Neuschwanstein Castle stands above Hohenschwangau near Füssen in the south-eastern Bavarian Allgäu. The building was erected from 1869 for the Bavarian King Ludwig II as an idealized idea of a knight's castle from the Middle Ages. Christian Jank designed the design, and Eduard Riedel and Georg von Dollmann were responsible for the execution. The king only lived in the palace for a few months and died before the complex was completed. Neuschwanstein was originally called the New Hohenschwangau Castle, and it has had its current name since 1886.[1] The owner of the castle is the Free State of Bavaria;[2] it is looked after and managed by the Bavarian Administration of State Castles, Gardens and Lakes.
Neuschwanstein is the most famous of Ludwig II's castles and one of the most well-known sights in Germany. It is visited annually by about 1.5 million[3] tourists. Neuschwanstein, often referred to as the "fairytale castle", can be visited and is open to visitors almost all year round[4]. The architecture and interior design are influenced by the romantic eclecticism of the 19th century; the castle is considered a major work of historicism.[5] Efforts are being made to include the "Ludwig Castles" of Neuschwanstein, Linderhof and Herrenchiemsee in the UNESCO World Heritage List[6].