Neuschwanstein is one of the most popular attractions in Bavaria. This building amazes with its beauty and incredible location. The idealistic castle, as if it had grown out of a rock, is visited annually by about 1.4 million people, of which a significant portion are tourists from Russia, second only in number to the Chinese.
This region in southern Bavaria is not only Neuschwanstein, but also has excellent hiking routes in the foothills of the Alps. This is Füssen with its narrow streets and the turquoise Lech River. It's definitely worth coming here for at least one day.
Neuschwanstein how to get from Munich
The castle is located in the foothills of the Alps in the southwest of the Bavaria region, near the town of Füssen. The closest major tourist center with an airport to Neuschwanstein is Munich. The lion's share of tourists come to the castle from this city.
Public transport
There are no direct train or bus connections between Munich and Neuschwanstein. You can get to the castle only with a transfer in the town of Fussen, to which trains depart from Munich Central Station Hauptbahnhof.
You can view the train schedule and purchase tickets on the official website of the railways bahn.com. What tickets to buy and how are described below.
When planning a trip, be sure to check the schedule in advance. It differs depending on the day of the week. There are direct trains to Füssen, and the website also offers routes with one change. There is practically no difference in time. The fastest direct flight takes 1:47 minutes, and the longest with a transfer takes around 2:20.
Bayern ticket
Traveling in Germany by rail is a pleasure. For tourists, there are special travel passes that can be purchased for one day and allow unlimited travel to all destinations in the region.
In this case, to get to Neuschwanstein, you need to buy a Bavarian ticket. It allows you to travel by train back and forth to Füssen, and also offers free bus travel to the municipality of Schwangau.
Returning to the choice of hotel, choose it closer to the historical part of Fussen, where restaurants are located and there is life. The most convenient way to look is on the Booking hotel map below.
Ticket office opening hours:
- from March 24 to October 15: 08:00 - 17:00
- from October 16 to March 23: 09:00 - 15:00
Opening hours of the castle (excursions):
- from March 24 to October 15: 09:00 - 18:00
- from October 16 to March 23: 10:00 – 16:00
Is it worth going inside Neuschwanstein? It all depends on a person's personal preferences. Some people like to look at elaborate furniture, tapestries and paintings, while others find nothing interesting in this. We did not go into the castle and preferred to spend the time we had exploring the surrounding area and trekking up the mountain.
From Schwangau to Neuschwanstein
Above is general information that should help with simple questions, how to get to the castle, where to buy a ticket, and so on. Now I will move on to a description of the surrounding area and personal experience of visiting.
Right from the bus stop in Schwangau you can see Neuschwanstein Castle, which seems to have grown into a rock. You have to climb to such a height on foot, or use a carriage.
From here you can explore the valley and foothills of the Alps, in which Neuschwanstein is located.
Here it is, the best overview of Neuschwanstein and the valley. The castle appears in all its glory. It's amazing how this structure grows out of the rock.
The bridge itself is located over a hundred-meter abyss in which the Pöllat River flows and connects two rocks. A very beautiful and exciting sight.
There is an opinion that King Ludwig, walking along Marienbrücke, admired the view of the valley and the surrounding nature, and then he had the idea to build a snow-white castle in this place.
The route itself essentially does not have any specific end or logical conclusion. Since this is the foothills of the Alps, literally everything here is rugged with trails. This path, if followed to the end, leads to the Tegelbergbahn cable car. Everyone must decide for themselves how high to climb.
Immediately after 10 minutes of ascent there is another very good observation deck of Neuschwanstein Castle. It seems to me that it is not much inferior to the view from the bridge, but there are almost no people here. Most likely there will be a couple of people or no one at all.
In addition to Neuschwanstein, there is a very good view of the same Alpine lake from here.
In total, the climb to this lookout takes about 40 minutes. The difference in heights is 180 meters, not so much.
You should be extremely careful on the trail. During our ascent, frost began to form, and then it started to rain. The stones and road underfoot became slippery, it was dangerous to walk, and it was difficult to see anything through the rain and fog. In bad weather, it will be enough to go up to the first lookout.
In total, the round trip journey to the Best View in Town observation point took us about 1.5 hours.
Even with trekking, visiting Neuschwanstein and the surrounding area will take no more than 3-4 hours. In other words, at about 14:00 the question arises, what next. Some tourists immediately travel from Schwangau to Fussen, and then to Munich, while others go to see Hohenshwangau Castle. After Neuschwanstein, it seemed completely nondescript to me, so it was decided to pay attention to Fussen. For some reason, this city is undeservedly deprived of attention and is considered only as a transit, but in vain.
We visited Neuschwanstein in November, when daylight is very short, it becomes dark at 16:30 and there is essentially nothing to do in this area. We returned to Fussen from Neuschwanstein at 14:00, then spent an hour and a half having lunch in a restaurant. Accordingly, there was about an hour left to explore this small town before dark.
When planning a trip, I advise you to allocate at least 2 hours to Füssen. This time will be quite enough; an hour was not enough for us.
The route for walking around Fussen is marked on the map. Of interest here is the central area, located between the railway station and the Lech River.
