Confusion about the fairytale castle: "Property of the Year" is looking for a new owner - or is it?

Created: 09/16/2022, 21:54

By: Cornelia Schramm

The castles of Bullachberg (l) and Neuschwanstein near Hohenschwangau in Bavaria.

© Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa

A real fairytale castle is on offer: Bullachberg Castle in Schwangau.

A prospectus was sent by email.

But the owner says she doesn't want to sell it.

What's going on there?

Schwangau – “A castle in front of a grandiose opera backdrop.

Magnificent, spectacular, enchanting” is the beginning of a real estate advertisement that a Starnberg luxury real estate agent has just sent to selected, financially very strong customers.

32 pictures of the castle with light green shutters and turrets in front of a 180-degree mountain panorama underpin the offer.

The exclusive newsletter does not reveal what it is called.

But probably that the view falls directly on the world-famous castles Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein.

Bavaria: fairy tale castle for sale?

Mayor initiated - "Must be a duck"

The "Secret Sale", the secret offer of the company Immovision, is Schloss Bullachberg.

It was only ten years ago that Elisabeth von Elmenau bought the property in Schwangau in the Ostallgäu and moved in there.

She restored the monument including the chapel, riding arena and stables - for which she received monument awards in 2017 and 2020.

In addition to her ecological farm, she rents out four holiday apartments and rooms for events such as weddings or theater performances.

When asked, Schwangau's mayor Stefan Rinke (CSU) is irritated.

"It must be a duck," he says.

"Mrs. von Elmenau assured me that she does not want to sell the castle." She is a "support for the community".

In 2015 she took in refugees, now Ukrainians.

"We often work with her."

Confusion about the advertisement for a Bavarian castle – the magnificent building caused trouble for years

When von Elmenau bought the castle in 2012, it was a happy ending for the community.

For years there was trouble about the magnificent building.

There were countless discussions with the previous owners.

Citizens resisted their plans to expand the palace into a luxury hotel.

Bullachberg Castle was built in 1904.

It is only one kilometer away from the dream castles of King Ludwig II and is designed as a little sister of Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein.

Viewed from the air, they form a triangle - and so the view from the terrace of the 18-hectare property on the Bullachberg falls directly on the two neighboring castles.

The palace was designed by the architect Eugen Drollinger (1858–1930), the last master builder of Ludwig II. Stepped gable, facade tower, bay window, transept and a steep half-hipped roof: the Munich entrepreneur Emil Papenhagen used the magnificent building as a summer residence.

In 1927 it became the property of Raphael Prince von Thurn und Taxis, who lived there until his death in 1993.

His heirs wanted to convert it into a posh hotel.

Only after years of disputes did the municipality of Schwangau grant the right to build a small luxury hotel in 2002.

That and a planned golf course never came about.

The castle was empty.

The development plan remains legally binding, emphasized the mayor of Schwangau in 2004. It was not until 2006 that Porsche AG struck for six million euros.

In 2011 they advertised again.

Then bought it from Elmenau.

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"Property of the Year": Owner denies sale of castle near Neuschwanstein

Now, ten years later, there is speculation again about a possible sale of the property - even if the offer only reached a small circle as "Property of the Year".

Your price?

"Upon request against proof of creditworthiness," says the glossy brochure that was sent by email.

But maybe it really turns out to be a “duck”.

Because: The owner has any intention to sell denied by her lawyer.

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Immovision boss Oliver Herbst explains: "The owners are not currently considering the sale, but approached us with the request to test the market with the secret sale.

Only with an exorbitant collector's price would one think again about the sale".

Despite rising energy costs, a buyer would probably be found, autumn is certain.

“The sale of premium properties in the luxury segment is going well.

We currently have four palaces and two castles for sale in Bavaria."