Discover Castles

Romantic Revival · Reinventing the Middle Ages

Romanticism developed in Europe from the late eighteenth century through the nineteenth, celebrating emotion, landscape, imagination and the power of history. As industrialisation transformed society, artists and patrons became fascinated with ruined castles, chivalric legends and dramatic natural settings. Old fortresses were restored, enlarged or completely reimagined in Neo-Gothic and other historicist styles. These apparently medieval buildings often concealed modern construction methods and comfortable nineteenth-century interiors. Neuschwanstein is a striking example of a palace inspired by medieval storytelling rather than medieval warfare. Romantic rebuilding helped save some historic sites but also introduced new designs that can be mistaken for much older architecture. Distinguishing original masonry from later interpretation is an essential part of understanding these castles.