'Fairytale' Neuschwanstein castle becomes UNESCO heritage site
Three other royal residences, also constructed in the late 19th Century under the famously arts-obsessed King Ludwig II of Bavaria, were also added to the coveted list: Herrenchiemsee, Linderhof and Schachen.
Neuschwanstein, perched on a rocky, 200m-high Alpine crag, is Germany's most visited castle, with almost 1.5 million people flocking there every year.
"A fairytale comes true for our fairytale castles: We are #WorldHeritage!" Bavaria's governor, Markus Soeder, wrote on X after the announcement.
Neuschwanstein combines an idealised medieval exterior with architectural techniques considered cutting-edge at the time.
Its main rooms are adorned with paintings of German and Nordic legends, the same stories that inspired composer Richard Wagner, for whom Ludwig was a generous patron.
Peter Seibert of the Bavarian Castles Administration (BSV) told AFP that the UNESCO listing "is a very great responsibility, but also recognition... for the work we have done so far in preservation".
Philippe, a 52-year-old visitor from Canada, was surprised that the castle was not already a World Heritage Site.
"We're lucky to still be able to experience this," he said, calling the listing "a very good idea".
Herrenchiemsee meanwhile evokes a Versailles in miniature on a lake between Munich and Salzburg, an homage to absolute monarch Louis XIV of France, whom Ludwig admired.
Indeed Ludwig nicknamed Herrencheimsee "Meicost-Ettal", an anagram of Louis XIV's alleged aphorism "L'Etat, c'est moit" ("I am the state").
- 'Part of Bavarian identity' -
The third site in the UNESCO listing is the small castle of Linderhof, completed in 1878, the only one to have been finished in Ludwig's lifetime.
It mixes elements of French Baroque architecture from the reign of Louis XIV with touches of the Rococo style developed in southern Germany.
Its park boasts an artificial cave inspired by Wagner's opera Tannhaeuser, 90 metres long and up to 14 metres high, which houses a grotto of Venus and was designed as a personal retreat for Ludwig.
The electric lighting system used in the cave was state of the art at the time, with glass discs used to illuminate the grotto in different colours.
The last of the four sites on the list is Schachen, a royal house in the style of a large Swiss chalet, where Ludwig liked to celebrate the saint's day of his namesake St Louis on August 25.
It is located at 1,800 metres above sea level, not far from Neuschwanstein.
The four castles have become "part of Bavarian identity" says Seibert, "iconic and perfectly embedded in a beautiful landscape".
Ironically, while Ludwig's architectural legacy is today a source of pride in Bavaria -- not to mention tourist revenue -- they were part of the reason for his own downfall.
The ruinous construction costs of the lavish residences led the Bavarian government to depose him, declaring him insane.
Interned in Berg Palace, he died shortly afterwards in mysterious circumstances at Lake Starnberg.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
2 days ago
- News.com.au
‘Not ready': Robbie Williams issues heartbreaking update on mum's health battle
Pop star Robbie Williams has revealed his mother's dementia means she no longer knows who he is – and admits he 'isn't ready for it.' The Angels singer revealed the heartbreaking news about mum Janet during a recent concert while on tour in Germany, The Sun reports. Former Take That star Robbie, 51, also talked on stage about the other stresses he's been suffering with his father, Peter, who's also a singer, as well as his mother in law. He said: 'My mother has dementia and she doesn't know who I am anymore. 'She doesn't know where she is anymore. 'My dad has Parkinson's and he can't leave the house. 'He used to sing with me every night on stage, he would come out, steal the show and be charming and then wander backstage for a glass of red wine. 'Now he can't leave the house. 'My mother-in-law, who I absolutely worship and adore, has three illnesses. 'She's for lupus, Parkinson's and cancer. She is the most courageous lady and she is fighting, fighting, fighting.' He added: 'It's a strange place to be, this place we find ourselves, 51 years old, it's very strange to be the grown up. 