Falkenstein Castle (Pfronten)

Falkenstein Castle
Burg Pfronten Castrum Pfronten
The ruin on the site of Ludwig's planned schloss.
General information
Architectural style	Felsenburg ("Rock Castle"); Later: Gothic exterior, Byzantine interior
Town or city	Pfronten, Ostallgäu, Bavaria
Country	Germany
Coordinates	47°34′12″N 10°35′30″E / 47.57°N 10.591667°E / 47.57; 10.591667
Construction started	1270-1280; 1885
Completed	Unknown; N/A
Client	Ludwig II of Bavaria
Design and construction
Architect	Unknown; Later: Christian Jank, Georg Dollmann, Max Schultze, Julius Hofmann

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 metres (4,160 ft) above sea level, it is Germany's highest castle.

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

Originally known as Castrum Pfronten, the stone castle was built approximately 1270–1280 by Count Meinhard II of Tyrol on the borders of his land. 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 dangerous to inhabit 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.

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, but later envisioned the castle in a dramatic, High Gothic style. Georg Dollmann 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, 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.