Castles

  Final Draft: Journal entry

Day 1:

Today is my trip to Germany, with my German class. We just arrived in Germany, and it looks so cool and the weather is so beautiful outside. I will first start out with going to the Neuschwanstein Castle. It is one of the biggest castles I have ever seen, and the first. I'm going to take a tour through it, so then I can do my German project when I get back to Wisconsin. I  learn ed that the first seeds of inspiration for the great castle came from a mini- Wagner festive that  Ludwig ordered for the Munich court and theater in 1867. I thought that it was a pretty cool fact, but I learned that Ludwig was the king or the ruler of the castle. He was very particular on people going into his manor. That was the end of day one. That was awesome!

Day 2:

Today I hope to go see the Mespelbrunn Castle. Previous people told me that it is pretty interesting. I will also take a free tour. Did you know that because of it's concealment that it has survived the thirty year war? I did not know that until now. This looks so cool and I think that it one of the prettiest castles I have ever seen. It is the 2nd one I have seen on this trip. Most people say that the Mespelbrunn is the loveliest castles in Northern Bavaria. And I think that 100% it is beautiful. Well today I have learned a lot of things about the Mespelbrunn castle from knowing how long it has survived and what it went through, Well I had better go so I will talk tomorrow.

Day 3:

Well I have two more days left until I leave Germany and I hope to see more beautiful castles. Today I am going to the Heidelberg castle. It has been in Germany for about 14-17 centuries. I was speechless when I saw this castle, it was by far the biggest and gorgeous castle I have ever seen, the tour lady told me that<span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 255);"> Prince Elector Ruprech the 3rd was the owner of the castle and it was the first building as a royal residence. <span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 255);">He was a trustful man. This castle was called the English Building because of it's popularity. In the centuries that followed, the castle was misused as a quarry- castle stone helped to build new houses in Germany (Heildburg). <span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);">I didn't know those things, it is cool and I think I want to learn more. Did you know that <span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 255);">Today it is open for the public and it is used for festivals and other special things? Well that is all I can take in on one day well. Bis bald!

Day 4: Today is one of the last days I can see all of these beautiful castles. Today I will see the <span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 255);">Burghausen Castle. In 600 AD the first building in the castle site was wooden. <span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);">This is one of the perfect and organized places I have ever seen. Did you know that the <span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 255);">German king Konrad the second made Burghausen and the surrounding district? Until 1918 the Bavarian Dukes of Wittelsbach ruled Bavaria and extended the castle. <span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);"> In the 18th century the castle underwent a massive construction. <span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);">Wow. That is a lot of facts to take in all at once, but awesome. <span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);">Did you know that the castle is divided into 6 courtyards? This castle has a gate for every courtyard. T<span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 255);">he fifth courtyard contained the main tower and a small Gothic style chapel, which was built between 1480and 1490. <span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);">I think that all of those things are good to know about today's castles. Most castles are popular because of it's size. <span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);">I bet you did not know t <span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);">hat on the sixth courtyard there was a horse pond. <span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);">Today i<span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);">t i s used for two  <span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 255);">museums <span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 255);">and a youth hostel. I think that those were a enough facts for today and I don't know what about tomorrow.

<span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);">Day 5: last day

<span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);">Today is my last day in Germany seeing and sighting all of the castles. <span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 255);">Most castles took allmost 400 years to build ( the big ones). Today I will see a little bit of the <span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 255);">Colditz castle it was build in the 1158 after Emperor Frederick Barbossa appointed Thimo "Lord Colditz." Did you know t<span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);">hat in the 13th century the town of Colditz was established.<span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);"> Wow that was a long time ago I cant believe something like that could last that long. Also <span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 255);">in 1430, the Hussites attacked Colditz, setting the city and the castle alight. These castles are still up. <span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 255);">The castle was brought down with the generation of the Colditz for 250 years. Wow that was so much fun to see all of these castles and I think that I will come here sometime and see more castles some other time! <span style="color: rgb(0, 255, 0);"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 255, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 255, 0);"> This is a picture of Neuschwanstein from the front. <span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 255, 0);">This is a view of the beautiful castle from the back. This is a room inside the Neuschwanstein Castle. <span style="color: rgb(0, 230, 0);"> This is a view of the castle from the air. Notice the mysterious fog. <span style="color: rgb(0, 230, 0);"> This is a cliff side view of the castle. <span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 230, 0);"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);">

<span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);"> Rough draft: Journal Entry

Day 1: Today is my trip to Germany, with my German class. We just arrived in Germany, and it looks so cool and the weather is so beautiful<span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);"> <span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);">outside. I will first start out with going to the Neuschwanstein Castle. it is one of the biggest castles I have ever seen. I'm going to take a tour through it. So then I can do my German project when I get back to Wisconsin.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"> I <span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"> learn ed that the first seeds of inspiration for the great castle came from a mini- Wagner festive that <span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 255);"> Ludwig <span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 255);">ordered for the Munich court and theater in 1867. I thought that it was a pretty cool fact, but I learned that Ludwig was the king or the ruler of the castle. He was very particular on people going into his manor.

