LEGO Architecture 21063 Neuschwanstein Castle captures a lot of detail, reimagined on a miniature scale – but many have larger-than-life stories behind them.
21063 Neuschwanstein Castle is the second biggest LEGO Architecture set ever, made up of 3,455 pieces that recreate every external turret and an impressive amount of detail within as well. Designed to work when viewed both from afar and up close, the LEGO version of the iconic German palace aims to replicate a castle that is believed to inspire the Disney Beauty and the Beast castle.
According to local history (with a healthy dose of legend thrown in), there's a lot of magic and mystery woven into the bricks of the palace too. Here's a closer look at some of the authentic details that jumped out to us on a first glance and the real-life stories behind them.
Swan imagery on a minute scale
Hidden within the interior, there are various examples of swan imagery, something that visitors to the real castle will see as well. The swan was the symbol of the royal family of Bavaria and became a particular favourite heraldry of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, who commissioned the building of Neuschwanstein Castle in 1869.
The name 'Neuschwanstein' translates to 'new swan stone' from German, a nod to both Ludwig's fascination with the bird as a symbol and also to the local area of Hohenschwangau (or 'high swan district'). Ludwig had a close relationship with the composer and musician Wagner, who also spent a lot of time at Neuschwanstein Castle with the king.
Ludwig's favourite piece of Wagner's was Lohengrin, an opera about the Swan Knight. The king supposedly identified as the modern embodiment of this legendary figure, who was famous for arriving to save a damsel in distress in a swan-drawn boat, so long as she promised never to ask his name or origin. When she ultimately does ask the forbidden question, the knight reveals his identity as a knight of the Holy Grail, and then leaves forever, leaving the woman, Elsa, heartbroken.
Ludwig had both personal and familial ties to the swan and it features heavily in art, wall carvings and hangings, and the very stones of the castle itself, so including renderings of the bird in the LEGO set was a must.
A castle of two colours
While the vast majority of Neuschwanstein Castle, just like the LEGO Architecture set, is made up of pale limestone brick and blue-grey gables, there are sections that are built in dark red brick. There are also various courtyards built in surprising locations, and the turrets aren't placed symmetrically throughout the castle, giving the effect of it almost growing organically from the rock.
This almost random arrangement of features also stems back to the castle's royal patron, King Ludwig. The red section at the front of the castle, now used as a gatehouse, was the first section to be built in full and housed the king when he stayed at the castle to oversee its construction.
He wouldn't live to see his castle built, with construction starting in 1869 and still ongoing in 1886 when he died. King Ludwig was very particular and often changed his mind on architectural features, leading to mounting construction costs in the King's lifetime, coming to a total of just over six million German gold marks – the equivalent of £133 million in terms of real gold value today.
Ludwig's changes of heart are part of what makes the castle so unique; its construction quite literally took on new paths as it was built. After his death, the castle was completed in a simplified version and opened to the public, rather than becoming the private royal residence he intended.
Part mountain, part palace
When comparing 21063 Nueschwanstein Castle to other LEGO Architecture sets, it's clear to see that it includes more surrounding scenery than 21061 Notre-Dame de Paris or 21062 Trevi Fountain, for example. However, that design choice makes more sense for this castle than any of the other architectural sites already featured in the theme.
Search for any picture of the real palace, and it'll be hard to find one without the surrounding forest and mountain included. The mountain is virtually one with the palace, with the foundations embedded in the rock at different heights and points. The mountainous terrain must be traversed to reach the castle, and you really can't have one without the other.
Including the mountain also adds some extra colour to the LEGO Architecture set, where otherwise 21063 Neuschwanstein Castle could have ended up being an almost entirely white creation without much flair. As it stands, you have the green and grey rocks, as well as the option to display the trees in either autumn or spring for some extra customisation.
LEGO Architecture 21063 Neuschwanstein Castle is available to pre-order now ahead of its release date on August 1, priced at £239.99 in the UK, $279.99 in the US, and from €269.99 in Europe.
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