Alleah

Written by Alleah

Modified & Updated: 23 Sep 2023

Sherman Smith

Reviewed by Sherman Smith

Neuschwanstein Castle Facts

In fairytales and folklore, the grand castles add an element of fantasy into the stories that we love. However, not many know that the luxurious structures we’ve seen in Disney films actually exists in real life. In particular, the Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany has inspired most of the towering castles in Disneyland theme parks. Aside from this popular reference, this castle also serves as an important landmark for Bavarian culture. See the castle’s beauty for yourself with these facts about the Neuschwanstein Castle.

  1. The Neuschwanstein Castle stands on the hill of Hohenschwangau Village in Bavaria, Germany. 
  2. The cliffside Neuschwanstein Castle was a commission of King Ludwig II of Bavaria in 1868. 
  3. The floor space of the Neuschwanstein Castle covers around 65,000 square feet. 
  4. With an altitude of 3000 feet or 925m above sea level, the Neuschwanstein Castle gives off a towering effect. 
  5. Neuschwanstein Castle welcomes around 1.5 million visitors every year.
  1. Despite the medieval appearance of the Neuschwanstein Castle, it was built after that period in the 1870s.
  2. The Neuschwanstein Castle is built on top of a rock ledge in the Bavarian Alps. 
  3. The Hohenschwangau Castle was where King Ludwig grew up and it became the inspiration for the Neuschwanstein Castle.
  4. Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the world’s most famous castles because of its unique design and setting. 
  5. Although the Neuschwanstein Castle is barely complete, the finished portion holds a magnificent structure that you can just imagine how amazing it would be if it was completed. 
  6. The Neuschwanstein Castle was originally called Hohenschwangau Castle. 
  7. The old Schloss Hohenschwangau from where Ludwig grew up is now only a shadow of the magnificent Neuschwanstein Castle.
  8. The Neuschwanstein Castle is open for public viewing, but guests need to travel to the Hohenschwangau village to buy the ticket. 
  9. King Ludwig II spent only 11 nights in the Neuschwanstein Castle.
  10. Neuschwanstein Castle is also known as the New Swan Stone Castle.
  1. Walt Disney drew inspiration from the Neuschwanstein Castle for his theme parks.
  2. The Neuschwanstein Castle dates back to the 19th Century.
  3. Although the Neuschwanstein Castle is open for public viewing, only 12 out of the 200 rooms are officially completed. 
  4. In today’s currency, the cost of construction for the Neuschwanstein Castle amounts to $250 million. 
  5. Don’t bring your phone or cameras when your visit the Neuschwanstein Castle because the taking photos inside is not allowed.
Table of Contents

The Neuschwanstein Castle is fondly known as the "Castle of the Fairytale King."

On September 5, 1869, the construction of the castle began under the orders of the King Ludwig II. During that time, he was known as a reclusive and eccentric king. According to German composer Richard Wagner, Ludwig wrote him a letter requesting to recreate his childhood palace, the Hohenschwangau Castle.

Ludwig wished for the castle to have a splendid view of the mountains with a wide courtyard. Sadly, Ludwig never got to see the castle in all its glory as he died in 1886.

Rumors say that Ludwig constructed the Neuschwanstein Castle for political and personal reasons.

Since Prussia came out victorious in the 1866 Austro-Prussian War, Bavaria was forced to accept an alliance with Prussia and its empire. With that, King Ludwig II essentially lost his power. Before Ludwig found himself as a servant to the Prussian empire, his comfortable childhood at Hohenschwangau made it hard for him to accept the loss of power. At the young age of 18, he became appointed as King, but his rule was cut short to only 2 years.

Along with their victory, Prussia seized Bavaria’s military powers and foreign policy. That said, Ludwig pushed for the construction of the Neuschwanstein Castle to provide the illusion of a perfect kingdom that he could still rule over. 

Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle drew inspiration from the Neuschwanstein Castle. 

