Schloss Neuschwanstein

Schloss Neuschwanstein: King’s Homage to Richard Wagner

Schloss Neuschwanstein in English literally stands for New Swan Stone Castle. This castle, built in the nineteenth century is designed in Romanesque Revival architecture. The castle stands on a hill which is located above Hohenschwangau, a village near the area of Fussen, which is located on the south western Bavarian region of Germany.

The castle of Schloss Neuschwanstein was originally commissioned by Ludwig the Second, who used this primarily as his retreat. The castle was also a homage to the great conductor, polemicist, theatre director and, composer- Richard Wagner.

What attributes the creation of this castle unique is the fact that Ludwig the Second did not spend a penny from the public funds of Bavaria to erect the castle. The money was either taken from his personal fortune or was funded by extensive borrowing.

Till the time Ludwig the Second was alive, the castle served as his refuge. After his death in the year 1886, the castle was open to the general populace.

History

Richard Wagner in praise of Schloss Neuschwanstein mentions all its significant details but one. What he does not mention is the political motif behind the erection of the castle. In the year 1866, Austria had allied with Bavaria to fight against the Prussian Empire. Unfortunately, Prussia won the war against Bavaria, and it was forced to consent an “offensive and defensive alliance”. On the one hand, it meant that the king will have no rights to arrange over his army, in the outbreak of a war. On the other, it also meant that Ludwig the Second will cease to be the sovereign ruler. This limitation was one of the biggest misfortune in the life of Ludwig the Second. As a substitute for his feeling of kingship, he then transferred all his attention towards the palaces and castles of his kingdom.

The rightful heir to the throne, Prince Maximilian the Second of Bavaria, who was also Ludwig the Second’s father decided to rebuild the Schwanstein Castle in the year 1832. He decided that the refurbishment project would render the castle in Gothic style. Ludwig the Second, in his childhood days, was swayed by his interest in romantic mountain scenes. Thus this castle had become as one of his desired choices to stay.

The Hohenschwangau Castle was built with scenes depicting medieval poetry and legends which included the legend of Lohengrin, the swan knight. Ludwig the Second during his childhood, identified himself with this character. In the year 1850, Richard Wagner, the famous musician had dedicated one of his most famous romantic opera to Lohengrin. The swan was an important emblem to the Schwangau Counts, as it was their heraldic animal. The king considered himself to be the successor of the Schwangau Counts. Maximilian the Second, had made the symbol of the swan as a leitmotif for the Hohenschwangau Castle. This meant that the local tradition was now amalgamated with the idealisation of the legends of Middle Ages.

Maximilian the Second had lookout points and paths, which he had constructed in order to enjoy the scenes in and around the area of Hohenschwangau. In the year 1840, he decided to name the bridge which is located at the Pollat Görge as ‘Marienbrüke’ for his consort Marie who was a mountain climber. There was also a narrow mountain ridge called the “Jugend” which used to offer a magnificent view of lakes and mountains. Both Maximilian the Second and Ludwig the Second used to love this spot and would spend a considerable amount of time here.

It was here in the Jugend that Hinterhohenschwangau and the Vorder Castle lay in utter ruins. Ludwig the Second had decided to build his castle at this very same spot. This castle was named as New Hohenschwangau Castle back then, and the new name Neuschwanstein Castle was only named after the death of the king. Perfection was the main element for Ludwig and the refurbishment was done in such a way that the castle would acquire modern feature along with the reinstatement of the original style.

In the year 1867, Ludwig the Second planned to visit the Wartburg Castle which had been recently rebuilt. The New Castle of Ludwig was deeply inspired by the halls of Wartburg.

The castle was not constructed in the speedy way as Ludwig had expected it to be. The project itself was extensively comprehensive and the site for the construction which was on a mountain had presented a lot of difficulties. Artisans, architects and set designers implemented the detailed ideas of the king. It was the deadlines that Ludwig had set, meant that the workers had to toil day in out.

On 5th September 1869, New Castle’s foundation stone was laid down. The first construction to be completed was the Gateway Building. The king lived at this place for many years. Palas’ ceremony of topping out was not done until the year 1880. The king finally moved here in the year 1884.

