Castle Falkenstein

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For the game with the same name, see Castle Falkenstein (role-playing game).

Artist Christian Jank designed Castle Falkenstein in a High Gothic style.

Castle Falkenstein (de. Schloss Falkenstein, lit. Castle Falcon Stone) was a building commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria to replace an existing structure high in the Bavarian Alps. Had the castle been built, it would have been located near Pfronten in southern Germany (not far from Neuschwanstein).

1 Design
2 Construction
3 Trivia
4 References

[edit] Design

The castle was first designed by Christian Jank in 1883. Not only was the architecture planned, but the castle's interior design and frescos as well. Jank envisioned the castle in a dramatic, High Gothic style. However, Ludwig could not afford this extravagant design. A more economical, stripped-down plan was created by Georg Dollman in the same year, although it displeased Ludwig. The task of redesigning Falkenstein was then given to Max Schultze. He later withdrew from the project in 1885 and Julius Hofmann was chosen to succeed him.

After changing hands so many times, Falkenstein had transformed from a gothic fairy tale castle into a robber baron's castle with vast Byzantine interiors.

[edit] Construction

A road and water lines were made to service the site, but a lack of funds delayed construction. Ludwig died before work on the castle began, and the plans for Falkenstein were permanently abandoned. The pre-existing castle ruin on the building site was never demolished.

[edit] Trivia

Had the castle been completed, it would have been the highest castle in Germany at 1,268 meters above sea-level.
Castle Falkenstein is mentioned in chapter twelve of Andrew Lang's "Prince Prigio". [1]
The game Castle Falkenstein derives its name from the planned castle.