King Ludwig II built Neuschwanstein Castle between 1869 and 1886. It is the most magnificent and most famous of his three fairytale castles in Bavaria. The castle was unfinished at the time of his mysterious death by drowning. “Mad” King Ludwig was found dead shortly after being declared unfit to rule by his ministers and relatives. Neuschwanstein Castle is featured in the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and was the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty’s fairytale castle in Disneyland.
Neuschwanstein Castle is perched high over the Bavarian village of Hohenschwangau, close to the German border with Austria. The closest airport is in Munich. If traveling by car, it is a 90-minute journey from Munich to Füssen, then on to Hohenschwangau. If traveling by train, there are hourly departures for the three-hour journey from Munich to Füssen, then regular buses on to Hohenschwangau.
Purchase entrance tickets to the castle at the ticket center in Hohenschwangau before climbing to the castle! Visitors cannot tour the castle independently, so the 35-minute guided tour is mandatory. The steep path to the castle entrance is a 30-minute climb, for the fit. Visitors are dropped within ten minutes of the castle entrance by shuttle bus, or within five minutes by horse-drawn carriage.
Arrive early to avoid the crowds. During the summer months, over 6,000 people visit the castle every day! April through September open hours are 9am to 6pm, and October through March 10am to 4pm. The castle is closed for holidays on New Years Day, Shrove Tuesday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Years Eve.
Photography is not allowed inside the castle, but do not leave your camera at home! The site of the castle, near Pöllat Gorge, occupies a spot of outstanding beauty in the Bavarian Alps. The best view of the castle is from Marienbrucke (Mary's Bridge), which crosses a deep gorge and waterfall. On the path between this bridge and the castle is an excellent view of King Ludwig’s childhood home, Hohenschwangau Castle. From Neuschwanstein Castle there are spectacular views of the mountains and alpine lakes, especially the Alpsee.
The nearby town of Füssen is the southern tip of Germany's “Romantische Strasse” or The Romantic Road. In my next article, we'll consider extending a vacation in Bavaria to include a journey on one of the most beautiful routes in all of Europe.
Schloss Neuschwanstein
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