Ludwig the Second had distanced himself from human contact and placed his focus more on royal dignity. The Writing Room in the year 1880 was converted into a grotto. Audience Room had now become Throne Room. The castle was no more meant to the general populace and was only meant for the kingship. On the western side of the Palas, a Knights bath was set up which was evocative of the ceremonial bath that knights would take of the Holy Grail. Today, if you visit here, there are stairs that will lead you to exit.

Interior of the Castle

The Neuschwanstein Castle portrays the longings and ideas of Ludwig the Second’s ideas and dreams. The main motive behind the castle was a place for a retreat rather than royal presentation. It was here that king would escape into the poetical world of Middle Ages.

The pictures inside the castle were deeply inspired Richard Wagner’s opera. It was to him that Ludwig the Second decided to dedicate this castle. The pictures inside the castle were only inspired by Wagner’s works, while they depicted legends from the Middle Ages.

Salvation and repentance, guilt and love were the main themes behind the pictures depicted on the walls. Parsifal, the Grail King, Lohengrin along with his father and Tannhäuser the poet, are the main figures in the paintings. The symbol of swan holds key importance to the Shwangau Counts. Swan, according to Christianity depicts purity, for which the king strived.

The Throne Hall, in particular, depict the political and religious ideas indoctrinated in the design of the castle. The paintings basically depict Ludwig’s ideas about kingship; as a religious mission which included powers that Ludwig had never acquired.

In the castle of Neuschwanstein, Middle Ages was just an illusion in its architecture. The castle was well equipped with modern day technology to ensure the comfort of the king. The Palas rooms and the residence were equipped with central heating technology of the day. Water was available on each floor of the castle and kitchen had facilities for both cold and hot water. The toilets within the castle had automatic systems of flushing.

In order to call his servants, Ludwig used to use a bell system worked though electricity. On the fourth and third floors of the castle, there were telephones. Meals for the king were not carried manually to his room but was transported through lifts.

The construction of the castle itself used modern day technologies. The cranes used to lift heavy materials were powered by steam engines. The Throne Room in the castle used the means of steel construction. One of the most striking features was, however, the window panes which were large in size- an unusual practice during the times of Ludwig the Second

Rooms in the Castle

• Lower Hall

On the walls of the Lower Castle, you will come across the Illustrations inspired from the Norse saga of Edda. These paintings depict the stories from Sigurd Saga. The word Sigurd parallels with the German words Siegfried. From the Lower hall of the Neuschwanstein Castle, marble portals will open your way into the Throne Room, which is located on the western side. On the eastern side, you can enter the royal apartments.

If you are here visiting the castle, make sure to begin your journey from here.

• Throne Hall

The Throne Hall of the Neuschwanstein Castle is built like a church. It has 4-meter long chandelier which occupies the western section and the fourth and third floors of the Palas.

The inspiration for the Throne Hall are the Byzantine churches in general. The court church of All Saints, in particular, located in Munich, is the true inspiration behind the creation of the Throne Hall. Located towards the northern apsis, there was supposed to be a throne, in place of the dais or altar, as it stands today. This construction, however, was never done post the death of Ludwig the Second.

This combination of the throne and church says a lot about the meaning of kingship as it stood for Ludwig the Second. For him was not just a simple king, but an intermediary between the world and God. This idea of kingship is also evident in the planning of the cupola. This is decorated with animals and plants at the mosaic floor while the cupola is adorned with stars.

The depiction in the apse shows the twelve Apostles along with Christ and the 6 holy kings. The actions of saints and kings are depicted on the ramparts of the Throne Hall. The celebration of kingship is expressed through the hall and was not envisioned for the merriment of state events.

• Dining Room

Located on the third floor are the anterooms which are Oak-paneled. It is through here that you can enter the rooms of Ludwig the Second.  In the year 1885, bell systems that worked with electricity were installed in this room so that the king could summon his servants who were on duty.

