The Neuschwanstein Castle

The history of this castle is related, even before its first foundation stone, to its creator, Ludwig II, King of Bavaria (1845-1886). Inspired by the romance of the medieval stories with knights and princesses, from the childhood spent at his parents’ summer residence (the present Hohenschwangau Castle) he was attracted by the ruins of a castle on the Schwanstein cliff.

Crowned King of Bavaria at the age of 18, in 1864, he began the construction of the Neuschwanstein Castle in 1869, construction that lasted for 17 years up to the King’s tragic and mysterious death, the castle is not being finished even now.

Located in a magnificent place, at the bottom of Tirol Mountains, with three lakes surrounding it, on a 90 m high mountain ridge, between two cliffs under which is a 50 m waterfall, the Neuschwanstein Castle (Neu-schwan-stein, The new cliff of the swan) has more than 90 rooms on several floors, however only 16 rooms are finished (the most impressive being The Singers Room, The Throne Room, the Vault, and the Bedroom).

In 1886, a few weeks after King’s death, it was opened to public until present days, having 1.4 million annual visitors from which 6000 daily visitors in the summer, becoming one of the most visited castles in the world. Being sequestered by the German state and remaining in its possession, it can be visited along with the Hohenschwangau Castle, which remained in King Ludwig II’s family’s possession: the Wittelsbach Family; the opinions regarding life, the decisions and the dreams and accomplishments of King Ludwig II are very different in the two tours of the two castles. It is known that King Ludwig II was loved greatly by the population of Bavaria and the Neuschwanstein Castle was included as a proposition on the list of “the New 7 wonders of the world”. Moreover, Walt Disney inspired himself and participated with his ideas at the construction of Cinderella’s Castle, inspired after Neuschwanstein, being used even in the logo from the beginning of Disney cartoons.

Visiting it 15 times and being fascinated by it, I always wanted to build it from LEGO pieces. I was delighted to find the works of Robert Carney, an American who designed and built his own design of the castle from over 52,500 LEGO pieces. After that, I found the design of German Thilo Schon, who created a version of the castle from over 4,300 LEGO pieces.

Between 2019 and 2022, working day and night, I managed to fulfill my dream and create a design of 57,640 pieces, which I consider to be the most faithful replica of the castle ever created by now.