Summer 2007 - Day 19

Day 19

Neuschwanstein Castle was built in the 19th century by King Ludwig II (1845 - 1886) and is one of the 3 castles built by Ludwig. The shy king, who ascended the throne at the age of 18, had built the castle in order to withdraw from public life.

Seven weeks after his death the castle was opened to the public. It is now a very popular tourist destination with 1.3 million people visiting the castle each year. We dragged the boys off on yet another tour. The longest part of the tour was waiting in the queue.

Ludwig originally named the castle New Hohenschwangau but it was re-named Neuschwanstein after his death. The castle is incomplete as building stopped when Ludwig died.

When Neuschwanstein was close to completion in 1886, the King was declared insane by Dr. von Gudden and arrested at the palace. Taken to Schloss Berg, he was found the following day on June 13, 1886, drowned in shallow water in Lake Starnberg, along with von Gudden, the psychiatrist who certified him. The exact circumstances of his death remain unexplained.

The Sleeping Beauty castle in Disneyland is based on Neuschwanstein.

We couldn't take any photos inside the castle.

These last 2 photos were taken from Marienbrucke (Marie's Bridge) which has been built over the Pollat Gorge.

Smallest of the 3 palaces built by King Ludwig II is Linderhof. Linderhof originated as a hunting lodge belonging to his father Maximilian II.

In the grounds of Linderhof, Ludwig had an artificial grotto built for him to enjoy the music of Richard Wagner. The design reproduces the 'Venusberg' of Wagner's "Tannhäuser". The grotto includes underwater lighting, artificial waves and changing lighting effects through rotating coloured glass disks .

Ludwig liked to be rowed about the lake in his golden shell boat by a servant .