction plans whose construction did not begin: for example, the “giant tower” that was supposed to be the highlight here. The castle survived both world wars, mainly thanks to its isolated location. For several years, it served as a hiding place for works of art that the Nazis looted from France. In 1945, the SS planned to blow up the castle to prevent the castle and its artwork from falling into enemy hands, fearing the German army would lose. Ultimately, the plan was not implemented, and the castle remains.

Is Neuschwanstein Castle The Real Disney Castle?

So, what does an old 19th-century German castle have to do with Disney movies? The simple answer lies in the history of the place. Walt Disney once visited Bavaria during a European trip and was impressed by the castle. At one point, when he had to “create” a castle that looked like it came out of a fairy tale for the Sleeping Beauty Castle building in the theme park, he decided without hesitation to base his design on the Bavarian castle he loved.

The castle inspired Sleeping Beauty Castle, the famous building in Walt Disney’s theme parks. The first castle in this context was built in 1955 and is considered the main symbol of the park. In previous years, it was possible to enter it through a passageway that included murals inspired by the Sleeping Beauty legend. Still, this passageway was closed in 2001: the official reason is the lack of suitability for people with disabilities, although many believe that this is one of the consequences of the terror attack on 9/11. In 1992, a similar castle was built in Disneyland Paris, in a style that is a little more reminiscent of fairy tales, and in 2004, a third castle was built in Hong Kong Disneyland.

Neuschwanstein Castle Once Appeared In Disney Logo

The fact is that, in addition to the castle that was built in theme parks, the castle starred in the logo of the Warner Bros. film company for years, from 1985 to 2006. After that, it is shown with Cinderella’s Castle, and the current symbol combines the two castles.

Note that, contrary to what some people think, the even more famous (and photographed) Cinderella Castle was not inspired by Neuschwanstein Castle. The Cinderella Castle has some principles from other important castles, such as the La Château d’Ussé in France, the Palace of Versailles, and the Château de Fontainebleau.

What Can You See At Neuschwanstein Castle Today?

Some people are satisfied with the panoramic view of the castle or the points that allow you to see the castle in all its glory. One of them is the Marienbrücke, a bridge suspended over a waterfall that provides a breathtaking view of the castle opposite.

With all due respect to the photos, if you make it to the area – about a two-hour drive from Munich – it is recommended to include the castle more closely in your travel plans in Bavaria. You can visit the castle (in fact, 14 finished rooms out of the 200 that were initially planned) and be impressed by the interior design of the interesting spaces, such as the king’s bedroom and the music hall.

The Neuschwanstein Castle interior includes many impressive works of art, thanks to Ludwig II’s connection to art, with one of the most prominent examples being the dressing room. This room includes a ceiling painting and a mural that illustrate the works of the poets Walter von der Vogelweide and Hans Zakis, or decimal finishes in shades of gold and purple silk.

Another example is the throne room, perhaps Ludwig II’s most extreme expression of royal madness. As part of the “Game of Thrones,” imagined or not, the king combined elements reminiscent of Byzantine churches in the space between two floors. These included a chandelier about 13 meters high, a painted dome, and colorful mosaics on the floor.

Under the castle’s foundations, you will find a hidden cave. Ludwig II built the Neuschwanstein Castle cave room as a retreat, where he could escape the daily routine and pressures of royal life (real or not), engage in art, and so on. The underground chamber, which includes stalactites, stalagmites, and natural rock formations, is one of the highlights of a visit here.

How Can You Visit Neuschwanstein Castle?

Today, Neuschwanstein Castle is considered one of the most visited castles in Europe. Every year, about 1.5 million tourists visit here, and during the busy summer months, you can expect about 6,000 visitors per day.

Neuschwanstein Castle Guided Tour

The best and most recommended way to experience the castle is through a tour exposing you to its fascinating history (and that of King Ludwig II) and understanding what you see.

You can book a guided tour of about half an hour in English or German, which is included in the price of admission to the castle. You will be happy to hear that some tours include a tour around the castle and a shuttle that makes the way from the ticket office to it and back.

Neuschwanstein Castle Tour With Audio Guide

Prefer to travel alone, and on a cheaper price? Some tourists book an audio guide, available in about 20 languages, and wander the castle independently.

Please note that the number of audio devices is relatively limited, so only those who book an audio tour in advance may get the audio devices. You may be disappointed if you arrive at the place thinking of “getting by” on headphones while there.

Neuschwanstein Castle Day Trip

Another option, which is very appealing to many tourists, is to take a day trip (usually from Munich) that will allow you to see the castle and other important sites in the area – such as the town of Oberammergau and the impressive Linderhof Castle, also built by Ludwig II as part of his attempt to conquer imaginary kingdoms.

As far as we know, a visit to the castle itself is not part of the price of most Neuschwanstein Castle day trips from Munich and other locations,

but you can usually combine it for an additional fee. A significant advantage is that the day trip saves you the hassle of traveling and getting to the castle, which is considered complex.

Consider Buying Tickets In Advance

It is impossible to let everyone who wants to visit here in, so it is essential to get tickets in advance. The precise recommendation is to buy tickets in advance, even weeks or months before the planned visit date, especially during the busy tourist season (June to September) and on weekends. Buying in advance will also save you the queues at the ticket office, which can be tiring.

Another advantage of buying online is that you can purchase physical tickets to the castle at the ticket office located in the village of Hohenschwangau, which is about a 30-to-40-minute walk away and fairly steep at times. Buying your tickets in advance and using the internet will save you not only waiting in line but also a walk that may be tedious, or mostly unnecessary, for some people.

On the other hand, the main parking lot for the castle is in the same village, near the ticket office, so if you are arriving with a rental car, you may not be able to avoid it. There are other ways to get to the castle, including by horse-drawn carriage or shuttle, which arrive about a 10-15 minute walk from the castle, as you will read in the following link.

Buy Tickets and Tours on Get Your Guide

Buy Tickets and Tours on Viator

Buy Tickets and Tours on Tiquets

Neuschwanstein Castle Opening Hours

Neuschwitz Castle is open almost daily, except for a few specific dates (January 1 and December 24, 25 and 31).

Opening hours vary throughout the year, with the attraction currently open from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM from April to October 15 and from 4:00 PM to 10:00 AM from October 16 to the end of March.

In any case, check the official opening hours on the castle’s official website at the time of your visit. To avoid the tourist rush, schedule your visit as close as possible to the castle’s opening time or towards closing.

Some important notes before visiting:

Infants and children also need to purchase a ticket at a reduced cost.

The accessibility of the castle and its access routes for people with physical disabilities is very problematic.

It is forbidden to take photos inside the castle.

Vising Neuschwanstein Castle in winter can be a great experience, given the snowy setting that looks like it came out of another Disney movie (did someone say “Frozen?”). If you are visiting in the winter, be aware that temperatures here are very low and that some of the area’s favorite viewing areas may be closed.

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