Day 2:

Today i hope to go see the Mespelbrunn Castle. Previous people told me that it is pretty interesting. I will also take a free tour. Did you know that <span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 255);">because of it's concealment that it has survived the thirty year war? I did not know that until now. This looks so cool and I think that it one of the prettiest castles I have ever seen. It is the 2nd one i have seen on this trip. Most people say that the <span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 255);">Mespelbrunn is the loveliest castles in Northern Bavaria. And I think that 100% it is beautiful. Well today I have learned a lot of things about the Mespelbrunn castle from knowing how long it has survived and what it went through, Well I had better go so I will talk tomorrow.

Day 3:

Well i have two more days left until I leave Germany and i hope to see more beautiful castles. Today I am going to the <span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 255);">Heidelberg castle has been in Germany for about 14-17 centuries. I was speechless when I saw this castle it was by far the biggest and gorgeous castle I have ever seen, the tour lady told me that<span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 255);"> Prince Elector Ruprech the 3rd was the owner of the castle and it was the first building as a royal residence. <span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 255);">He was a trustful man. THis castle was called the English Building becauseof it's popularity. In the centuries that followed, the castle was misused as a quarry- castle stone helped to build new houses in Germany( Heildburg). <span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);">I didn't know those things that is cool and i think i want to learn more. Did you know that <span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 255);">Today it is open for the public and it is used for festivles and other special things.

Day 4: Today is one of the last days i can see all of these beautiflul castles. Today I will see the <span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 255);">Burghausen Castle. In 600 AD the first buuilding in the castle site was wooden. <span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);">WOW this is one of the biggest one i have ever seen. DId you know that the <span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 255);">German king Konrad the second mad Burghausen and the surroundign district. Until 1918 the Bavarian Dukes of Wittelsbach ruled Bavaria and extended the castle. Did you know in the 18th century the castle underwent a massive construction. <span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);">WOw that is a lot of facts to take in all at once,But awesome. DId you know that the castle is divided into 6 courtyards. This castle has a gate for every courtyard. T<span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 255);">he fifth courtyard contained the main Tower and a small Gothic style chapel,Which was built between 1480and 1490. I<span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);"> think that all of those things are good to know about todays castles. Most castles are popular because of it's size. I bet you did not know t<span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 255);">hat on the sixth courtyard there was a horse pond. Today it is used for two museums and a youth hostel. I think that those were a enough facts for today and i don't now what about tomorrow.

Day 5: last day

<span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);">Today is my last day in Germany seeing and sighting all of the castles. <span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 255);">Most castles took almost 400 years to build ( the big ones)

<span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);">

Key: <span style="font-size: 80%; color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Blue=important/interesting facts <span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);">Purple<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">=Sophia's changes/information

<span style="color: rgb(0, 255, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);">Sophia's <span style="font-size: 150%; color: rgb(5, 255, 35);"> Notes: http://www.guide-to-castles-of-europe.com/german-castles.html <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 255);">[|Mespelbrunn Castle]:

<span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);">
 * <span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);">one of the loveliest German castles in northern Bavaria
 * <span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);">because of this concealment that it had survived the thirty Years War

[|Neuschwanstein Castle] :
 * <span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);">The first seeds of inspiration for the great castle came from a mini-Wagner festival that Ludwig ordered for the Munich Court Theatre in 1867
 * <span style="color: rgb(141, 0, 255);">Ludwing was a "king" and owned the Neuschwanstein castle

<span style="color: rgb(0, 255, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 255, 23);"><span style="font-size: 150%; color: rgb(0, 255, 0);">**//__<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Neil's Notes: __//** [] <span style="color: rgb(0, 255, 0);">** Neuschwanstein Castle Description & History: ** Neuschwanstein Castle was built by King Ludwig II, also known as **Mad King Ludwig**.to replicate medieval architecture and to pay homage to the operas of Wagner.

