Hohenschwangau

Hohenschwangau, a royal castle in Bavaria, 55 miles SW. of Munich, near the right bank of the Lech, and the southern frontier of the kingdom. It stands in a beautiful and romantic district, 2933 feet above sea-level. It was purchased in 1832 by the crown-prince Maximilian of Bavaria, who restored it in the style of a magnificent medieval feudal castle. The interior contains several superb halls decorated with frescoes and wall-paintings by eminent German artists. A castle called Schwanstein occupied the same site as early as the 12th century; a second was erected in 1538-47; and the existing building is the third castle. On another crag over against Hohenschwangau stands the castle of Neuschwanstein, which was built in 1869-71 on the site of the castle originally called Hohenschwangau by King Louis of Bavaria, in the Early Romanesque style. This castle too, a most magnificent and 'romantic' structure, contains superb wall-paintings, and displays the utmost splendour in its internal fittings. It was for some time the favourite residence of the recluse king, Louis II. See Zwickh, Herrenchiemsee und Neuschwanstein (1886).