Germany · Bavaria, Neuschwanstein Castle

Schloss Neuschwanstein is not a medieval castle, but a 19th-century building in the Historicist style. King Ludwig II of Bavaria had it built near Hohenschwangau from 1869 onward. It was intended to serve as his private retreat and, at the same time, embody an idealized world of medieval chivalry. Among the models were the Wartburg as well as stage designs and legendary subjects that were also taken up in Richard Wagner’s operas. Ludwig II was a patron and admirer of the composer.

The first designs came from the stage painter Christian Jank; architects and building officials implemented them structurally and revised them. Behind the historicist appearance was contemporary technology, including a warm-air heating system, running water and electric call systems. Numerous murals refer to legends of knights and the Holy Grail. One of the best-known interior designs is the Singers’ Hall, whose conception was based on rooms in the Wartburg.

Ludwig II occupied parts of the castle even though the complex had not yet been completed. After his incapacitation and death in 1886, the work largely came to an end. Several planned structural elements were never executed. Shortly after the king’s death, the previously private castle was opened to visitors. The revenue was also intended to help repay the debts incurred through Ludwig’s building projects.

The German coin series “Bundesländer” was generally based on the order in which the Länder assumed the presidency of the Bundesrat. For each Land, a building or landmark was selected that enabled a direct geographical and cultural attribution. Neuschwanstein was suitable for this purpose because it is closely associated with the Bavarian monarchy, the cultural history of the 19th century and the present-day public image of Bavaria. The castle is owned by the Free State and is administered by the Bayerische Schlösserverwaltung.