Did you know there actually is a physical manifestation of all the Disney-like fairy-tale castles? And no, I'm not talking about Disneyland. This one was once really inhabited and for about 150 days even served as a royal residence. Let's visit together one of the most famous European castles, the primary example of historic romanticism, originated in the head of one insane king about one and a half centuries ago. Welcome to Neuschwanstein.
Once upon a time, there were two medieval fortresses guarding a mountain pass near the Alpsee lake, located approximately around the nowadays town of Hohenschwangau, Schwanstein and the twin castles of Vorderhohenschwangau and Hinterhohenschwangau on the hill overlooking the whole valley. As centuries went by, all three castles went slowly ruined and were inhabited scarcely just by wild animals and birds. But then, in the 19th century, a new man got ascended to the throne of Bavaria who decided that apart from the Wittelsbach family home in Nymphenburg, Munich, he needs a new representative castle. This king, Maximilian II hired architects to build a new romanticized castle in place of the ruined Schwanstein. That went to the building of the today's castle of Hohenschwangau. But the crazy history of the region had only just begun.
Having been raised on the Hohenschwangau castle with all its fake historizing elemetnts, the king's son, crown prince of Bavaria Ludwig, who would later become the new king Ludwig II, couldn't help but be influenced by this to the degree that he would eventually need to surpass his father and build his own fairy tale palace. And that was the beginning of the story of Neuschwanstein.
The new Neuschwanstein castle has been built in place of the former twin castles. It takes inspiration of various European castles like Liechtenstein, Hohenzollern or the Hohenschwangau itself. While it incorporates many quasihistorical elements into its structures, none of them are actually acurate - the castle would for sure not withstand any kind of attack in the medieval period, despite its medieval-like looks.
But that definitely does not devaluate it in any way. If you visit the castle, you can see all the amazingly decorated halls (especially the main throne room). The admission fee is 12 EUR and the tickets can be purchased down in the town of Hohenschwangau, so be sure to have it with you when you climb up to the castle itself. And don't forget to make a prior reservation for the castle is the number one tourist place in Germany and maybe the whole Europe so it may happen, especially during the high season, that you would not get inside at all.
While the castle is visible from many sides (i would recommend the view from the main access road to the town, for it shows you the castle amazingly scaled to the mountains in the background making it look almost like a model), but the most well known and probably most beautiful view of the castle is from the Marienbrücke about 10 min from the main gate. Just turn right and head to the road that goes around the castle. Prepare for a bit elevating road, but it's nothing horrible. The view is definitely worth the effort. Just be aware, in winter months and during bad weather this bridge is closed, so be sure to involve it into your planning.
And now, how to get there.
The castles are located above the little town of Schwangau. Now, there is no train connection to the town, the closest town with good connection is Füssen about 4 km by foot from the castles. Or you can use some of the shuttle buses going there. But I recommend the walk, for the surrounding nature is as much as breathtaking as the castles themselves. :)
You can get to Füssen by train from Munich or Augsburg.
Anyway, many people consider these two castles as the prime example of kitsch in architecture. While that may be right, it's hard to pretend that these places belong among the most interesting and iconic places in the whole of Europe and should be missing on any of your bucket lists. :) So keep on traveling.
Lex
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