The main street of this village is Reichenstrasse. All the boutiques and restaurants are located on it. On the way back from Neuschwanstein, I recommend not stopping for lunch near the castle or in Schwangau, but eating at one of the local establishments. Cozy restaurants, very hearty portions and the best mulled wine - this is about Füssen.
From the beginning of the street to the Lech embankment it is only 500 m. Perhaps the main attraction of the city is the river, namely its color. Even in cloudy weather, Lech shimmers with shades of blue and blue, and in sunny weather the spectacle is most likely incredible.
But still, the embankment is not the coolest feature of Fussen. About five hundred meters upstream of the Lech there is one very interesting structure. The blue waters of the river rush down man-made rapids into a narrow gorge, forming a kind of waterfall.
There is a bridge across Lech, there are no tourists at all. Amazing place, the color of the water is mesmerizing.
If it were not a chilly November day, but a sunny summer, we would definitely stop here for a couple of hours on the river bank.
When planning a trip to the castle from Munich, you need to leave as early as possible so that you have enough time to leisurely explore not only Neuschwanstein itself, but also the surrounding area. The optimal time to leave Munich is before 09:00 am. In this situation, by 11:00 you can already be in Schwangau.
Most tourists who come to see the castle limit themselves only to going inside and viewing the Marienbrücke. I advise you not to be lazy and definitely go hiking up the mountain. In clear weather, the impressions of what you see will be amazing.
Neuschwanstein Castle - the treasure of the Alps At first glance at this castle, it seems that someone forgot their toy here - the ivory-colored towers of Neuschwanstein, soaring against the backdrop of dark green spruce trees, seem so unreal. Although if you come closer, the feeling of fabulousness is unlikely to go away, because hundreds of other little things will become visible that do not fit into the reality of the alpine slopes that give the background to this German fairy tale... You can get here by walking along the path starting at the foot of another picturesque castle - Hohenschwangau. Where a rock suddenly appears from the forest, and the slope is so steep that it seems insurmountable, that’s where this castle stands. Unfortunately, today crowds of tourists arrive here, and the line of people wishing to visit this miracle stretches for half a kilometer - after all, this castle is the most frequently photographed and most visited building by tourists in Bavaria... 
In summer, excursions around the castle are slightly shorter than in winter, since otherwise it would simply be impossible to serve the entire countless flow of tourists eager to get into a fairy tale for at least a couple of hours. Therefore, it is better to visit Neuschwanstein in autumn or even winter - the views are no less spectacular, and there are many times fewer tourists). 
Neuschwanstein Castle was erected on the orders of the “fairy-tale king” Ludwig II, who really did not like Munich, but loved to build, as Feuchtwanger wrote, “expensive, luxurious castles in various hard-to-reach areas.” And all his buildings turned out to be amazingly beautiful, like in a fairy tale, for which the king was nicknamed “fabulous.” 
Unlike Ludwig I and Maximilian II, Ludwig II did not build for the public, but for himself, and even sometimes considered ordering the demolition of the castle he built after his death. 
Ludwig II began dreaming about his own miracle castle as a child. From an early age, he loved to participate in theatrical performances and dress up. The royal family spent summers at Hohenschwangau, the Schwangau family estate that Ludwig's father Maximilian II acquired in 1833. A bit of a romantic himself, Maximilian hired not an architect, but a scenographer to work on the castle restoration project. 
Construction of the castle began in 1869 and continued until 1886. It was dedicated to the knight Lohengrin and was originally conceived as a three-story Gothic fortress. By the way, Neuschwanstein literally translates as “New Swan Cliff”. 
Gradually, the project underwent changes until the castle turned into a five-story structure in a romantic style, which, according to Ludwig II, most closely corresponded to the legend. 
Ludwig II spared no expense in bringing his fantasies to life, so the best craftsmen, painters, sculptors and woodcarvers were hired to work in Neuschwanstein and other places. Unfortunately, his construction projects drained the state treasury and interfered with the performance of his royal duties, which later became the determining factor in his fate. 
Neuschwanstein Castle stands on the site of two fortresses - the front and back of Schwangau. Ludwig II ordered to lower the plateau by approximately 8 m at this place by exploding the rock and thereby create a place for the construction of a “fairytale palace”. 
After the construction of the road and the laying of the pipeline, on September 5, 1869, the first stone was laid in the foundation of the huge castle. The construction was entrusted to the court architect Eduard Riedel, and the Munich master Christian Jank translated his plans into artistic views, the so-called “veduts” (picturesque images). 
The gates were built in 1869-1873. The king's personal chambers on the third floor, as well as comfortable rooms on the second floor, contributed to the convenience of the entire structure. 
Beginning in 1873, construction work was carried out at a very intense pace. In 1883, the construction of the palace was completed, the decoration of the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th floors was also completed. In the spring of 1884, the king could already live in his chambers on the 4th floor, where Ludwig II spent a quarter of his time in the last two years before his death. 
It is difficult to imagine what problems had to be faced then and how much building material was required, because the cement manufacturer alone, Jacob Lang from Schongau, provided no less than 450 tons of cement in 1872, and the Unhoch company supplied 1 845 hectoliters of lime. 
