The Story Behind Germany's Neuschwanstein Castle

| © Culture Trip
Phoebe Lowndes

With its magical silhouette of undulating towers, conical roofs, dazzlingly white limestone facades and prominent position high up on a rocky hilltop, Neuschwanstein Castle is a storybook image – a quintessential castle in the clouds.

Widely regarded as the original fairytale palace, Neuschwanstein has awed many millions over the centuries with its fantasy location and Romanesque Revival architecture. Set within a landscape of chocolate-box views, including Alpine foothills and magnificent forests, it’s impossible to avoid comparison to Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom, and the iconic Disney Castle we all know so well.

It’s said that Neuschwanstein Castle served as the inspiration for both the Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty castles

The history of Neuschwanstein Castle

Commissioned in 1868 by King Ludwig II of Bavaria as a monument to German composer Richard Wagner, as with any fairytale, the story behind this castle’s creation is full of mystery and intrigue.

It’s a tragic tale of a handsome young prince with a passion for music, art and architecture, who ascended the throne as a teenager and ruled as a recluse until his untimely (and mysterious) death in 1886 at the age of 41.

During his lifetime, Ludwig II was denounced as a madman obsessed with beauty. Spending money he didn’t have on eccentric and ambitious building projects, Neuschwanstein was just one of many commissions ordered to enrich the cultural landscape of the nation.

His artistic, introverted nature was considered idiosyncratic for a king at that time and he was ultimately declared unfit to rule by his closest advisors. However, the plot to depose ‘The Mad King’ Ludwig led to suspicions surrounding his death and cast doubt on these assertions.

Once berated as a vanity project orchestrated by a man whose kingdom was slipping away from him, the palace is now firmly considered a national treasure. Ludwig II used his personal fortune and heavily borrowed gold to build the castle, rather than take from Bavarian public funds.

Having spent only 11 nights at the castle and sadly dying before its completion, Ludwig II’s creative vision lives on in thebuilding. The castle was opened to the public shortly after his death in 1886 and has since attracted more than 61 million visitors.

Is Neuschwanstein Castle the inspiration for Cinderella’s castle?

A close friend of the King’s, Empress ‘Sissi’ Elisabeth, described her dear Ludwig as ‘living in a world of dreams’. It’s no surprise then that it attracted another romantic dreamer, a century later.

Shortly before construction began on his eponymous Disneyland in the early 1950s, Walt Disney visited Neuschwanstein with his wife during a grand tour of Europe. A few years later, Cinderella’s castle was revealed in all its turreted glory.

Ludwig’s passion for fantasy and storytelling not only left a tangible legacy but ultimately influenced popular culture too, drawing many to Bavaria in search of the ‘real’ Disney castle.

When to visit Neuschwanstein Castle

The castle is perfectly picturesque at any time of year, whether you’re visiting in the depths of winter to see snow-capped turrets, or springtime when the foliage is bursting into life.

To beat the crowds, plan your visit in low season (November to April, excluding Christmas) when the castle will be quieter. Though a visit made in the dead of winter will be a cold one, you will be rewarded with heart-stopping views of a frosty Neuschwanstein – but bear in mind that transport becomes tricky at that time of year, and getting around can be hard work.

landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

Winter Sale Offers on Our Trips

Incredible Savings

X
Edit article