Unit 3 Project:
Neuschwanstein Castle and Lake Schwansee

The above project is my attempt to portray Neuschwanstein Castle and the Lake Schwansee, which rests in the valley below the majestic castle. This entire project was created using layers and the techniques learned and mastered in various assessments. Now I would like to provide some history and information about Neuschwanstein Castle and the Lake Schwansee, which are depicted in the above project.

Neuschwanstein means "new swan stone" in German and is the name of a castle that is nestled in a swan haven near the present-day town of Füssen, Germany, which is southwest of Munich. Please note that if Neuschwanstein looks familiar, it is because Walt Disney used it as inspiration for Cinderella’s Castle at the Disney theme parks. Neuschwanstein Castle, with its countless towers and light limestone merlons, is a fairytale castle come true, and is a product of the imagination of King Ludwig II of Bavaria (1845-1886), who is sometimes referred to as the "Swan King" and "Mad King Ludwig." The young ruler was an ardent admirer of Richard Wagner, whose theatrical world he wished he could recreate in this castle "in the true style of the old German knights' castles." At his request the building was to contain "features reminiscent of Tannhäuser and Lohengrin" because he was also greatly influenced by Germany legends and mythological figures such as the mythological Swan Knight named Lohengrin. He was unquestionably inspired when planning Neuschwanstein, by the Wartburg, which he had seen in 1867.

Schwansee, which means "Swan Lake" in German, and rests directly in a valley that is overlooked by Neuschwanstein Castle. The Schwansee is located 3 km southeast of Füssen in the park formerly belonging to the Castle. The setting of this sleepy lake, which is picturesquely surrounded by the wooded Allgäuer Alps, is particularly attractive. It takes approximately two hours to walk around the completely unspoiled shore of the lake. The Schwansee has an area of approximately 0.2 square kilometers and measures seven meters at its deepest point. Since 1956, it has been part of the "Alpsee, Schwansee and Faulenbacher Valley" nature reserve. For additional information about Neuschwanstein Castle and Lake Schwansee, please visit the official website.

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