Salzburg marble was used for windows, vault projections, columns and capitals. A huge amount of building material was lifted from the west side of the building in trolleys using a steam-powered crane - they were delivered and installed in the right place using a special system of lifting blocks. 
In 1880, 209 carpenters, masons and auxiliary workers were involved in construction. 
After the death of the king, all construction work was suspended as a result of which the third floor of the castle and the knight's quarters were not completed, and the main 90-meter tower of the castle with a church in the Gothic style, which was supposed to tower over all buildings, was not built at all. The western terrace, which should have led to the unfinished bathhouse, was also not completed. 
Despite the fact that from a distance the castle seems like a toy, in reality it has quite impressive dimensions. Eyewitnesses claimed that fifteen master carvers worked for four and a half years to make the carved wooden bed of Ludwig II in the Gothic style, topped with intricate and fragile wooden carvings. The picture decoration of the royal bedroom is mainly dedicated to the story of Tristan and Isolde, which deeply impressed the 20-year-old king. Richard Wagner's opera of the same name was staged in 1865 during King Ludwig II's stay in Munich. 
Adjacent to the bedroom is a small chapel for Ludwig II. It is dedicated to Saint Louis - King Louis of France - after whom the monarch was named. A richly carved folded altar is embedded in the painted pointed vault. 
The castle gives the impression of a theatrical scenery, and partly is it, since it was created under the active guidance of the Munich theater artist Christian Jank. As a result, various architectural and artistic styles intersect in the interior decoration of the castle - a combination of Moorish, Gothic and Baroque elements: there are stalactite columns, a throne room in a decadent Byzantine spirit, and a singing hall with exquisite lighting, intended for the production of Wagner's operas. Each hall of the castle is a hymn to Wagner's operas, the heroes of German legends. Architects Dollmann and Riedel created Neuschwanstein under the impression of castles on the Rhine and the citadel in Nuremberg. Moreover, the entire building was equipped with the most advanced heating system for that time, and the kitchen had a running water supply with cold and hot water. Unfortunately, the castle was never completed, so today only the fourth and fifth floors can be viewed. 
On the fourth floor there is a vaulted vestibule in the shape of a trapezoid, the floor of which is made of two million mosaic stones depicting the animal and plant world. In total, the castle contains more than 360 halls, and the abundance of gold, jewelry and swans creates a heavy and pompous atmosphere. 
The throne room of Neuschwanstein resembles the hall in the Grail Castle from the opera “Parsifal”. Although the Throne Room was not completed, it is without doubt the most impressive interior room of the castle. In it, the king wanted to sing about the mercy of God. The basil-like bookmark with a special niche for the throne was supposed to speak of the religious connection between God and the king. The luxurious Byzantine style room plans were created by Eduard Ille and Julius Hoffmann. This is a two-tiered hall with long rows of columns, decorated with imitation porphyry and lapis lazuli. Particularly beautiful in this room is the mosaic floor by Deton from Vienna. On its surface a celestial globe with images of animals and plants is visible. The columns of the lower and upper parts of the throne room are made of artificial marble. The lower part of the columns is purple, the upper part is made of artificial lapis lazuli. The Throne Hall ends in a semicircle of a gilded apse. Nine steps of Carrara marble lead to a platform where a throne of gold and ivory would stand. However, this was no longer destined to come true... Under the shining blue sky of the dome, Christ sits, surrounded by Mary and John, and below are the king-saints: Casimir, Stephen, Henry, Ferdinand, Edward and Louis, made by the hand of Wilhelm Hausschild. On the right and left, next to the marble staircase, 12 apostles are depicted - bearers of God's will. The precious candelabra in the shape of a Byzantine crown made of gilded copper weighs 18 centners and holds 96 candles. 
In the drawing room (or Grand Salon) there is kept a symbol of the legend of Lohengrin, the swan knight, with whom the king liked to compare himself - a vase in the form of a swan. One day, due to an oversight, water was poured into a vase, and it could only be poured out of it by turning over the massive work of art. But the risk of breaking the wonderful vase in this case would be too great, and then they decided to sacrifice one swan’s paw in order to save the entire vase from destruction and rid it of the already pretty rotten water. As a result, the swan's paw was broken off and water poured out of the resulting hole, like from a faucet. 
No one ever sang in the King’s Singers’ Hall - only in our time wonderful concerts began to be held here. Since 1933, classical music concerts have been held in Neuschwanstein as part of the Wagner Festival. Today they are held only in September, and tickets are sold out long before the festival starts. The Singers' Hall is a copy of the hall of the Gothic castle in Wartburg. The ceiling of the hall is decorated with wooden panels with patterns and images of the Zodiac signs. Wonderful ornaments decorate the walls of the hall, as well as the Singing Arcade. Directly below the Hall of Singers there is an artificial grotto with stalactites and stalagmites appropriate for such cases. Now there is no water in it, although originally there was a small cascade. The royal kitchens are also located here - gigantic rooms where, it seems, numerous servants and cooks are still scurrying around. 
On the ground floor there is a spacious royal kitchen with ovens and braziers, cutting tables and dishes polished to a shine. In order not to disturb the king's privacy during meals, a special mechanism was designed to transport the set table from the kitchen to the dining room. The oak-panelled dining room is decorated with paintings by Ferdinand Riloti and Joseph Aigner. They depict the Minnesingers, as well as scenes from the legendary song contest in the Wartburg in 1207. 
