Straight out of a fairy tale, Neuschwanstein Castle presents itself majestically to its many visitors. Located in Bavaria, this castle is the most visited in Germany . And we quickly understand why! Neuschwanstein Castle stands more than 200 meters high, surrounded by forests and lakes. Talking about a fairy tale is no exaggeration, because it indeed inspired the famous Walt Disney. We tell you more about the Castle of Neuschwanstein in this article. You will know its history, and especially all our advice to be able to visit it in peace. On Carnet d'Histoire, you can also find advice for discovering castles in France.
History of Neuschwanstein Castle
We are in the summer of 1868. Bavaria is governed by King Ludwig II . This Sovereign in power for 2 years is of an eccentric nature. He likes to retreat and be as far away from the crowds as possible. And to satisfy his desire for escape and isolation, he had a huge castle built on a rocky outcrop in the Bavarian Alps :Neuschwanstein Castle.
As Germany moves through a period where Romanticism is at its height, Ludwig II of Bavaria wants a romantic castle with turrets. But after a visit to France, and in particular to the Château de Pierrefonds rebuilt by Viollet Le Duc, the King of Bavaria wanted a castle mixing the romantic style with that of the neo-Gothic . He entrusted the realization of this project to the architect Edouard Riedel. The Monarch Ludwig II of Bavaria moved to Neuschwanstein Castle Castle in 1884, but he never saw the castle finally finished. Indeed, he will die 2 years later in a mysterious way. The proportions of this historic site are impressive:6,000 m2 for 200 rooms, 15 of which are furnished . Nearly 2 months after the death of the Sovereign, while it is not yet finished, Neuschwanstein Castle opens to the public. The first visitors can discover a very modern Château, with all the necessary comfort:central heating, hot water, telephone,…
How Walt Disney was inspired by Neuschwanstein Castle?
To visit Neuschwanstein Castle is to dive into a magical and enchanting universe. You have probably already seen the famous castle that can be seen in the Disneyland Paris amusement park . Located in the heart of the park, the castle of Sleeping Beauty reveals a style that is both romantic and neo-Gothic. We can therefore clearly see the similarities between Sleeping Beauty Castle and Neuschwanstein Castle .
Before the construction of the amusement parks, the couple Walt and Lillian Disney traveled around Europe, in search of inspiration for their grandiose project. It was during a visit to Neuschwanstein Castle that they found it, to our delight. Its typical and romantic architecture seems to come straight out of a tale of knights and princesses. This inspiration, they transposed it in the creation of the Castle of Cinderella, and in the Castle of Sleeping Beauty found in the heart of the park. It is the association of these two castles that can be discovered on the famous logo that appears at the beginning of each cartoon that you can observe on your screens. Do you find any similarities with Neuschwanstein Castle? From now on, every time you watch a Disney cartoon, you will see this famous logo which appears at the beginning and compare it with Neuschwanstein Castle.
Visiting Neuschwanstein Castle:all our tips
Enjoy guided tours
Make your vacation a real fairy tale by visiting this castle in Bavaria. You can then enjoy a guided tour to discover the amazing history of this place , and especially discover all the interests of its architecture. You can also discover the interior of the famous German castle and stroll from room to room, discovering this extraordinary historic site.
Visit the castle during low season
History Notebook advice:if you want to enjoy a discovery in complete comfort, and enjoy the places as they should be, we advise you to visit Neuschwanstein Castle during the Spring. Indeed, in high season, this historic site sees its waiting times lengthen considerably. Neuschwanstein Castle can accommodate up to 10,000 visitors per day during the summer . So you can imagine the hours of waiting to access the castle. So for a complete immersion in the heart of this Bavarian castle, choose the low season. This will save you a considerable wait.
You now know everything about Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany's most popular and visited historical site. Its architecture, both romantic and neo-Gothic, will take you on a journey through history. During your discovery, we advise you to take a guided tour to learn all the secrets of this enchanting place.