Bavaria: Fairytale castles of King Ludwig II become UNESCO World Heritage

Schwangau/Paris. UNESCO has declared the famous fairytale castles of Bavaria's King Ludwig II a World Heritage Site. At its meeting in Paris, the UN cultural organization's World Heritage Commission inscribed Neuschwanstein Castle, the Herrenchiemsee and Linderhof Palaces, and the Royal Palace on Schachen Mountain on the World Heritage List. Bavaria had been working toward this distinction for more than a quarter of a century.

The magnificent castles in idyllic surroundings in Upper Bavaria have been a tourist magnet for almost 140 years. The magnificent buildings of Ludwig II (1845-1886) attracted over 1.7 million visitors last year, many of them tourists from abroad.

"The inclusion of the palaces on the World Heritage List is an outstanding tribute to these impressive sites," said Maria Böhmer, President of the German UNESCO Commission. "They are all architectural masterpieces and testify to the artistic imagination, but also the eccentricity, of the fairytale king."

The royal palaces built in the second half of the 19th century are intended to evoke the impression of historic buildings and awaken medieval dreams and fantasies. Neuschwanstein Castle, for example, was built like a medieval knight's castle, and Herrenchiemsee Palace was modeled after Versailles. In fact, however, these imposing palaces are modern buildings for their time. The Bavarian Palace Administration titled their World Heritage application "Dreams Built."

Fairytale fantasy by King Ludwig II: The Venus Grotto at Linderhof Castle.

Source: Sven Hoppe/dpa

While the coveted World Heritage seal does not provide financial support, it increases the global awareness and reputation of the designated cultural sites, which benefits tourism. The state is committed to the long-term preservation and protection of World Heritage sites and must report regularly to UNESCO on this.

According to the German UNESCO Commission, prior to this year's session, there were 1,223 World Heritage sites in 168 countries worldwide. Most are cultural monuments, such as medieval Quedlinburg in Saxony-Anhalt. There are also natural heritage sites, such as the Messel Pit in Hesse, known for its numerous fossil finds. A total of 54 World Heritage sites have been declared in Germany to date, including the old towns of Stralsund and Wismar, Cologne Cathedral, the Wadden Sea, and the Roman border fortifications of the Limes.

RND/dpa