Neuschwanstein Castle

Lead Designers Dipl.-Ing. Walter Bamberger

Entry Description

In 1869, King Ludwig II laid the foundation stone for Neuschwanstein Castle, a building that is now known throughout the world. The result is a one-of-a-kind building that is uniquely connected not only with the man who commissioned it but also with his personality and vision. In lighting the castle, we set out to convey its true essence, expressed at night in its purest form. Our concept brings out its nocturnal character, allowing it to be experienced as a Gesamtkunstwerk, a “total work of art.”
The lighting illuminates the sides of the castle that can be seen both from the valley and from the broad expanses that spread out beyond. The intricacy of the design, as reflected in all the different elements of the façades, needs to be visible from afar—an effect we have sought to achieve by exaggerating the patterning of light and shadow. The lighting is provided by a total of forty-seven LED spotlights mounted on twelve masts. The light is delicately distributed with beams projected from angles up close and from afar, allowing the architectural structures and key details to remain visible. The DALI control system is used to program lighting scenes that are adjusted to suit the season. Every evening, the castle “beds down” in a specially orchestrated scene. At 10.55 pm, the lighting is dimmed in a five-minute sequence, slowly powering down as the castle goes to sleep.

Sustainability Approach

Our ambition was to devise a sustainable plan for this project. There was a clear focus on making the new lighting concept significantly more energy efficient than the system it replaces and on protecting the natural environment, which is a major priority as the castle is situated in a forested, mountainous landscape.
The entire system makes use of energy-saving LED technology with a long lifespan. The luminaires are equipped with a lens technology that is precisely adjusted to the building, preventing stray light from scattering into the sky. The lighting is switched off at 11 pm.
All the luminaires were manufactured in Germany using emission-free green power. The electronic components can be replaced.
The system is regulated by the DALI control system and programmed in scenes, with the luminaires operating at dimmed values and never at full load.