<span style="color: rgb(0, 255, 0);">Neuschwanstein Castle Interesting Facts:
<span style="color: rgb(0, 255, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 255, 0);"> []
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 255, 0);">The Castle is under tremendous tourism pressure; in summer over 6000 people wind through the castle per day--1.3 million per year.
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 255, 0);">Since 1990, the state has spent 11.2 million euros on renovation and maintenance of the castle and improvement of the visitor service.
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 255, 0);">Neuschwanstein Castle was opened to the public 7 weeks after the death of King Ludwig II.
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 255, 0);">Although the Castle was designed to look medieval, it had quite modern refinements: hot air, running water, automatic flush toilets were all part of the royal residence.
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 255, 0);">The kitchen at Neuschwanstein has been preserved in its entirety, featuring automatic spits and cupboards that could be heated with hot air from the large kitchen stove.
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 255, 0);">From Neuschwanstein Castle there are great views of alpine lakes, especially the **Alpsee**. Hiking trails abound near the Alpsee, and the one circling the lake is protected as a nature reserve.

<span style="color: rgb(0, 255, 20);"> <span style="color: rgb(5, 255, 35);">**The castle under construction in 1886** The foundation stone of the building was laid [|September 5], [|1869]. Neuschwanstein was designed by [|Christian Jank], a theatrical set designer, rather than an architect, which says much regarding Ludwig's intentions and explains much of the fantastical nature of the resulting building. The architectural expertise, vital to a building in such a perilous site, was provided first by the [|Munich] court architect [|Eduard Riedel] and later by Georg Dollmann, son-in-law of [|Leo von Klenze]. The palace was originally called New Hohenschwangau Castle until the king's death, when it was re-named Neuschwanstein, the castle of the Swan Knight [|Lohengrin], of Wagner's [|opera of the same name]. In origin, the palace has been the Schwanstein, the seat of the knights of [|Schwangau], whose emblem had been the swan. Neuschwanstein was near completion when, in 1886, the King was declared insane by a State Commission under [|Dr. von Gudden] and arrested at the palace. The King could hardly control himself as he asked von Gudden, "How can you declare me insane? You have not yet examined me!"[|[5]] Taken to Schlossberg, he was found on [|June 13], [|1886], in shallow water in [|Lake Starnberg], drowned, along with von Gudden, the psychiatrist who certified him. The exact circumstances of his and von Gudden's deaths remain unexplained. It is generally thought [//[|who?]//] that Ludwig's deposition was brought about by the Wittlesbachs in response to his extravagance with the dynasty's private funds in projects such as Neuschwanstein. <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(5, 255, 35);">

The palace comprises a gatehouse, a Bower, the Knight's House with a square tower, and a Palas, or citadel, with two towers to the Western end. The effect of the whole is highly theatrical, both externally and internally. [//[|citation needed]//] The king's influence is apparent throughout, and he took a keen personal interest in the design and decoration. An example can be seen in his comments, or commands, regarding a mural depicting Lohengrin in the Palas; "His Majesty wishes that … the ship be placed further from the shore, that Lohengrin's neck be less tilted, that the chain from the ship to the swan be of gold and not of roses, and finally that the style of the castle shall be kept medieval." [//[|citation needed]//] The suite of rooms within the Palas contains the Throne Room, Ludwig's suite, the Singers' Hall, and the Grotto. Throughout, the design pays homage to the German legends of Lohengrin, the Swan Knight. Hohenschwangau, where Ludwig spent much of his youth, had decorations of these sagas. These themes were taken up in the operas of [|Richard Wagner]. Many rooms bear a border depicting the various operas written by Wagner, including a theater permanently featuring the set of one such play. Many of the interior rooms remain undecorated, with only 14 rooms finished before Ludwig's death.[|[6]] With the palace under construction at the King's death, one of the major features of the palace remained unbuilt. A massive [|keep] was planned for the middle of the upper courtyard but was never built, at the decision of the King's family. The foundation for the keep is visible in the upper courtyard.

Painting of the Throne Room, looking from the throne The finished rooms include the throne room, which features a glass gem-encrusted chandelier; all [|Twelve Apostles], painted on the wall that surrounds the pedestal for the throne - the actual throne was never finished; and [|Jesus], behind the pedestal. The King's master suite includes a four-post bed hand carved of wood, the canopy of which is carved as the cathedral towers from every cathedral in Bavaria, a secret flushing toilet (which flushes with water collected from an aqueduct) and a running sink in the shape of a swan. The palace also includes an oratory, accessible from the dressing room and the master suite, which features an ivory crucifix, a room made to look like a cavern, a full kitchen equipped with hot and cold running water and heated cupboards, servants' quarters, a study, a dining room and the Singers' Hall. The Singers' Hall is a venue for performances by musicians and playwrights. The King built it for Wagner as a place to write and perform plays. The King died before watching a performance in the Singers' Hall, but it has been used since the King's death. Despite its medieval look, the construction of Neuschwanstein required the modern technology of the day, and the palace is a marvel of technological structural achievements. Steam engines, [|electricity], modern venting, plumbing and heating pipes are all part of the structure.[|[7]] It is now almost forgotten that Ludwig II was a patron of modern inventions and that he pioneered the introduction of electricity into public life in Bavaria. His new palaces were the first buildings to use electricity (i.e. the Venus Grotto at Linderhof) and other modern conveniences. Through his building activities, Ludwig kept many particular crafts alive, the knowledge and expertise of which would have died out otherwise, and he provided work and income to artisans, builders, plasterers, and decorators.

