Disney was so inspired by the fairy tale architecture and surrounding landscape, that he modeled his Sleeping Beauty castle after it (which also served as the Walt Disney Pictures logo from 1985-2006). Upon returning home, he constructed Disneyland with the castle as its centerpiece in Anaheim, California.
Neuschwanstein, a Bavarian castle commissioned by King Ludwig II of Bavaria, was the inspiration for King Stefan's castle in Sleeping Beauty. However, like the queen's castle in Snow White, Disney added a few elements to create a more mystical feel.
Few places on Earth look more like storybook illustrations than Neuschwanstein Castle. With its towers, turrets, frescoes, and throne hall, Neuschwanstein (or Schloss Neuschwanstein, as it is called in German) looks like it was plucked straight from your favorite fairy tale.
What was the inspiration for Neuschwanstein Castle?
He was inspired by famous buildings such as Pierrefonds Castle in France and Wartburg Castle in Thuringia. But one of his greatest inspirations came from music. Ludwig II was a great lover of classical music and designed his new Neuschwanstein Castle as a “temple” to bear the works of his great friend Richard Wagner.
"In the authentic style of the old German knights' castles"
It was here that Ludwig II planned to build his "New Hohenschwangau Castle" (it only acquired the name of "Neuschwanstein" after the death of the king). It was to be a better recreation of an ideal medieval castle than Hohenschwangau.
Neuschwanstein: A Bavarian Prince Reveals 5 Secrets About the World-Famous Disney Castle
What castle inspired Disney?
The fairytale castle Neuschwanstein is a popular sight in Germany. The castle in Hohenschwangau (Bavaria) was built by order of King Ludwig II and the inspiration for the Disney Cinderella castle. Prepare your tour and Neuschwanstein visit with these tips for tickets. Wilkommen in Schloss Neuschwanstein!
You wouldn't know it from the outside, but much of Neuschwanstein is unfinished inside. This is due to King Ludwig running out of money for its construction. The king loved to build, and he has two other castles in Bavaria that you can visit.
After King Ludwig's death, the ownership of Neuschwanstein Castle passed to his nephew, but the castle was eventually acquired by the Bavarian state in 1919. The state has been responsible for maintaining and preserving the court ever since, and it remains an important cultural and historical site in Bavaria.
While on vacation in Europe, Walt Disney and his wife visited Neuschwanstein Castle. Disney was so inspired by the fairy tale architecture and surrounding landscape, that he modeled his Sleeping Beauty castle after it (which also served as the Walt Disney Pictures logo from 1985-2006).
What movies have been filmed at Neuschwanstein Castle?
Neuschwanstein Castle
However, the castle has also been featured in other classic movies such as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), featured as Baron Bomburst's castle, and the castle Hendley and Blythe also fly over the Neuschwanstein in The Great Escape (1963).
Note that the Krazy King was more than six feet tall) they should have been knocked upside the head. Ludwig's weird fantasy Neuschwanstein Castle has become not only a symbol for all of Germany (thanks to Disney) but also a huge cash machine, forking more than $15,600,000 annually to the Bavarian treasury.
A visit to Neuschwanstein Castle is only possible as part of a guided tour. Your admission ticket is valid for a guided tour of the castle at a specific time. We expressly point out that the guided tours start punctually; in the event of late arrival, participation in the guided tour is no longer possible.
How long did Ludwig live at Neuschwanstein Castle?
As a temple of friendship, it was also dedicated to the life and work of Richard Wagner, who died in 1883 without visiting the building. In the end, Ludwig II lived in the palace for a total of only 172 days.
The ERR established numerous storage repositories for looted art, including the one at Neuschwanstein, where they moved several large collections taken from Paris during 1941–45.
King Ludwig II designed the castle as an isolated refuge. That's what made it the perfect depot for hiding Nazi stolen art. George Clooney's 'The Monuments Men' sheds light on Neuschwanstein's role in World War II.
But even as he strove to evoke medieval grandeur, he embraced Industrial Age technology. Neuschwanstein — only about as old as the Eiffel Tower — had electricity, running water, and a telephone.
The Little Mermaid is one of the most popular Disney films and rightly so! Who hasn't related to feisty Ariel at one point or another in their teenage years? Read on as I take you to the castle that Prince Eric's home is based upon: the beautiful Château de Chillon in Switzerland!
What's inside Neuschwanstein Castle? Neuschwanstein Castle's interior features elaborately decorated rooms, including a throne room, Grotto, and chapel, among others, and can only be seen through guided tours.
Of course, Cinderella's castle belongs in the top spot. This building is an icon at Walt Disney World, at Tokyo Disneyland and at Walt Disney parks and resorts in general, sharing its famous status with Aurora's castle.
How many years did it take to build the Neuschwanstein Castle?
Building the castle took more than 20 years. One of the first things worked into the design was portraits of Ludwig II and the coins utilized while he was in power, a decorative tradition observed by many rulers of this time. The Gateway Building was finished in 1872, which is when work on the palace began.
Get to know this 4.3-mile out-and-back trail near Schwangau, Bavaria. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 30 min to complete. This is a very popular area for hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring.
How many people lived in the Neuschwanstein Castle?
Despite its enormous size and original plan to have 200 rooms, it was built for only one person to live in. King Ludwig II dedicated the castle to Richard Wagner, the famous composer who was a close friend and confidant for many years.
Sleeping Beauty's Castle was inspired by Ludwig's Neuschwanstein, as was Cinderella's Castle. As Today I Found Out states, the Bavarian castle's "dainty turrets and romantic views," as well as its "cylindrical towers" and Romanesque style made it the perfect architectural model for both Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty.
