Schloss Neuschwanstein is located near Fuessen in the Bavarian Alps of Germany and overlooks the Hohenschwangau valley. It is the most magnificent of the castles and palaces built by Ludwig II, King of Bavaria. The king reigned from 1864 until shortly before his death in 1886. He is often called the Maerchenkoenig, the Fairy tale King. The most famous of his castles, Schloss Neuschwanstein, became the inspiration for Disneyland’s Cinderella Castle.
Schloss Neuschwanstein near Fuessen in the Bavarian Alps
King Ludwig also built other beautiful castles and palaces. Schloss Linderhof and Schloss Herrenchiemsee were constructed during his reign as well. Although the shy and eccentric king used his own funds to pay for the construction of his palaces and did not expend public funds, his ministers became increasingly concerned with their king’s excessive spending. Ludwig II was deeply in debt. Instead of agreeing to future economization, as his financial ministers advised, he planned additional opulent projects. He even contemplated replacing his entire cabinet to rid himself of their antagonism. But his ministers acted quickly. They declared Ludwig II of Bavaria mentally ill, placed him in custody, and replaced him with his uncle, Prince Luitpold.
Only three days after being disposed, King Ludwig II of Bavaria died under mysterious circumstances. On June 13, 1886, he took a walk in the parkland of his Schloss Berg alongside the shore of Lake Starnberg and went missing. He was found dead in the lake. Although Ludwig’s death was officially ruled a suicide by drowning, no water was found in his lungs.
The shy king had built Schloss Neuschwanstein to withdraw from public life. Ironically, his magnificent castle is the most visited tourist attraction today, not only in Germany, but in all of Europe. Every year over 1.3 million people view King Ludwig’s private refuge https://neuschwansteincastle.net. If you visit Schloss Neuschwanstein, I am sure that the beauty of the castle and its surroundings will amaze you.
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Tags: Fuessen, Hohenschwangau, King Ludwig II of Bavaria, Maerchenkoenig, Schloss Neuschwanstein, tourist attraction