<span style="color: rgb(0, 255, 0);">Before visiting Germany a few years ago, I didn’t know very much about German history or culture, and didn’t really care to. I had always had a warm place in my heart for France, and felt my Gallic tastes were fundamentally at odds with what little I had grasped of life in Germany. As I saw things, the French language was smoother and more mellifluous than German; the French favored wine (as I do) where Germans were more fond of beer; the French countryside was organic and endearingly unkempt while rural Germany was spotless and well-manicured, and so on. In other words, Germany was undoubtedly nice enough, but just not my style. <span style="color: rgb(5, 255, 35);">My wife, however, has more overt German roots (even her name, Morgen, is spelled like the German word for morning). She had spent some time in Germany while in high school, spoke German well, and had the same sort of idealized fondness for Germany that I had for France. So in the interest of fostering marital harmony, we humored each other on our first trip to Europe together. She agreed to spend some time in Provence, and I agreed to spend some time in Bavaria. Needless to say, this was not a hardship for either of us. We ate and drank well in both countries and collected plenty of interesting stories. **Where Fairy Tales Come From** A recurring theme in the sights we saw in Germany—and believe me, I mean this in the best and most complimentary way—was wackiness. I’m not just talking about lederhosen and sauerkraut either, though it has always puzzled me how such things came to exist. A particular slice of German history we became well acquainted with was the rule of Ludwig II, king of Bavaria from 1864 until his death in 1886. While the many stories about Ludwig are strange and colorful (and some are featured as Interesting Things of Other Days) his most famous follies are the castles he built—especially his grandest and best-known castle, Neuschwanstein. Neuschwanstein is a beautiful castle set in one of the most scenic locations on Earth. If it looks a bit familiar, that may be because Walt Disney used it as inspiration for Cinderella’s Castle at the Disney theme parks. It really does evoke images of fairy tales, in more ways than one. But the story of its origin is one of tragedy, despair, and outright weirdness. <span style="color: rgb(5, 255, 35);">**Swan Song** To understand the story, you’ll need to know a bit about Ludwig. As a child, he loved swans. This is not surprising, considering the castle he lived in was called Hohenschwangau (or “high region of the swan”) and contained artwork depicting the story of Lohengrin, a medieval knight of the Holy Grail who rescues a princess with the aid of a swan. Ludwig liked to feed swans and draw pictures of them, and when at age thirteen he heard of Richard Wagner’s opera “Lohengrin,” he was very excited. He memorized the entire libretto, and this led him to an interest in Wagner’s other music and writings. Within a few years, this interest turned into an obsession. In 1863, Ludwig got a copy of Wagner’s “The Ring Cycle.” In the preface, Wagner talks about “the miserable state of the German theater,” and that “a German Prince would need to be found to provide the required funds” to produce the opera. Ludwig took this as his personal mission. The very next year, at age eighteen, Ludwig became king when his father died. His first official duty was to send for Wagner and have him brought to Munich.

