Illuminated by spotlights, Neuschwanstein Castle stands in the Königswinkel. © Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa
The Free State of Bavaria wants Neuschwanstein Castle and the royal castles to become UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2025. In Schwangau, this is causing discussion among the population.
Schwangau - The Free State of Bavaria wants Neuschwanstein Castle and the other royal castles to be placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2025. In Schwangau, this is causing discussions. At an information event on the referendum on 18 June, it becomes clear that two issues in particular are causing concern for the people in the village.
Around 200 citizens came to the first of two citizens' forums in the "Schlossbrauhaus" to ask experts from the responsible ministries, the palace administration and the monument protection their questions and express their fears.
It quickly became clear that it is above all the issues of protection zones and tourism that give them a stomach ache. Almost nothing will change – at least that's the tenor of the six experts from Munich. Accordingly, an entry of the castle in the World Heritage List will not have any serious effects on the development of the town under building law – keyword buffer zone. For tourism, a successful application could even be an opportunity.
Full house: Around 200 Schwangau residents come to the "Schlossbrauhaus" on Wednesday evening to ask the experts from Munich their questions. © Matthias Matz
Nevertheless, many of those present were particularly concerned about the issue of the protection zone and the restrictions that may be associated with it. For example, local councillor Dietlinde Nitzdorf wanted to know specifically whether she would be allowed to build a repatriate farm in the buffer zone in the future. Other questions also went in this direction.
The experts tried to dispel the fears. The buffer zone "does not create a new legal status," emphasized Dr. Alexander Wiesneth of the palace administration several times and pointed out that the castle has been a listed building for years. "A buffer zone is not a tightening of monument law!"
It is not a matter of putting a cheese bell over the castle or slowing down local development, he explained. The only important thing is that the lines of sight of the castle remain unaffected. Rather, the buffer zone is a formal requirement for the application. For Nitzdorf, this means that if her application complies with the building law, she is allowed to build her farm.
No tightening
Ministerial Councillor Dr. Andreas Baur and General Conservator Prof. Mathias Pfeil also emphasized several times during the evening that the buffer zone would not result in any legal tightening and repeatedly referred to the example of Regensburg's old town. Around 900 approval procedures are processed there every year. Only very rarely would UNESCO have to be involved. "Nothing will change legally," Baur explained.
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"The king certainly wouldn't have wanted that," says Peter Nasemann. © Matthias Matz
Another issue that worries many Schwangauers is the consequences that a World Heritage Site could have on tourism and the already badly strained infrastructure in the village. They fear that the title will attract even more tourists to the place. "The king certainly wouldn't have wanted that," said Peter Nasemann.
Klaus Mielich, Dr. Michael Krehl and local councillor Gisela Lederer also addressed the topic of tourism and infrastructure. They saw the Free State as having a duty to spend money on roads and additional parking spaces.
View of Steingaden
Ministerial Councillor Hermann Auer emphasized that neither the palace administration nor UNESCO want to have more visitors at the castle. On the contrary, the aim is to regulate and channel the masses of visitors – keyword "sustainable tourism". The approximately 1.4 million visitors who visited Neuschwanstein annually before the Corona crisis are permanently unbearable for the building. "It is above all the castle that is suffering," said Auer, referring to the extensive restorations that have been underway for years. That's why access is already being throttled.
Apparently with success: last year, according to him, "only" around 700,000 people visited the fairytale castle. Former Ministerial Councillor Dr. Brigitta Ringbeck added that sustainable tourism is at the top of UNESCO's list of requirements.
However, solving the infrastructure problems in the village is a long-term task that can only be solved together with the people of Schwangau. "We will not be able to go against the will of landowners," Prof. Pfeil emphasized with regard to areas for parking spaces. "It depends on different individuals."
If, due to the requirements of UNESCO and the palace administration, fewer visitors come to Schwangau in the future, the Free State would have to make compensation payments, Dr. Hans Ketterl demanded. "We can't do without the castle visitors," he warned.
Peter Nieder also spoke out in favour of an application, referring to the Wieskirch in nearby Steingaden. "There are probably no negative experiences, otherwise we would have noticed it already," he said and recommended Mayor Stefan Rinke (CSU) to call his Steingaden counterpart.