From the windows of the castle and from the platform in front of its entrance there are views of the magnificent landscapes of Upper Bavaria. 
By the way, part of the picturesque view was supposed to be another castle higher in the mountains, the construction plan for which was never realized. 
In the end, the Bavarian government decided to get rid of the enormous construction expenses of the eccentric king, and, consequently, from himself. In accordance with the plan developed in the highest circles, on June 9, 1886, the most famous Munich psychiatrist Bernard von Gudden, having stocked up with the signatures of three more doctors who had never seen the king, declared Ludwig mentally ill. Ludwig was well aware of the danger looming over him, but, nevertheless, chose to go towards his death. The king, under guard, was taken from Neuschwanstein to the small castle of Berg on the shores of Lake Starnberg. There the “patient” behaved very quietly, and he was allowed to go for a walk in a boat, accompanied by Doctor von Gudden, without security. When the king and the doctor did not return for dinner, they rushed to look for them. The bodies were discovered a couple of hours later. No witnesses to the incident were found. There are at least three versions of what happened that day on the lake: 1. The official version. Ludwig, who had thought about suicide more than once, believed that the best way to die was to drown himself, since this would not damage the body. That day he decided to leave this world that he hated, but the doctor tried to stop the king, for which he paid with his life... 2. Ludwig, being an excellent swimmer, decided to escape, but the doctor actively objected and was killed in a fierce battle, and the king from cold water and the impressions they experienced were struck by a blow... 3. Both the doctor and the king were drowned by members of the conspiracy from the cabinet of ministers or Ludwig’s relatives, wanting to bring Ludwig’s uncle, Prince Luitpold, to power as a regent under the feeble-minded heir to the throne, Prince Otto... After the death of the king, all construction work and decoration of the interiors of Neuschwanstein stopped, the castle was declared a national treasure and has since been carefully preserved, being the special pride of the Bavarians, who once killed the dreamer who built it... 
Here the performance of the life of Ludwig II ended, work stopped here against the will of the king and the will of the inhabitants of the nearby village... 
According to rumors, during the years of Nazism, one of the “ideological” divisions of the Third Reich was located in the castle, studying the occult, the Nibelungs, runams and the German spirit. But even the Nazis, who brutally persecuted all sexual minorities, recognized that the romanticism of King Ludwig II was higher than all his vices. 
At the end of World War II, part of the Reichsbank gold was stored in Neuschwanstein Castle, and in the last days of the war the gold was taken to an unknown destination. According to rumors, it was drowned in the nearby Lake Alat. The castle also contained stolen jewelry, paintings, and furniture that were intended for Hitler's personal collection. 
Tchaikovsky was once fascinated by the sight of Neuschwanstein - and it was here, as some historians believe, that he conceived the idea for the ballet “Swan Lake”. 
Often, due to its high-altitude location, the castle is shrouded in Alpine fog... At such moments it seems as if it is floating in the void... 
Higher in the mountains above the gorge hangs the romantic Marienbrücke bridge. The suspension bridge, even older than Neuschwanstein, stretches 92 meters above the 45-meter waterfall. Originally a wooden bridge, replaced in 1866 by a modern metal structure, it takes its name from King Ludwig II's mother, Queen Mary, Princess of Prussia. From this bridge there is an impressive view of the castle and surrounding area, as well as a 45-meter waterfall. 
By the way, Neuschwanstein Castle was the source of inspiration for the construction of Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Paris
Writes chistoprudov Having risen at 4 am, we set off 350 km from Landau almost to the very border with Austria - to Southern Bavaria at the foot of the Alps. There, on one of the cliffs near the town of Füssen and the village of Schwangau, is the most popular tourist attraction in Bavaria - the royal castle of Neuschwanstein. Every year about a million tourists come to see the creations of Ludwig II!
1. Center of Fussen. There is a train station and a large tourist information center here. We didn’t have time to walk around the city and we immediately went to Schwangau to the castles, although the town itself is very nice.
2. It turned out that we arrived too early; we could have slept an hour longer.
3. On a sunny day in autumn, it must be magical here...
4. Like most tourists, we rushed to the castle itself (although readers warned me that there was nothing to do inside). I didn't listen. The castle is not as impressive up close as it is from afar.
5. You don’t have to take a tour of the castle. Save time and money. Quote from an overheard conversation between other Russian-speaking tourists: “Marina, what kind of parquet is this? Bullshit! Our Hermitage is much cooler!”
I wanted to quickly separate myself from the Russian group.
6. Views from the balconies of Neuschwanstein to Fussen and Schwangau.
7. On the hill you can see the second, older Hohenschwangau Castle.
9. Unimpressed by the excursion, we set off along the pedestrian path closed for the winter to the Marinebrücke Bridge, from where one of the “postcard” views of the castle opens. It is worth noting that in winter almost all hiking routes (and their total length is about 120 km) are closed, but tourists, especially Russians, climb over the fence and go for a walk. We are no exception.
