Bavaria’s fairytale castles are UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Schwangau/Paris (dpa) – UNESCO has declared the famous fairytale castles of Bavaria’s King Ludwig II a World Heritage Site. At its session in Paris, the World Heritage Committee of the UN cultural organisation added Neuschwanstein Castle, Herrenchiemsee Palace, Linderhof Palace and the royal lodge on Mount Schachen to the World Heritage List. In Bavaria, efforts to secure this recognition had been ongoing for more than a quarter of a century.  

The splendid castles set in idyllic surroundings in Upper Bavaria have been a tourist magnet for almost 140 years. The opulent creations of Ludwig II (1845–1886) attracted more than 1.7 million visitors in 2024, many of them holidaymakers from abroad. “The inclusion of the castles on the World Heritage List is an outstanding tribute to these impressive buildings,” said Maria Böhmer, President of the German UNESCO Commission. They are all architectural masterpieces, reflecting both the artistic imagination and the eccentricity of the fairytale king.”  

Find out more here about the German fairytale castles recognised by UNESCO: German royal castles: UNESCO World Heritage