Download This Sample
This sample is exclusively for KidsKonnect members!
To download this worksheet, click the button below to signup for free (it only takes a minute) and you'll be brought right back to this page to start the download!
Sign Me Up
Table of Contents
Commissioned by King Ludwig II of Bavaria in honor of Richard Wagner, the Neuschwanstein Castle is a 19th century Romanesque Revival palace built atop the Bavarian Alps in Germany. Today, millions of tourists visit this famous fairy tale castle.
See the fact file below for more information on the Neuschwanstein Castle or alternatively, you can download our 19-page Neuschwanstein Castle worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
LOCATION
- The Neuschwanstein Castle sits on a rocky hill above the village of Hohenschwangau in southwest Bavaria, Germany, lying at an elevation of 800 m (2,620 ft).
- Between the 5th and 15th centuries, three castles dominated the villages: Hohenschwangau Castle (originally called Schwanstein Castle), Vorderhohenschwangau Castle, and Hinterhohenschwangau Castle.
- In 1864, when King Ludwig II sat on the throne, a new palace was built in place of the two ruined castles, naming it the New Hohenschwangau Castle. It was renamed Neuschwanstein (“The new swan rock”) after his death.
- Hohenschwangau Castle took the place of the ruins of Schwanstein Castle, and Neuschwanstein Castle replaced the ruins of the twin Hohenschwangau Castles.
WHEN WAS NEUSCHWANSTEIN BUILT?
- Construction of Neuschwanstein started during the summer of 1858, demolishing the ruins of the medieval twin castles; however, the first foundation stone was not put in place until September 5, 1869.
- In 1872 to 1876, almost everything up to the first floor of the castle was already completed, even the cellar, but the whole project was expected to be finished within only three years.
- During the latter part of 1882, Neuschwanstein was fully furnished, letting King Ludwig take provisional lodgings and monitor the ongoing construction.
- In 1884, the king was already able to move into the palace, and a year later, he asked his mother, Marie of Prussia, to celebrate her 60th birthday in his newly built castle.
- Neuschwanstein remained incomplete in 1886, when the king died by drowning himself. He only lived in the palace for only 172 days.
WHY WAS NEUSCHWANSTEIN BUILT?
- King Ludwig II, also known as the mad king, earned a reputation for being a whimsical and unsociable ruler, making it clear why Neuschwanstein is sometimes called “the castle of the fairy tale king”.
- Some assume that the king built the castle for political and personal reasons.
- In the 1886 Austro-Prussian War, Prussia won and forced Bavaria to create an alliance with the empire, causing King Ludwig II to lose his power in the throne.
- Others believe that Neuschwanstein turned into the highlight of Ludwig’s imagined kingdom, where he could envision himself as a true monarch.
WHAT DOES THE NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE LOOK LIKE?
- Neuschwanstein is a castle of paradox – it was constructed when castles were no longer needed as refuge, and, despite its romanticized medieval architecture, Ludwig II ordered to have all the contemporary technological comforts.
- The castle design was drafted by designer Christian Jank and approved by architect Eduard Riedel.
- The grand palace is complete with a walled courtyard, an indoor garden, spires, towers, and a man-made cave. It also has running water, including flushing toilets and hot water in the kitchen and baths, and even a forced-air central heating system.
- The dining area has an elevator from the kitchen which is three floors below. The king also ensured Neuschwanstein was connected to telephone lines.
- A Byzantine basilica was the inspiration of Neuschwanstein’s two-story throne room. Stars filled its blue vaulted ceiling, which is bolstered by red porphyry (igneous rock with feldspar crystals) columns.
- German dramatic composer Richard Wagner was highly admired by King Ludwig II. The wall paintings of the whole castle showed the legends that influenced Wagner: the story of Parsifal in the fourth-floor Singer’s Hall, the adventures of Tannhauser in the study, and Lohengrin in the great parlour.
- Neuschwanstein remained unfinished. According to the blueprints, the castle was supposed to have more than 200 rooms. But just over 14 rooms were finished before the budget cut.
INSPIRATION FOR DISNEY FAIRY TALES
- Rumors say that the Neuschwanstein Castle is the real-life inspiration for the palaces in the Disney classic movie, Cinderella in 1950.
- Others also believe that Sleeping Beauty’s castle in Disneyland has quite a resemblance with the Neuschwanstein.
Neuschwanstein Castle Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Neuschwanstein Castle across 19 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Neuschwanstein Castle worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Neuschwanstein Castle which is a 19th century Romanesque Revival palace built atop the Bavarian Alps in Germany. Today, millions of tourists visit this famous fairy tale castle.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Neuschwanstein Facts
- A Fairytale Castle
- Fairytale King
- Neuschwanstein Wiki
- More Neuschwanstein Facts
- Castle Tour
- Parts of a Castle
- Disney Castles
- Build Me a Castle
- Other Romanesque Castles
- Modern Castles
Link/cite this page
If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.
Link will appear as Neuschwanstein Castle Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, February 6, 2020
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.