10. The bridge seems to be close, but it takes 25-30 minutes to walk through the snow.
11. One of the popular and accessible views of the castle. The most favorable angles can be found by walking along the path from the funicular on Mount Tegelberg to this bridge, but in winter it is impossible to get there. Nobody cleans the paths. Another disadvantage of visiting this place in winter is that the castle is illuminated by the sun only for a short period of time after lunch. The rest of the time it is in the shadow against the backdrop of a light valley. This is provided that there is sunshine at all. It is considered lucky to find yourself in such weather conditions when the entire valley is covered with clouds and the castle floats alone in the snow-white sea.
12. Personally, having seen enough photographs of Neuschwanstein on the Internet, I expected to see more impressive views. There was still hope for the funicular.
13. Climbing Mount Tegelberg is the best time to look at Neuschwanstein against the backdrop of the mountains in winter. The castle is not visible from the mountain itself; I took these photographs leaning out of the window of the cable car.
14. Hohenschwangau.
15. In a few minutes we rose to a height of 1200 meters.
17. Fussen.
18. Village of Schwangau.
19. Panorama of the valley.
Enlarge image
20. Alps.
22. These are already Austrian peaks.
31. Descent back. To ride the cable car there and back, you need to prepare 17.5 euros. Separately, the ascent costs 12, and the descent costs 10. The length of the ski slope is about 1.5 km.
32. Conclusion: Winter is not the best time to hunt beautiful species from Neuschwanstein.
33. And this is Austria.
34. According to my plans, we were supposed to take a picturesque route among the Alpine mountains, but alas...
35. 20 km after the border (which we didn’t even notice) our clutch broke. It worked, but did not allow me to change gears. Later we found a way out - the gears were switched with the engine turned off.
36. So we drove back - we start it in first gear... Acceleration... We turn off the engine... Second... We start it, we accelerate further... We turn it off... Third... We start it... Puff-peck, but we got there.
37. Austria was not given to us. It's a pity. So next time.
October 10th, 2011 , 10:19 pm
And finally, the main goal of our trip to the Bavarian Alps is Neuschwanstein. The bus dropped us off in the town of Hohenschwangau, which is located near the city of Schwangau. From here you can see the mountain with the famous castle...
Hohenschwangau
Here, on another hill, is Hohenschwangau Castle. The first mention of the fortress dates back to the 12th century. This castle-fortress was built by the Knights of Schwangau. In the XVI century. the line of knights of Schwangau was extinguished and the fortress gradually began to collapse. Crown Prince Maximilian of Bavaria, the future King Maximilian II, bought these ruins, and in 1832-36. the castle was rebuilt. King Ludwig II spent most of his life in this castle, where he hosted composer Richard Wagner.
It is interesting that until the 19th century. this castle was called Schwanstein. And on the site of present-day Neuschwanstein there were 2 fortresses - Front and Rear Schwangau. Thus, the castles seemed to change their names.
The castle has several interesting halls and rooms.
In the Hall of the Swan Knight you can see images from the saga of the swan knight Lohengrin.
In 1833, Crown Prince Maximilian visited Turkey - hence the influence of Turkish style on the decor of the Queen's bedroom. The canapés were presented to the Bavarian Crown Prince by the Turkish Sultan Mohammed II himself.
The paintings in the Hall of Heroes depict the Welkin saga, which is part of the epic of Dietrich von Bern. The tale was lost in Germany, but later, thanks to a Norwegian retelling, it became known again in the 13th century.
In Hohenstaufen's room there is a piano, the so-called “Wagner grand piano,” made of maple. King Ludwig II, being a good pianist, often asked Richard Wagner to play some of his works.
The chapel is decorated with two Russian icons, presented to the king by Russian Tsar Alexander II.
Hohenschwangau Castle (Schloss Hohenschwangau)
To visit Neuschwanstein Castle, our entire bus was divided into 3 groups according to nationality. Each batch of tourists received their own time to visit the castle. The Russians ended up in the 3rd group, so we went to lunch first.
After lunch we walked to the castle, to which the road leads up the hill. The ascent on foot takes about 20-25 minutes. There is beautiful nature around.
Hohenschwangau
Those who wish can use horse-drawn carriages. Cars don't drive here. Only the tractor was driving, clearing the road of snow.
Hohenschwangau
Neuschwanstein literally translates to "New Swan Cliff". And if in Russian there is no big difference - Neuschwanstein or Neuschweinstein, then in German the swan cliff will turn into a pig cliff.
Hohenschwangau
The surrounding landscapes are very beautiful.
Hohenschwangau
The tickets indicate the group number and the start time of the excursion. There are turnstiles at the entrance to the castle, until your time comes - you cannot go through. Audio guide tubes are provided at the entrance. There is also Russian language. The group is accompanied by a museum employee who, upon entering a new room, plays the required audio track.
Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein is the most famous brainchild of the “fairytale king” Ludwig II. The first stone was laid on September 5, 1869. Construction was entrusted to the court architect Eduard Riedel.
Neuschwanstein Castle
In 1869-73. gates were built. Beginning in 1873, construction work was carried out at a very intense pace. In 1883, construction of the palace was completed. In the spring of 1884, the king could already live in his chambers on the 4th floor, where Ludwig II spent a lot of time in the last two years of his life.
