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At first, Neuschwanstein castle was planned to be a small but ornate castle in a high Gothic style, with delicate turrets topped with high-pointed roofs and a huge tower
The first seeds of inspiration for the great castle came from a mini-Wagner festival that Ludwig ordered for the Munich Court Theatre in 1867, and it was this love of Wagner that was influential in his choice for the final design of Neuschwanstien castle. The first plans were drawn up soon after Ludwig's failed engagement and to help himself recover, he immersed himself wholly into designing Neuschwanstien. Christian Jank, the scenery designer at the Court Theatre, painted the designs for the castle, and these initial designs were then translated into architectural plans by Eduard Riedel. At first the castle was planned to be a small but ornate castle in a high Gothic style, with delicate turrets topped with high-pointed roofs and a huge tower. The first plan was rejected as being too small. The architect’s second design showed a larger and more ornate castle in a German Gothic style. By 1869, Neuschwanstien castle had became a massive temple to Wagner, and Christian Jank's design from that year was adopted for the project. Neuschwanstien had such luxuries as forced-air heating and indoor plumbing. But the most distinctive feature of the castle was that it was designed to be a stage for Wagner’s operas. Some rooms were designed explicitly as places where an opera might be performed, but in every room and corridor of the castle the architecture and artwork reflected the German mythology that formed the basis of Wagner’s operas. One of the most unusual rooms — is called the Grotto. It’s a superbly convincing artificial cave with waterfalls and stalactites. The Grotto was intended to represent a cave from Wagner’s opera “Tannhäuser.” When construction finally began, it was envisaged that Ludwig would be able to move into Neuschwanstien castle within three years or there about. Construction was painfully slow and more than a decade later Neuschwanstein castle was still not complete. In 1883 Wagner died, causing Ludwig tremendous grief. A year later, Ludwig decided to move in, even though the structure was still unfinished and the throne room was not yet ready to hold a throne. Ludwig took up residence in Neuschwanstein castle but only for a grand total of eleven nights. In 1886, Ludwig died under suspicious circumstances at the age of 41 and construction on Neuschwanstein continued for another eight years. When the builders finally stopped, only a third of the rooms had been finished and decorated. Without Ludwig, Wagner may never have achieved the successes he did, and without Wagner, Neuschwanstein castle would never have been built. The “swan king,” as he is sometimes called, built other equally interesting castles and led a fascinating, if deeply troubled life.
Tourist InformationOpening times April - September: 9 am - 6 pm cash desk open from 8 am - 5 pm October - March: 10 am - 4 pm cash desk open from 9 am - 3 pm Entrance tickets can only be bought at the ticket centre in the village of Hohenschwangau below the castle. You must therefore buy your ticket before you start the approximately 30-minute walk to the castle. Tickets can be booked in advance for an additional charge. The time can only be changed or the ticket cancelled up to two hours before the start of the tour (also by phone). Admission charges Adult admission: 9.00 € Concession: 8.00 € Combination ticket "Königsticket" for Neuschwanstein Castle and Hohenschwangau Castle on the same day: 17.00 € or 15.00 € concession
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The ultimate in fantasy, 
