German castles are
different from the French and English in the sense that
German Medieval castles tend to reflect the diversity
of the country's landscape, and each is a reflection of
the individual background to which it is set. Circular
castles and citadels are in the north are almost always
designed and constructed in such a way that makes them
completely surrounded by water. Castles built in the higher
hills and mountains in the southern part of Germany tend
to be picturesque, with less geometric symmetry, with
spires and towers sometimes seeming just plopped on. This
is more the image of castles that many people hold in
their mind.
A main reason for this variation in castle building styles
was Germany's contact with architectural styles of surrounding
cultures. In Medieval times southern Germany was often
much closer to the cultures of France and Italy than to
Northern Germany, and vice-versa. Add to this the activities
of German rulers and knights in the Mediterranean area
and in Eastern Europe. Men who returned from wars and
revolts brought new ideas for castle construction after
seeing a particularly sturdy enemy fortification. Another
main factor in the major differences between north and
south involve natural resources. The building materials
easy to come by in the north weren’t necessarily
so easy to find in the south. Germany had such an abundance
of materials, that there was no reason for long distance
trade when a perfectly viable substitute was right there.
Many German castles match their elaborately decorated
outsides by decorating the interior with colorful plasters
and other decorations covering the walls.
Falkenstein Castle, located in
Hettstedt, is a great example of German fortification.
It is built up in the mountains, and was designed to
be a rock that an opposing army would bash itself on.
An invading army would have to fight through six different
gates, with six different doors, just to reach the main
part of the castle.
 In stark contrast, Neuschwanstein
is a castle right out of a fairy tale. King Ludwig II
of Bavaria became obsessed with its construction. He
kept building a bigger and bigger and more ostentatious
castle, but never saw it finished as he died after being
declared insane, and is actually often referred to as
“Mad King Ludwig.” The castle was not designed as a royal habitation, but as a place where the King could escape from the real world. At Neuschwanstein he escaped into his personal dream world – a poetic representation of the Middle Ages.
These two castles are amazingly different: in style,
appearance, and use. This reflects the interesting aspects
of German castles, and of the complete disregard they
felt for unity. Each castle was built for its own individual
situation, which may be why so many still stand to this
very day, despite the many wars that have gone through
German soil.
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