Neuschwanstein Castle
Huge costs were required for construction. The cement manufacturer alone, Jacob Lang from Schongau, supplied no less than 450 tons of cement in 1872. In the same year, Unhokh supplied 1,845 hectoliters of lime. The sandstone for the portal and bay window was brought from Nürtingen in the state of Württemberg. Marble from near Salzburg was used for windows, vault projections, columns and capitals. A huge amount of building material was lifted from the western side of the building in trolleys using a steam-powered crane. They were delivered and installed in the right place using a special lifting block system. In 1880, 209 carpenters, masons and auxiliary workers were employed at the construction site.
Neuschwanstein Castle
The inside of the castle is not as spectacular as Linderhof, but there are still interesting rooms here.
For example, the singers' hall. The king definitely wanted to build this hall, so Neuschwanstein Castle itself was built around this hall. Numerous wall paintings illustrate motifs from the legend of Parzival, which inspired Wagner to create his work. During the king's life, the singers' hall was not used in any way. Only in 1933, on the 50th anniversary of the death of composer Richard Wagner, and until the outbreak of war in 1939, were festive concerts held in the castle. In 1969, it was decided to resume concerts.
Neuschwanstein Castle
Although the throne room was not completed, it is perhaps the most impressive. In it, the king wanted to sing about the mercy of God. Wilhelm Hausschild's paintings above the empty throne seat depict six kings, canonized as saints. The niche ends with images of Christ, Mary and John. To the right and left, next to the marble staircase, are the 12 apostles. Particularly beautiful in this room is the mosaic floor by Deton from Vienna. On its surface a celestial globe with images of animals and plants is visible. The columns of the lower and upper parts of the throne room are made of artificial marble. The lower part of the columns is purple, the upper part is made of artificial lapis lazuli.
Neuschwanstein Castle
In the interior of the castle, the main role is played by illustrations of Wagner’s operas and ancient German legends. The entire architecture and artistic decoration of the castle is permeated with the swan motif. The swan is the heraldic bird of the ancient family of the Counts of Schwangau; Ludwig's father, Maximilian II of Bavaria, considered himself the successor of this family.
At the end of World War II, part of the Reichsbank gold was kept in the castle. In the last days of the war, the gold was taken to an unknown destination. According to rumors, it was drowned in Lake Alat. If we also recall the Austrian Lake Toplitz, then apparently, Reich gold is sunk in almost every second lake in this region.
Neuschwanstein Castle
The story of Ludwig II himself (1845-86) is quite tragic; in some ways it is similar to the fate of our emperors Peter III and Paul.
Ludwig became King of Bavaria at the age of 18 in 1864. He never married. In 1867, Ludwig became engaged to Sophia of Bavaria, then delayed the end (marriage) for more than six months and finally, unexpectedly for many, terminated the engagement. In the last years of his life, the king increasingly shunned the public. He retired to Neuschwanstein Castle, drinking champagne and cognac in immoderate quantities. His debts grew, and the construction of some castles was suspended. Day and night changed places for Ludwig, for which they began to call him the “moon king.”
Neuschwanstein Castle
On June 8, 1886, a council of doctors, based on the testimony of witnesses and without a personal examination of the patient, declared Ludwig II “incurably mentally ill.” On June 9, the government deprived the king of his legal capacity. The king was taken under guard and transported to Berg Castle on June 12. On the evening of June 13, Ludwig went for a walk in the castle park with Professor von Gudden. Both of them died in the waters of Lake Starnberg under still unclear circumstances. Their bodies were found in shallow water around 11:00 pm that same day. According to the official version, the doctor tried to prevent the king’s suicide and drowned himself. But the exact picture of what happened that evening on the shores of Lake Starnberg remained unknown.
Neuschwanstein Castle
After the death of the king, all construction work was suspended. The third floor of the castle and the knight's quarters were not completed. The main tower of the castle with a Gothic-style church, 90 m high, which should have towered above all the buildings, was not built at all. The western terrace, which should have led to the unfinished bathhouse, was also not completed.
Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein Castle became the prototype for the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Paris.
In 2007, when elections for New Wonders of the World were held on the Internet, Neuschwanstein was among the 20 finalists, but did not make it into the coveted 7. Oddly enough, the castle is not yet included in the UNESCO heritage list; it has only been a candidate since 2009.
Neuschwanstein Castle
The castle has the most beautiful view from the surrounding hills. Maria's Bridge is also a good viewing platform. The first wooden bridge was built in 1845 under Maximilian II and named after his wife, Maria Friederike of Prussia (mother of Ludwig II). The bridge spans the Pollat gorge at an altitude of 92 m. To be honest, we didn’t see the road to it, and there wasn’t much time left.
Mary's Bridge (Marienbrucke)
On the way back, the escort invited everyone to sports bars, because... On this day, the local Bayern played in the Champions League playoffs in Milan with Inter. The Bavarians won 1-0. But, unfortunately, after 2 weeks they lost at home and dropped out of the draw. And this season, Bayern will have to doubly try to perform more successfully, because it is Munich's Allianz Arena that will be the venue for the League final in May 2012.