With its blue turrets and limestone facades, the castle is said to be the real-life inspiration of Disney classic castles that were put up in the 1950s. Most notably, this caste served as the inspiration for the Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Before constructing the Disneyland theme park, Walt Disney took his wife on a trip to where they visited the Neuschwanstein castle. Right after that visit, the construction of the theme park began. Although there has been no direct confirmation from the remarkable design of both castles bears striking similarities.

You can visit Neuschwanstein Castle at any time of the year.

In the summer heat, the Neuschwanstein Castle shines gleaming white, while its magnificent peaks twinkle in the snow during winter. That said, you could visit the castle no matter the weather and still be wowed. However, it’s recommended to avoid visiting during the summer months to avoid a large volume of tourists that could affect your experience. 

The Neuschwanstein Castle has interesting interiors and designs.

Despite his grand plans for the castle, King Ludwig II only lived there there for 11 days. From the 200 rooms in the original plan, only 12-14 rooms were finished. If you pay for a guided tour, you will have access to the Singer’s hall, Ludwig’s bedroom, and the grotto which resembles a cave. Inside King Ludwig II’s dressing room, you will also see murals and ceiling paintings from poets Hans Sachs and Walther von der Vogelweide. To top it all off, his room has violet silk and a rich gold finish. 

Neuschwanstein castle
Source: Pixabay

The Neuschwanstein Castle throne room has no throne.

This castle’s throne room is a two-story space that captures the beauty of Byzantine churches. The room features a painted cupola, with a 13-feet tall chandelier and an elaborate floor mosaic. However, what’s ironic about this room is that there was never a throne at all inside it.

The Neuschwanstein Castle is a castle of paradox.

King Ludwig II ordered to build the Neuschwanstein at a time where castles were no longer needed as forts or strongholds. Despite its emphasis on medieval designs which was way before the advancement of anything, King Ludwig wanted the castle to have all the comforts of the newest technologies at that time.

Structurally, the place comes furnished with a lavish space of the courtyard, towers, an artificial cave, indoor garden, and spires. In contrast to how medieval castles were run, Neuschwanstein had running water, a heating system, and a flush system. Additionally, the dining room had an elevator that leads you straight to the kitchen three stories down. More surprisingly, it even has telephone line connections.

The exterior of the Neuschwanstein Castle is one of its highlights.

If you happen to visit the castle, be sure to spend time in the wooden trails leading around and inside the castle. Doing so will provide you countless opportunities to admire the features of the Bavarian Alps. Beyond the castle walls is a hanging bridge over a waterfall known as the Marienbrücke bridge. This portion of the castle offers the best photo opportunities with iconic views. 

Germany's 3rd most popular tourist attraction is the Neuschwanstein Castle.

In 2017, the Neuschwanstein Castle was voted as the 3rd most visited tourist destination in Germany. This does not come as a surprise as the castle offers stunning views no matter the season you wish to visit. For many, a trip to Germany would not be complete without seeing the world-famous Neuschwanstein Castle.

Neuschwanstein Castle was art storage during WWII.

During World War II, the Nazis looted many pieces of art. Since the castle was perceived to be a perfect location for hiding all the stolen artwork, the Nazis converted the castle into a storage place. Its location near the border in Austria and far from Berlin made it the perfect safe space for their stolen goods. Hitler even planned to open a museum after the war to exhibit the stolen artworks. However, the soldiers were able to recover all the artwork after the liberation of Paris. 

The Neuschwanstein Castle was also a tribute to a famous composer.

In his life, King Ludwig II deeply admired the German composer Richard Wagner. As a result, the Neuschwanstein had several nods to Wagner’s operas. Inside the castle, the an ornate Singers Hall was meant to hold grand performances. While it never came about, portions of this room were still constructed. Sadly, the performances did not become a reality, and Richard Wagner did not have the chance to visit the castle.

An opera designer led the Neuschwanstein Castle's architecture.

Because of King Ludwig’s love for art and opera, he assigned the responsibility of creating it to opera designer Christian Jank. With the dramatic details and inspiration found all over the interior and the castle’s exterior, the operatic influence can clearly be seen. To top it all off, you will find a cave-like room inspired by Wagner’s Tannhauser opera.

