In 1997 LEGO released 11 Castle sets. The largest Castle set from 1997 was
6097 Night Lord's Castle with a piece count of 601 and a retail price of $79.99. The current estimated value of all these Castle sets from this year is about $2,120.06 which represents a 1114.8% growth.
The Castle theme is one of LEGO’s primary themes first introduced in 1978 and based around medieval life with castles and knights. It is currently the third longest-lived theme in LEGO history. Over the years it saw numerous changes thus introducing various fantasy elements.
1997 LEGO Sets
In 1997, the LEGO Group faced significant challenges as it grappled with a changing toy market and internal organizational shifts. While the company introduced its first-ever licensed theme, "Star Wars," laying the groundwork for one of its most successful and enduring lines, it also experienced a dip in sales for the first time since its inception. The LEGO Group recognized the need to innovate and diversify its product offerings beyond traditional brick sets, leading to endeavors in new areas like software and video games, with the launch of LEGO Island, its first PC game. This year marked a period of introspection and transformation for the iconic toy company.