Wagner, who at that time was in his fifties, was a gifted musician but not, apparently, a very nice guy. History records Wagner as arrogant and self-centered, prone to excess, indiscretion, and intolerance. It so happened that at the very time Ludwig summoned him to Munich, Wagner was trying to evade his creditors and was very much in need of a patron. So Ludwig and Wagner struck up an almost symbiotic relationship. Ludwig funded Wagner’s work and put him up in a handsome villa, and Wagner played the part of mentor and idol. Not long thereafter, though, amid reports of yet another affair and worries that Wagner might be exerting too much influence over the young king, he was forced to leave Bavaria and move to Switzerland. Although Ludwig was upset, he continued to support Wagner, and the two kept up a steady correspondence. Meanwhile, Ludwig was not having a very good time as king. He lost an important war against Prussia, was forced to submit his army to Austrian control, and then ended an unhappy engagement. Depressed and bitter, he withdrew from the public eye as much as possible and consoled himself by planning the construction of several great castles. In 1869, work began on his most ambitious castle, Neuschwanstein (which means “new swan stone”). Ludwig had always wanted a medieval castle, so he had Neuschwanstein built in what you might call a neo-Romanesque style. That is to say, it was made to look a lot older than it really was, and unlike authentic medieval castles, it had such luxuries as forced-air heating and indoor plumbing. But the most distinctive feature of the castle was that it was designed to be a stage for Wagner’s operas, both literally and figuratively. Some rooms were designed explicitly as places where an opera might be performed, but in every room and corridor of the castle the architecture and artwork reflected the German mythology that formed the basis of Wagner’s operas. All but a very few of Wagner’s operas are depicted in one way or another in the castle. One of the most unusual rooms—if you can call it that—is called the Grotto. It’s actually an incredibly convincing artificial cave, complete with stalactites and a waterfall. The Grotto was intended to represent a cave from Wagner’s opera “Tannhäuser.” Around the time construction began, estimates were that Ludwig would be able to move into the castle within about three years. But the work proceeded at a painfully slow pace and more than a decade later, the castle was still not complete. In 1883 Wagner died, causing Ludwig tremendous grief. So the composer never actually set foot inside the castle that had been built in his honor. A year later, Ludwig decided to move in, even though the structure was still unfinished and the throne room was not yet ready to hold a throne. But the king resided there for a grand total of only eleven nights. After Ludwig died under suspicious circumstances in 1886 at the age of 41, construction on Neuschwanstein continued for another eight years. When the builders finally stopped, only a third of the rooms had been finished and decorated. Without Ludwig, Wagner may never have achieved the successes he did, and without Wagner, Neuschwanstein would never have been built. But there is much more to the story of the life and death of King Ludwig II than Neuschwanstein. The “swan king,” as he is sometimes called, built other equally interesting castles and led a fascinating, if deeply troubled life. His story, like his castles, reminds me that there’s more to Bavaria than meets the eye. —[|Joe Kissell] <span style="color: rgb(0, 250, 8);"> [|Neuschwanstein Castle] was built by King Ludwig II, also known as Mad King Ludwig to replicate medieval architecture and to pay homage to the operas of Wagner. The Castle is under tremendous tourism pressure; in summer over 6000 people wind through the castle per day–1.3 million per year. From Neuschwanstein Castle there are great views of alpine lakes, especially the Alpsee. Hiking trails abound near the Alpsee, and the one circling the lake is protected as a nature reserve.
 * Reinventing the Castle**

Ludwig had always wanted a medieval castle, so he had Neuschwanstein built in what you might call a neo-Romanesque style. That is to say, it was made to look a lot older than it really was, and unlike authentic medieval castles, it had such luxuries as forced-air heating and indoor plumbing. But the most distinctive feature of the castle was that it was designed to be a stage for Wagner’s operas, both literally and figuratively. Some rooms were designed explicitly as places where an opera might be performed, but in every room and corridor of the castle the architecture and artwork reflected the German mythology that formed the basis of Wagner’s operas. All but a very few of Wagner’s operas are depicted in one way or another in the castle. One of the most unusual rooms—if you can call it that—is called the Grotto. It’s actually an incredibly convincing artificial cave, complete with stalactites and a waterfall. The Grotto was intended to represent a cave from Wagner’s opera “Tannhäuser.” <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"> Around the time construction began, estimates were that Ludwig would be able to move into the castle within about three years. But the work proceeded at a painfully slow pace and more than a decade later, the castle was still not complete. In 1883 Wagner died, causing Ludwig tremendous grief. So the composer never actually set foot inside the castle that had been built in his honor. A year later, Ludwig decided to move in, even though the structure was still unfinished and the throne room was not yet ready to hold a throne. But the king resided there for a grand total of only eleven nights. After Ludwig died under suspicious circumstances in 1886 at the age of 41, construction on Neuschwanstein continued for another eight years. When the builders finally stopped, only a third of the rooms had been finished and decorated. <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"> Without Ludwig, Wagner may never have achieved the successes he did, and without Wagner, Neuschwanstein would never have been built. But there is much more to the story of the life and death of King Ludwig II than Neuschwanstein. The “swan king,” as he is sometimes called, built other equally interesting castles and led a fascinating, if deeply troubled life. His story, like his castles, reminds me that there’s more to Bavaria than meets the eye. <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"> Neuschwanstein Castle was opened to the public 7 weeks after the death of King Ludwig II. Although the Castle was designed to look medieval, it had quite modern refinements: hot air, running water, automatic flush toilets were all part of the royal residence. The kitchen at Neuschwanstein has been preserved in its entirety, featuring automatic spits and cupboards that could be heated with hot air from the large kitchen stove.