Hohenschwangau
In general, Bavaria is the Latin name for these lands. And in German (and most others) the name Bayern is used. Even Bavaria beer is not German at all, but Dutch.
This concludes our stay in Germany, Austria is ahead again - Salzburg.
Neuschwanstein - useful information for tourists!
Are you in Germany or are you already in Bavaria, and the main attraction of these places is Neuschwanstein Castle , that’s exactly what we’ll talk about in this article. Yes, here you will find the best photos Neuschwanstein Castle and get maximum information. And we also recommend visiting the German saunas after the castle) it will be a good end to the day!!! Read and dive into the world of adventure with meaning!!!
Mystical Neuschwanstein Castle - a preserved German fairy tale
Red crowns of trees in autumn, clumps of emerald trees in summer. Shimmering bluish ice sheets - in winter. From multiple vantage points due to dense forest cover Neuschwanstein Castle not visible at all.And if you choose a good angle for shooting, you can But let's start from the very beginning. I mean, from the beginning of this story
capture the majestic walls of an architectural miracle against the backdrop of a massive rock. However, no matter where you look, when you climb higher, the panoramas around the castle open up incredible...
A spectacular masterpiece of architecture built in the southwest of Bavaria, near the Austrian border. The name of the castle is translated as the romantic phrase “new swan stone (cliff).”
Stately Neuschwanstein located so that from the hill on which it is located, another beautiful castle is visible - Hohenschwangau.
About Neuschwanstein Castle many say so - indescribable. 
This is true: almost every hall, every arch and ledge, every turret or column, bay window or arcade attracts attention, forcing you to peer into the intricate details.
The castle is surprisingly well preserved, although it was built at the end of the 19th century. Even Ludwig II of Bavaria planned the construction of a castle on the plateau, for which the rock was blown up and a place was created for the construction of the foundation. The rock level was cut by about 8 meters.
The best attraction in Bavaria - Neuschwanstein
Then the construction of roads and pipelines began: the famous architect Eduard Riedel supervised the process, and he was assisted by a master, theater artist Jank Christian from Munich.
We will talk about the role of this man in the history of the construction of the castle below. The king was so sensitive to the process that he looked through every drawing and diagram: not a single idea escaped his attention.
As a result, the castle was actually recognized as the work of his hands.
Construction began in 1869, Ludwig moved in in 1884, and died six months later. Construction continued without him.
What's special about the interiors of Neuschwanstein Castle?
Ludwig planned to build a grandiose structure embodying the idea of knightly castles and Wartburg music halls. Thus, the Knights' (Festive) Hall of the famous Wartburg Castle became the prototype of the Singing Hall in Neuschwanstein. It should be noted that the ideology of building castles is rooted in the historical past of the country: each elector (prince) or baron sought to perpetuate his name in the construction of castles. 
It is for this reason that Germany is literally dotted with magnificent and massive castles, many of which are classified as Neuschwanstein, to architectural monuments.
It is curious that some of the castles cannot be restored with public money, so the castles are rented out or even sold. It would be nice to become the owner of a real medieval kingdom, wouldn't it? But we digress a little.
And even buy part of the territory of Neuschwanstein Castle 
impossible: it is a museum, and entrance to its territory is paid, costs €13. There is only one person living in the castle: he is the one who guards it.
So, the Singing Hall (Hall of Singers) in Neuschwanstein- the key idea of the entire ensemble. All other enfilades and buildings are located, as it were, around the central hall.
The room is decorated with canvases depicting the events of the mystical legend of Parzival: it was she who inspired Richard Wagner to write his work about Lohengrin, the Swan Knight.
The king with all his heart wanted the castle to be worthy of the events of the majestic and touching legend, to reflect the ideology and outline of the myth, so Yank led the process: his rich experience in working on theatrical scenery served him well.
To this day, artists and architects from all over the world come to the castle to draw inspiration from the artist’s subtle and filigree work.
By the way, the swan is the heraldic bird of the Counts of Schwangau, and Ludwig’s father, 
Maximilian II of Bavaria considered himself the successor of this family.
It is worth noting that just as Ludwig was inspired to build by appreciating the castles of the Wartburg, Neuschwanstein in turn became a source of inspiration for the composer Tchaikovsky, who later wrote the music for the ballet “Swan Lake”.
The entire interior is made in the neo-Gothic style; the castle has a lot of blue-painted frescoes, arches, columns, balustrades and capitals: King Ludwig was very fond of the soft turquoise color.
The length of the castle is 135 meters, and its height reaches 65 meters.
The throne room is very impressive, although it is not fully completed. The whole setting here has a religious connotation: above the empty throne are depicted six kings, ranked among the saints.
There are also images of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the 12 apostles. In total, the castle has about 360 halls: there is plenty to look at.
How to get to Neuschwanstein Castle
The castle does not have an exact address, but all Bavarians know about the local landmark. Therefore, you can get to it using numerous maps, a navigator, or renting a car. There are plenty of rental points in nearby towns. Any local resident can give directions: many know the road by heart and will point out local signs. If you need coordinates of the castle in the navigator, here they are: 47.5575° N. latitude, 10.75° east. d.If you do not rent a car, then from Munich station take the train to 
Füssen, a town almost on the border with Austria. There are either direct trains or with transfers: in this case, you will need to get off at Buchloe station.
