Neuschwanstein Castle

Construction on the future building site commenced in the summer of 1868. Up to 8 meters of rock had to be removed to make way for the foundation. The new road leading up to the castle was finished in June 1869. The cornerstone was laid on September 5, 1869, and it contained the blueprint, a portrait of the king and a few coins from his period of regency. State of the art construction methods were employed for the technical features as well as the materials used. The foundation was cast in concrete, whereas the walls were made of traditional brick encased in light colored lime stone siding.

The first part to be erected was the gate house. It was ready by the end of 1873 and served as Ludwig II's primary residence for many years. Construction of the palace commenced in 1872. The great hall with the throne was commissioned by Ludwig II as an afterthought and, due to structural considerations, required a modern iron construction for stability.

The "topping out" ceremony was held on January 29, 1880. Excepting minor details, the technical and artistic features weren't completed until mid-1884.
Until his very end, Ludwig II. never got to see his fortress as anything else but a construction site. The bower and the square tower neared completion only in 1892.

Neuschwanstein Castle is nestled in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps. Can you spot the castle in this panoramic picture?