Disney Castle

From Munich, we took a tour out to see the famous castle Neuschwanstein. People always called this the Disney Castle and I thought this was because Disney owned it or something (after all, what don't they own?). But when I saw the castle I realized why - it is the castle from Disney's logo (for which they apparently pay the state of Bavaria 1 mil. per year). Walt Disney was so struck by the beauty of this place he made it the symbol of his empire. Which is interesting because the guy who built it to be the symbol of HIS empire, Bavarian King Ludwig II, was so eccentric he could be from a Disney movie!

 

We took Sandeman's tours (would definitely recommend) and took a train 2 hours out of Munich to the castle. Actually, castles, because there is another castle beside Neushwanstein, called Hohenschwangau (all the names had to do with swans, which Ludwing was obsessed with), which was built by King Ludwig's dad. It was very nice, but nothing compared to the castle on the mountain above it. Neuschwanstein was built between 1868 and 1895, although it never got totally finished because King Ludwig died. So only about a third of the rooms are actually finished. From the castle, on one side is a view of a great plain of green grass with a huge lake, and on the other side a breathtaking view of the Alps.

 

The rooms are ridiculously ornate. Ludwig loved ancient mythology (interesting considering the strict Catholicism of Germany at the time), so there are pictures portraying these stories on the walls and ceilings everywhere. Ludwig even had his own opera house because he didn't like to be in large crowds. The castle had primitive cereal heating and hot and cold running water. The most interesting and random part of the castle is a room made to look like an underground cave. His toilet is basically a throne. We were not allowed to take pictures inside.

 

There is a bridge above a waterfall that we went to after viewing the castle, and this is an incredible view of the castle and its surroundings.

 

Almost as interesting as the castle is the story of King Ludwig himself. He became king very early in life and decided he didn't like being in charge. What he did like was all the money at his disposal. He decided to retreat from his Kingly responsibilities and focus on building lots of castles. Ludwig built so many castles he ended up several million franks in debt to the state. The state realized he wasn't going to fork over the cash so they made up a story that he was mentally deranged (not far off), and had him deposed as king. Ludwig ended up dying mysteriously soon after. He went for a walk with his psychiatrist and they both were found dead, not drowned, in a lake. There are many theories about how he died.

 

What struck me most about Ludwig is that he was extremely self-absorbed, and he happened to be in a position which allowed him to pursue all of his desires. What's interesting is that he wanted all of the castles destroyed when he died. He wanted them all to himself. This is a reminder for me not to use all of my resources to "build my castles" but to build things for others as well.

 

- Andy