Neuschwanstein Castle ( in German Schloss Neuschwanstein ) actually means New Swan Stone Castle . Whereas contemporary architecture critics derided Neuschwanstein , one of the last big palace building projects of the 19th century , as kitsch , Neuschwanstein and Ludwig II 's other buildings are now counted among the major works of European historicism . For financial reasons a project similar to Neuschwanstein â `` Falkenstein Castle â `` never left the planning stages .