Minnesingers such as Wolfram-Eschenbach features on the walls. These are made using the bas-relief techniques and are oak panelled. Siegfried on his combat with a dragon is showcased as the centrepiece on the dining table. This is made out of bronze and marble. The textile used in the room is elaborate and features gold embroidery and red silk.

• Bedroom

Like all the rooms in the Neuschwanstein Castle, the bedroom too oozes of luxury. The legend of Tristan and Isolde feature in the carvings made on the doors and the murals. Tilted stove located in the room has ceramic figurines, which depict the same legend.

The bed is designed in neo-gothic architecture. The seat covers are made in silk of blue colors and have lilies, crowns, swans and lions depicted on them.

The depiction of a swan is the most elaborate and unique feature of this room. The washstand, soap containers, sponge and water jug, all have small swans decorated on them. This was conceptualised and executed by Eduard Wollenweber.

• Oratory

Located near the bedroom is the Oratory, which is designed in neo-gothic architectural style. Positioned in the altar, is a picture, a glass window and some murals. These all depict Louis the Ninth of France who was the king’s patron saint. However, there is no other connection between him and the king. King Louis the Sixteenth was the godfather of King Ludwig the First, Ludwig the First’s grandfather.

• Dressing Room

Neuschwanstein Castle’s dressing room corresponds with the style of any garden hall. There is an illusionistic painting on the ceiling of the room that depicts trellis of creepers and garden arbour which release to the sky.

The murals on the panelling depict scenes from the poems and life of Hans Sachs and Walther Vogelweide. The cover of the seats and draperies are finished from silk in violet colour. These have gold embroidery and have designs of peacocks, leaves and tendrils. The jewellery box of the king is located at the oriel space.

• Salon

This room is shaped like an L and has columns separating it from the rest of the rooms. In the room is located an oak cupboard, which is inspired by the furniture of Wartburg.  These decorations depict stories from the Medieval Age poetry.

Lohengrin Saga is the main theme of the murals which are painted in this Salon. Just like in the Bedroom of Neuschwanstein Castle, the coverings and draperies and made of silk of blue colour. These have lilies and swans embroidered on them. Look carefully in the room and you will notice a large swan made from Italian majolica, which is used as a flower and plant container.

• Conservatory and Grotto

Located between the study and salon is a small cavern or grotto. It is important to note that a grotto is a very unusual part of an apartment belonging to royalty. August Dirigl, a set designer, erected a mock dripstone cave, which once had one waterfall and coloured lighting. This was inspired from Hörselberg taken out of the Tannhäuser sagas.

Through the glass door and a sliding rock you can reach the Grotto. From here you can now reach the Conservatory. Look carefully from the glass panes and you can have a view of the majestic Alpines. Located in this room is a fountain which was previously envisioned for the Moorish Hall.

• Study Room

The murals depicted in the study room of the Neuschwanstein Castle depict the Tannhäuser sagas. There is a huge table in the centre of this room, where the king used to work. The cupboards in the room used to store important plans that led to the erection of the Neuschwanstein Castle.

• Anteroom

The Anteroom or the Adjutant’s Room is an oak panelled room completed with one tilted stove, chairs, tables and a couch. This couch was used by a servant who used to wait on the king as he used to sleep at night.

• Upper Hall

One marble portal on the western side of the Upper Hall will lead your way to the gallery located in the Throne Hall. There are 2 marble portals located on the eastern side of this hall which will lead you to Singers’ Hall.

The Murals in the Upper Hall depict stories from the Gudrun saga taken of the Old Norse Edda.

• Singers’ Hall

This hall is located close to the Throne Hall and is one of the most important projects that the king had envisioned. This hall occupies almost the entire of the fourth floor located on the eastern side. This is inspired the Wartburg Castle, where Ludwig the Second had himself visited on the request of Richard Wagner.

The murals painted on these walls deals with the Parsifal saga and the story of Holy Grail. Singers’ Hall similar to Throne hall was actually never served as a place for musical performances and banquets.

Other murals to look out for in this halls are winged Lucifer, Kyot and Flayetanis and, Minnesingers’ names.