The United Nations Cultural Agency announced on Saturday that the Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany, may be known for its fairy tale castle that inspired Walt Disney and has been named a World Heritage Site.
In the late 19th century, the famous Bavarian art king, King Ludwig II, was also added to the coveted list: Herrenchiemsee, Linderhof and Schachen.
Neuschwanstein is located on a rocky, 200m high mountain rock. It is the most visited castle in Germany, with nearly 1.5 million people pouring into it every year.
“The fairy tale castle is a fairy tale: we are #worldheritage!” Bavarian Governor Markus Soeder wrote on X after the announcement.
Neuschwanstein combines an idealized medieval appearance with what was considered cutting-edge architectural technology at the time.
Its main room is decorated with paintings of German and Nordic legends, the same story as the inspiring composer Richard Wagner, who was a generous patron.
Peter Seibert of the Bavarian Castle Government (BSV) told AFP that UNESCO’s listing is “a very huge responsibility, but also acknowledges … it is a very responsibility for what we have done so far”.
Philippe, a 52-year-old tourist from Canada, was surprised that the castle was not a World Heritage Site.
“We are lucky enough to still be able to experience this,” he said.
Meanwhile, Herrenchiemsee evoked Versailles’ miniatures on the lake between Munich and Salzburg, a tribute to Louis of France, the absolute monarch of Ludwig.
Indeed, Louis XIV’s so-called motto “l’Etat, c’est Moit” (“I’m the country”) is Louis “Meicost-ettal” (“I’m the country”).
– “Part of Bavarian identity” –
The third location on the UNESCO list is the small castle in Linderhof, which was completed in 1878 and is the only one that Ludwig completed in his life.
It blends elements of French Baroque architecture during Louis XIV’s reign with the Rococo-style touch developed in southern Germany.
Its park has an artificial cave inspired by Wagner’s opera Tannhaeuser, 90 meters long and up to 14 meters high. The cave is as tall as 14 meters, which houses a cave of Venus, designed as a personal retreat by Ludwig.
The electric light system used in the cave was the latest at the time, and glass discs were used to illuminate the cave in different colors.
The last of the four attractions on the list is Schachen, a royal mansion in the style of Swiss greenhouses, Ludwig likes to celebrate the Saints’ Day in St. Louis on August 25.
It is located at an altitude of 1,800 meters, not far from Neuschwanstein.
Sebert said the four castles have become “part of Bavarian identity” and are “iconically embedded in the beautiful scenery”.
Ironically, although Ludwig’s architectural heritage is today a sense of pride in Bavaria – not to mention tourism income, they are part of his own fall.
The devastating construction costs of luxury homes led the Bavarian government to revoke him, declaring him crazy.
He interned at the Berg Palace and died shortly thereafter in the mysterious situation at Lake Starnberg.
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