Falkenstein Castle

Infobox Historic building
name=Falkenstein Castle
Castrum Pfronten

---

caption=The ruin on the site of Ludwig's planned schloss.
map_type=
latitude=47.57
longitude=10.591667
location_town=Pfronten, Ostallgäu, Bavaria
location_country=Germany
architect=Unknown; Later: Christian Jank, Georg Dollman, Max Schultze, Julius Hofmann
client= Ludwig II of Bavaria
engineer=
construction_start_date=1270-1280; 1885
completion_date= Unknown; N/A
date_demolished=
cost=
structural_system=
style= Felsenburg ("Rock Castle"); Later: Gothic exterior, Byzantine interior
size=

Falkenstein Castle or "Castrum Pfronten" is a High Middle Ages castle ruin in the Bavarian Alps, near Pfronten, a town in southern Germany. The ruin's German name is Burg Falkenstein ("Castle Falcon Stone"). At 1,268 meters above sea level, it is Germany's most elevated castle ruin.

King Ludwig II of Bavaria purchased the ruin in 1883 and planned to transform the site into a magnificent fairy tale schloss (formerly schloß). However, the plans were abandoned upon his death in 1886.

Castrum Pfronten

Originally known as Castrum Pfronten, the stone castle was built approximately 1270-1280 by Count Meinhard II von Tirol on the borders of his land (Tyrol). Because of the unusual situation of the Castle it has been interpreted in historical context as a symbol of opposition to the Duchy of Bavaria. (During the winter the castle was uninhabitable because of the high altitude at which it is located.) The name Castle Falkenstein only came into use in the 15th century. The castle was largely destroyed in the 17th century.cite book |last=Blunt|first=Wilfrid|title=The Dream King: Ludwig II of Bavaria|year=1970|publisher=Hamish Hamilton Limited|location=London|isbn=241018994]

Ludwig's vision

King Ludwig II of Bavaria purchased the ruin in 1883 and commissioned several architects, the first being Christian Jank (the designer of Neuschwanstein), to replace the existing structure with a romantic castle.

Jank first created a restrained design [cite book |last=McIntosh|first=Christopher|title=The Swan King : Ludwig II of Bavaria|year=1986|publisher=Robin Clarck Ltd|location=London|isbn=0860721043] , but later envisioned the castle in a dramatic, High Gothic style. Georg Dollman was employed to produce plans and elevations in the same year based on Jank's design. However, his modest and economical designs displeased Ludwig.

The task of redesigning Falkenstein was then given to Max Schultze, the Prince Thurn und Taxis' architect, who was flattered by the royal commission. He not only planned the architecture of the castle in a robber baron's style (a highly simplified version of Jank's sketch), but also began creating the castle's interior design and frescos (in a secular Byzantine style) with the help of August Spieß. Of particular note was Ludwig's bedroom, which was reminiscent of a vast chapel. During this time, in 1884, a road and water lines were made to service the site and a papier-mâché model of Schultze's plan was created. However, Schultze withdrew from the project in 1885.

Julius Hofmann and Eugen Drollinger were chosen to succeed Schultze, although they knew that it was unlikely Falkenstein would ever be built. Thus, they made their designs as spectacular and impractical as they wished. Drollinger was working on a plan of Ludwig's bedchamber - redesigned to feature stained glass windows and a mosaic dome - when he learned of the King's death.

Ludwig died in 1886 before work on the castle proper could begin, and the many plans for Falkenstein were permanently abandoned. The ruin of Castrum Pfronten on the building site was never demolished.

Gallery

Popular culture

The name and background of the castle have inspired Castle Falkenstein (abbreviated CF), a steampunk-themed fantasy role-playing game (RPG) designed by Mike Pondsmith and originally published by R. Talsorian Games.

References

*Klaus Leidorf, Peter Ettel: "Burgen in Bayern. 7000 Jahre Burgengeschichte im Luftbild". Stuttgart, 1999. ISBN 3-8062-1364-X
*Toni Nessler: "Burgen im Allgäu". Band II. Kempten, 1985. ISBN 3-88006-115-7

External links

* [http://us.geocities.com/sharmar505/falkenst.htm Schloss Falkenstein] , an informative article on Ludwig's planned castle.
* [http://www.pseudopodium.org/repress/PrincePrigio/12.html Prince Prigio] , Castle Falkenstein is mentioned in chapter twelve of Andrew Lang's "Prince Prigio".
* [http://www.falkensteincastle.com/Our_Castle_Story.htm Falkenstein Castle] , a ninety foot high "castle" inspired by Jank's design built in the Texas Hill Country.