Neuschwanstein Castle

The Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the most visited castles in Western Europe today.  The castle began its construction in September of 1869 as a refuge for Ludwig II of Bavaria to retreat to from public life.  The King was shy and used private moneys to build this elaborate dwelling for his personal enjoyment.  The castle is set in the mountains of Southern Germany next to a lake with an impressive dam.  Many describe the castle as "the castle of the fairy-tale king."  The castle was filled with art and performance stages, many portraying natural scenes.  It was built as a homage to Richard Wagner, a German composer and theatrical artist.

I was able to visit this Castle on a recent trip to Southern Germany.  When approaching this castle, you are able to see it from miles away, its presence in the mountains is impressive to say the least.  The walk up the hill which is rather steep is a testament to the purpose of the castle, to allow Ludwig to retreat from public life.  The castle is absolutely beautiful, and the surrounding landscape adds to the beauty.  The castles exterior is interesting in that the only high-contrast facade is of the gate building.  The rest of the castle is made of a light colored stone and is adorned with round spires and other stone decorations.

The interior is elaborate and expansive.  King Ludwig was very particular in regard to the art which was throughout the entire castle.  The details of the interior of the castle were the most impressive to me.  The detail and just how much of it there was, was impressive and amazing.  Not to mention how ornate it was.  Pictured above is the Throne room, one of the most ornate rooms in the castle.  Seeing this in person was very interesting, it seems very unreal.  Below is a picture of the large halls and open areas that were common in the house.  These halls were just as detailed with murals and large arched ceilings.

Visiting this castle was an amazing experience.  It is very eye opening to know that there are many many other castles which are equally impressive throughout this region.