The train journey will take you approximately 2 hours. Next, take bus No. 73 (direction - Steingaden / Garmisch-Partenkirchen) or No. 78 (direction - Schwangau). You reach the village of Hohenschwangau, where the castle of the same name is located.
You will find the bus stop by following the signs. Upon arrival in Hohenschwangau, you need to walk to the castle, but you can take a special shuttle bus or pay for a horse and carriage ride.
As already mentioned, the entrance to the museum Neuschwanstein- paid, costs €13. Entrance to the castle is carried out in groups, so there are usually queues. While you're in line, you can walk around the castle and take photos to your heart's content.
The castle is open from 8:00 to 17:00 (from April to September), and in the winter - 9:00 to 15:00. The museum is closed on Christmas (December 24 and 25) and New Year's (December 31 and January 1).
Video about Neuschwanstein Castle from the YouTube channel
What to do before coming to Neuschwanstein Castle
From the bus stop in Hohenschwangau you can walk. Hiking (hiking) is extremely common here, and indeed, there is a lot to see along the way, The Bavarian Alps abound with centuries-old trees with lush crowns, picturesque landscapes, picturesque 
panoramas.
Firstly, in the surrounding area there are many cafes, shops with souvenirs, information kiosks, ticket offices, selling ice cream and drinks.
A beer tavern was built almost in front of the castle. Here you can take a break, refresh yourself, and taste delicious German beer.
If you climb the slope to the castle, horse-drawn carts go along the same road, which will overtake you every now and then. The road to the castle is gentle and not very difficult; you can climb up even with a stroller.
As you climb, views of Hohenschwangau Castle and Lake Alpsee open up. From the observation platforms near the castle you can see small lakes and another large one - Schwansee. If you walk around the back of the castle, you can see the Straussberg Mountain in Austria.
The panoramas in the vicinity of the castle deserve a separate description. They are probably even more impressive than the interior of the building.
From the nearby Marienbrücke bridge there is a magnificent view of the castle: you can see it 
from here in every detail.
Before going to the castle, make sure you have trekking shoes. There are special routes around the castle, marked with a red flag. These are steep slopes and paths riddled with tree rhizomes. You simply will not walk there comfortably in high-heeled shoes and sandals.
And for dessert, we include a personal review from an avid traveler, which will allow you to immerse yourself in the atmosphere Neuschwanstein.
Neuschwanstein at night - what does it feel like?
I've always been curious what it would feel like to be near Neuschwanstein Castle at night time. I have been there often during the day, at all times of the year, but never at night!
And then a chance came up: we arrived at the hotel at about eight in the evening and decided to take a ride to the castle.
Those who have been to this place imagine that the parking lot is located below 
the mountain on which Neuschwanstein Castle flaunts, and naturally, at that time of day there was practically no one there. Having approached the road that leads to the castle, I discovered that there was a prohibitory sign hanging there, and I understood that I was in Germany, where it would not be possible to come to an agreement with the police, but the desire to go up to the castle was stronger than the fear of punishment!
Neuschwanstein Castle at night - how to get there?!
Having plucked up the nerve, we drove the car to the very top. Having climbed almost to the castle itself, we realized that it was possible to get through by car, but we might need a special pass. There were already several cars in the parking lot. In this darkness of the night Neuschwanstein Castle It looks really mysterious and mystical. We parked the car and continued the climb on foot, although the road was comfortable and it was possible to climb even higher by car, but we weren’t so impudent anymore.
Neuschwanstein by night He even seemed a little scary: the silence itself and the alarming light in the only window frightened him. A huge castle in the Alpine mountains with a rich history - and we, a company of travel lovers, who decided to experience new feelings from the night and bewitching view of the ancient castle. On foot we approached the very entrance: naturally, everything was closed, but we continued our walk.
I was very curious: why is the light on, who is in the castle, and is it possible to spend the night here for a fee? I wanted to go back in time and feel the flavor of that era.
A mysterious story from the night in Neuschwanstein
IN a walk through Neuschwanstein at night I was always lagging behind the company, because time was different 
took some time to take photographs. While I was looking for another new shooting point near the main entrance to Neuschwanstein, I heard the sound of a door opening. Then I saw a man letting a lady out of the castle.
Ooh! Now I had even more questions: what was the lady doing in the castle at night, and who was this man? He escorted the lady for a bit, who literally rushed past me, and I stood with the camera and looked at them.
The German stopped next to me and began asking questions that I did not understand at all. He understood this, and gestures came into play. This was clearer: he persistently twirled his hands in front of him, pretending to be driving a car. It was clear: they were asking me how I got here and why.
I showed my camera and tried to pretend that I had arrived here on foot, moving two fingers in the air. It was clear from the expression on the German’s face that he was simply stunned.
We didn't have any further conversation.
It's a pity that I don't know German! I would extract all the information from him, not forgetting to ask how to get into Neuschwanstein at night by circumventing the rules. But I had to bow out. The mysterious story will remain a mystery to me.
This curious event left a pleasant aftertaste from the night's walk. And adventures are always good. The main thing is that they have a happy ending.