'I'm not ready for it.' Robbie has previously talked about his mothers battle with dementia, which his grandmother also suffered from. He said he knew the day would come when she might not recognise him. He admitted: 'I'm in a different part of my life right now.' This comes shortly after it was announced that Robbie has officially been nominated for a knighthood for his contribution to music and charity. It is now up to the honours committee who will send a shortlist of recommendations to the Prime Minister Keir Starmer and then King Charles to sign off. Robbie is tied with The Beatles for the most UK No1 albums, with 15 chart-topping records, as well as seven No1 singles as a solo artist. He is also responsible for creating Soccer Aid way back in 2006, which to date has raised £106 million for UNICEF, who he has been an ambassador for since 2000. Robbie has been involved in 11 Comic Relief events and is a patron for Music Support — a charity helping people in the industry who are suffering from addiction or mental health issues. Radio 2 breakfast show host Scott Mills has thrown his weight behind calls for Rob to get the honour. Scott told Bizarre: 'I think Robbie should be knighted, 100 per cent. For his contribution for music alone. 'Let's not forget, he's the most decorated Brits winner in history. I think we should celebrate and acknowledge how much joy he has brought.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- News.com.au
'Fairytale' Neuschwanstein castle becomes UNESCO heritage site
The Neuschwanstein castle in Germany's Bavaria, perhaps best known for inspiring Walt Disney's fairytale castles, has been named a World Heritage site, the UN cultural agency announced on Saturday. Three other royal residences, also constructed in the late 19th Century under the famously arts-obsessed King Ludwig II of Bavaria, were also added to the coveted list: Herrenchiemsee, Linderhof and Schachen. Neuschwanstein, perched on a rocky, 200m-high Alpine crag, is Germany's most visited castle, with almost 1.5 million people flocking there every year. "A fairytale comes true for our fairytale castles: We are #WorldHeritage!" Bavaria's governor, Markus Soeder, wrote on X after the announcement. Neuschwanstein combines an idealised medieval exterior with architectural techniques considered cutting-edge at the time. Its main rooms are adorned with paintings of German and Nordic legends, the same stories that inspired composer Richard Wagner, for whom Ludwig was a generous patron. Peter Seibert of the Bavarian Castles Administration (BSV) told AFP that the UNESCO listing "is a very great responsibility, but also recognition... for the work we have done so far in preservation". Philippe, a 52-year-old visitor from Canada, was surprised that the castle was not already a World Heritage Site. "We're lucky to still be able to experience this," he said, calling the listing "a very good idea". Herrenchiemsee meanwhile evokes a Versailles in miniature on a lake between Munich and Salzburg, an homage to absolute monarch Louis XIV of France, whom Ludwig admired. Indeed Ludwig nicknamed Herrencheimsee "Meicost-Ettal", an anagram of Louis XIV's alleged aphorism "L'Etat, c'est moit" ("I am the state"). - 'Part of Bavarian identity' - The third site in the UNESCO listing is the small castle of Linderhof, completed in 1878, the only one to have been finished in Ludwig's lifetime. It mixes elements of French Baroque architecture from the reign of Louis XIV with touches of the Rococo style developed in southern Germany. Its park boasts an artificial cave inspired by Wagner's opera Tannhaeuser, 90 metres long and up to 14 metres high, which houses a grotto of Venus and was designed as a personal retreat for Ludwig. The electric lighting system used in the cave was state of the art at the time, with glass discs used to illuminate the grotto in different colours. The last of the four sites on the list is Schachen, a royal house in the style of a large Swiss chalet, where Ludwig liked to celebrate the saint's day of his namesake St Louis on August 25. It is located at 1,800 metres above sea level, not far from Neuschwanstein. The four castles have become "part of Bavarian identity" says Seibert, "iconic and perfectly embedded in a beautiful landscape". Ironically, while Ludwig's architectural legacy is today a source of pride in Bavaria -- not to mention tourist revenue -- they were part of the reason for his own downfall. The ruinous construction costs of the lavish residences led the Bavarian government to depose him, declaring him insane. Interned in Berg Palace, he died shortly afterwards in mysterious circumstances at Lake Starnberg.
