Hohenschwangau Castle

Hohenschwangau is a magnificent castle located in Bavaria near the village of the same name. For many centuries, the family of Wittelsbach, the Dukes of Bavaria, ruled here. Connoisseurs of beauty, they paid much attention to art and construction.

History of Hohenschwangau Castle

Mountainous land of lakes and forests, Schwangau Alps region, Swan Corner. The knights on the coat of arms had the image of a swan. Their castles and fortresses rose along the ancient Roman road Claudia - Augusta. In the 12th century, between two mountain lakes, Schwansee and Alpsee, the Wittelsbachs erected the castle of Hohenschwangau. The legend about knights, about their exploits and tournaments, lived in these places for a long time. But unfortunately, by the 19th century, only the ruins of medieval castles and the legends of antiquity remained from the glorious times. But worthy heirs were found to restore the connection between eras and a rich past.

Hohenschwangau with crenellated towers, in 1832 began to build a crown - a prince, the future king of Bavaria Maximilian II. Medieval style, huge gates, knightly coats of arms and symbols, this has not been built in Europe for a long time, the monarchs of the 19th century. If not for Maximilian, forgotten ruins would still flaunt at this place. The Hohenschwangau castle was built in just four years, so knightly ideals were returned to the Swan Corner. Ideals of courage, honor and nobility.

Hall of Heroes

Hall of Heroes, the largest in Hohenschwangau Castle. On the frescoes are not only the heroes of legends, but also real historical characters, whose names have also become legendary. Heinrich the Lion, Duke of Saxony and Bavaria in the Middle Ages, one of the most prominent figures next to the Emperor. In a romantic style, a battle scene, the main feature is that there is not a single drop of blood on it. Knight and lady, another frequent subject in Hohenschwangau.

Ludwig, heir of Maximilian

In 1864, 18-year-old King Ludwig, a worthy successor to Maximilian, ascended the Bavarian throne. The soul of the young king was nourished by legends and traditions. While still small, Ludwig first saw a knight in the castle - the swan Lohengrin, the defender of justice, the messenger of the Holy Grail. After that, the knight's call will sound in Ludwig all his life.

Ludwig changed only his bedroom in Hohenschwangau Castle. Today, visitors to the castle marvel at the king's romantic tastes. Based on the poem "Jerusalem Liberated" by the Italian poet Torquato Tasso, this fresco was painted. But she is not the main attraction of the room. Ludwig conceived this starry sky in such a way that oil lamps stood on the floor a floor above, their light penetrated down through the holes in the floor filled with crystal, and the starry sky flickered overhead in the king's bedroom.

The moon lurked among the branches of the trees, their phases changed with the help of a round shutter. Ludwig usually slept during the day and was awake at night. The windows were covered with thick curtains and during the day the starry night reigned in the room.

Historic meeting

A meeting between Ludwig and Richard Wagner took place in the music room. The heart of the king and the heart of the composer beat in unison when it came to knightly ideals. Ludwig from this meeting became the patron of the composer. On November 12, 1865, Wagner placed 10 military trumpeters on the castle towers, who at 7:00 am performed the famous roll call from Ludwig's favorite opera, Lohengrin. Ludwig will immortalize his name by building Neuschwanstein Castle opposite Hohenschwangau. Also a famous tourist attraction.