A 13-year renovation completed: Germany's Neuschwanstein Castle is finished

▲ The Neuschwanstein Castle perched atop a mountain is a must-see attraction in Germany. (Photo /Provided by the blog Loushi)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

The fairytale-like and dreamy Neuschwanstein Castle, a must-visit destination for many travelers to Germany, has finally been completed after a 13-year renovation costing approximately 5 million euros.

Standing quietly on a mountain peak nearly 1,000 meters high in the Alps, it is hailed as the “castle of dreams” and has inspired the design of castles in many modern fairy tales. The famous theme park Disney even used Neuschwanstein Castle as the template for its logo design. Built in the 19th century, the castle was also the summer residence of King Ludwig II of Bavaria at the time.

Perhaps due to its name, the interior of the castle not only features extremely luxurious design and decor, but also faucets, furniture, and room accessories shaped like vivid, uniquely posed swans. Because of its beauty and dreaminess, even though parts of the castle were under renovation, it still attracts 400,000 to 500,000 visitors each year.

▲ Neuschwanstein Castle is surrounded by woods, adding to its isolated and otherworldly charm. (Photo /Provided by the blog Loushi)

It is said that King Ludwig II stayed here for only 172 days, during which only one-third of the castle was completed. He even passed away before seeing the famous “Throne Hall” (renowned for its mosaic floor made of 2 million small mosaic stones featuring patterns from the Bavarian animal world). Ludwig II never intended for Neuschwanstein Castle to be open to the public—in his view, the castle should not lose its mysterious charm even if it meant being destroyed. However, just six weeks after his death, the castle was opened to the public, and during peak seasons, it now receives over 5,000 visitors daily.

The Bavarian administration stated that the scaffolding in the last section has been completely removed, and after final touches, the perfect charm of Neuschwanstein Castle will be restored.