The Advertiser
3 days ago
- The Advertiser
Bavaria's fairy-tale palaces get world heritage status
Bavaria's fairy-tale royal castles, including Neuschwanstein, Herrenchiemsee and Linderhof, have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage list, officials say. The decision, made by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee during its 47th session in Paris, is recognising the architectural and cultural significance of King Ludwig II's 19th-century palaces. Construction began at Neuschwanstein in 1869, but the project was never completed, and building work halted when the Bavarian king died in 1886. The castle is now one of the most popular tourist sites in Germany, receiving roughly 1.4 million visitors per year. It inspired the Disney castle logo after Walt Disney visited in the 1950s. Bavarian state premier Markus Soeder described the designation as a "worldwide accolade," calling Neuschwanstein "Bavaria's landmark par excellence." "For our fairy-tale castles, a fairy tale comes true," he said in a statement. Neuschwanstein combined great art and culture and also a bit of "kitsch and cliché," he said. "When seeing the castle, some people worldwide may think of Disney - but no: Neuschwanstein is and remains the original from Bavaria." Bavaria's fairy-tale royal castles, including Neuschwanstein, Herrenchiemsee and Linderhof, have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage list, officials say. The decision, made by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee during its 47th session in Paris, is recognising the architectural and cultural significance of King Ludwig II's 19th-century palaces. Construction began at Neuschwanstein in 1869, but the project was never completed, and building work halted when the Bavarian king died in 1886. The castle is now one of the most popular tourist sites in Germany, receiving roughly 1.4 million visitors per year. It inspired the Disney castle logo after Walt Disney visited in the 1950s. Bavarian state premier Markus Soeder described the designation as a "worldwide accolade," calling Neuschwanstein "Bavaria's landmark par excellence." "For our fairy-tale castles, a fairy tale comes true," he said in a statement. Neuschwanstein combined great art and culture and also a bit of "kitsch and cliché," he said. "When seeing the castle, some people worldwide may think of Disney - but no: Neuschwanstein is and remains the original from Bavaria." Bavaria's fairy-tale royal castles, including Neuschwanstein, Herrenchiemsee and Linderhof, have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage list, officials say. The decision, made by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee during its 47th session in Paris, is recognising the architectural and cultural significance of King Ludwig II's 19th-century palaces. Construction began at Neuschwanstein in 1869, but the project was never completed, and building work halted when the Bavarian king died in 1886. The castle is now one of the most popular tourist sites in Germany, receiving roughly 1.4 million visitors per year. It inspired the Disney castle logo after Walt Disney visited in the 1950s. Bavarian state premier Markus Soeder described the designation as a "worldwide accolade," calling Neuschwanstein "Bavaria's landmark par excellence." "For our fairy-tale castles, a fairy tale comes true," he said in a statement. Neuschwanstein combined great art and culture and also a bit of "kitsch and cliché," he said. "When seeing the castle, some people worldwide may think of Disney - but no: Neuschwanstein is and remains the original from Bavaria." Bavaria's fairy-tale royal castles, including Neuschwanstein, Herrenchiemsee and Linderhof, have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage list, officials say. The decision, made by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee during its 47th session in Paris, is recognising the architectural and cultural significance of King Ludwig II's 19th-century palaces. Construction began at Neuschwanstein in 1869, but the project was never completed, and building work halted when the Bavarian king died in 1886. The castle is now one of the most popular tourist sites in Germany, receiving roughly 1.4 million visitors per year. It inspired the Disney castle logo after Walt Disney visited in the 1950s. Bavarian state premier Markus Soeder described the designation as a "worldwide accolade," calling Neuschwanstein "Bavaria's landmark par excellence." "For our fairy-tale castles, a fairy tale comes true," he said in a statement. Neuschwanstein combined great art and culture and also a bit of "kitsch and cliché," he said. "When seeing the castle, some people worldwide may think of Disney - but no: Neuschwanstein is and remains the original from Bavaria."