Germany's Neuschwanstein Castle is famous in pop culture.  

Even though most of its parts remain unfinished, its beauty and details gave it an edge among all other castles that you can find in the world. Because of this, it the Neuschwanstein Castle has been featured in many movies and pop culture. For one, you can catch a glimpse of the Neuschwanstein Castle in the 1986 musical-fantasy movie, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

The Neuschwanstein Castle was the king's little haven.

The castle’s location lies away from the noise of civilization. Hidden deep in the countryside of Bavaria, the castle embodies peace and serenity. When the construction began, King Ludwig II only wanted the castle to be his retreat center and not his official residence or a place of royal representation. However, his plans of making it a safe space for himself did not push through. 

There are 20,000 castles in Germany including the Neuschwanstein Castle.

Generally, two types of castles can be found in Germany. Neuschwanstein is a Schloss castle, which means that it was designed as a royal’s residence. The second types are Burg castles or those that serve as fortresses for battles. In Germany, you will find 20,000 different castles to visit, from popular ones like the Neuschwanstein to little-known ruins. 

castle
Source: Pixabay

Sync your Neuschwanstein Castle trip to Munich's Oktoberfest Celebration. 

If you plan to visit the castle in the fall, you must book it in time for the 16-day music celebration in Munich. Usually straddling between September and October, the Oktoberfest is a celebration that you can’t miss.

During the fall, the Bavarian Alps turn into a lush autumn foliage. The skies are clear, the summer crowds have cleared, and you’d enjoy mild temperatures while admiring the castles. 

The Bavarian Palace Department offers group tours for the Neuschwanstein Castle.

The only way to get inside the castle is through tour groups arranged by the Palace Department. Interested travelers may join a tour company that includes nearby castles, too. For transportation alone, it would cost you around $45.

However, this amount does not cover the entrance fees for the castles. Currently, the Neuschwanstein Castle entrance fee totals $13- $14 for adults. Meanwhile, visitors 18 years old and below can come in for free, with discounts available for students, large groups, and senior citizens. 

The Neuschwanstein Castle ticket includes a guided tour.

lthough taking pictures is not allowed inside the castle, you will definitely learn a lot from your visit. The ticket you will be buying will include a guided tour which will tell you more about the history of the Neuschwanstein, available in German or English.

If you wish to hear it in your native tongue, there are also 16 languages that you can choose from for an audio tour. For your $13-$14, you will have a tour approximately 40 minutes long. This package covers the finished rooms as well as the throne and cave room, which are widely popular.

You can visit the Neuschwanstein Castle all year except for Christmas and New Year.

Tourists can visit Neuschwanstein any time of the year except for the eve and the actual day of Christmas and New Year. Between April to October 15, the castle accepts visitors from 9 am to 6 pm. From October 16th until March, tourists can admire its beauty from 10 am to 4:00 in the afternoon.

You can visit nearby tourist attractions after your Neuschwanstein Castle tour.

If you want to take your fairy tale trip to the next level, you may consider booking the Villa Ludwig, which is a hostel near the castle in the Hohenschwangau village. There are also other choices of cozy inns and hotels in Füssen. Aside from other castles nearby, tourists who wish to stay for the day only will have no trouble finding restaurants to eat.

While the castle houses a bistro inside, tourists can also opt for the restaurants around the village. Of all these eateries, the Schlossrestaurant Neuschwanstein restaurant is the oldest restaurant. It boasts of an overlooking garden with a view of the castle and a sweeping terrace. Interestingly, this place served as a mere canteen for the castle’s workers back in the day.

cafe
Source: Pixabay

Was this page helpful?

Our commitment to delivering trustworthy and engaging content is at the heart of what we do. Each fact on our site is contributed by real users like you, bringing a wealth of diverse insights and information. To ensure the highest standards of accuracy and reliability, our dedicated editors meticulously review each submission. This process guarantees that the facts we share are not only fascinating but also credible. Trust in our commitment to quality and authenticity as you explore and learn with us.