“Born from a dream of King Ludwig II of Bavaria”

Neuschwanstein Castle

The Neuschwanstein Castle is located in the municipality of Schwangau, just over 3 kilometers from the town of Füssen and represents the top attraction as well as the most visited monument in Germany. Located on a rocky spur of the Bavarian Alps and surrounded by mountains and lush forests, Neuschwanstein Castle stands in all its grandeur above the valley crossed by the river Pöllat and its gorges. Its grand appearance and mighty construction are softened by its tall towers that make it an enchanted and fairy-tale place. The impact of seeing it is breathtaking because it appears in all its wonderful and fantastic charm, a charm that Walt Disney understood well when he used it as a model for the mansions in his animated films. King Ludwig II, Wagner, and the construction of Neuschwastein Castle Immersed in the forest and overlooking a lake, the ‘fairy-tale castle’ is incredibly imposing with its 6,000 square meters and its numerous towers that reach almost 80 meters. Whether in winter when covered in snow, or in the warmer months when the colors come alive, you can visit this castle known worldwide for its beauty and the ‘wonderful view of the majestic mountain of Säuling, the Tyrolean mountains, and the vast plain’ [from Ludwig’s letter to Wagner in 1868]. The vegetation changing from green to reddish, embracing a wide range of shades, and the changing daylight becoming more crystalline or harsh are the backdrop supporting this castle that reigns over the surrounding nature. Whether you see it in the cold or in the heat, in the rain or in the sun, the enchantment certainly does not change, with the harmony of the castle with the surrounding environment always remaining constant. Built by King Ludwig II, Ludovico II of Bavaria, in honor of his great friend Richard Wagner. It was in 1868-1869 when he entrusted the project to set designer Christian Jank. The castle was to be for its creator the quintessence of medieval culture and royalty. The idea of building the castle in the style of medieval feudal fortresses came to him when he visited Wartburg Castle in Thuringia, and, fanciful and dreamy as he was, he decided to replicate one near his father’s residence, Hohenschwangau Castle, where Ludwig II was born in 1845. Maximilian II, this was his father’s name, had had the Hohenschwangau manor decorated in neo-Gothic style and surely Ludwig was fascinated by the environment where he grew up, dedicating himself to reading sagas and medieval history. Then his encounter with Richard Wagner’s music in 1861 increased the young man’s fascination with ancient Germanic sagas. Lohengrin, Tannhäuser, Tristan and Isolde, The Ring of the Nibelung, and Wagner’s reworking of the Parsifal saga marked Ludwig’s cultural path and were a source of inspiration for the creation of Neuschwanstein Castle. Wartburg Castle, restored in 1867, was another reference point for Ludwig who decided to allocate 6 million marks for its construction. The King of Bavaria decided to retire to the new castle in 1884 to enjoy the silences and the unique panorama that can still be appreciated today. In essence, he shut himself up in his golden castle to isolate himself from the surrounding reality. Prussia, in fact, had effectively ruled over his kingdom since 1862 and Ludwig II was more a monarch by appointment than by fact. Without real powers and without the concrete exercise of sovereignty, the King of Bavaria decided to live like a medieval monarch, closed in his castle full of references to Wagner’s works. The internal decoration of the rooms followed the program conceived by a German art and literature historian, Hyacinth Holland. Ludwig II’s intention was to recreate in a more sumptuous way a mix between the Minstrels’ Hall and the Festival Hall of Wartburg Castle. Thus was born the Minstrels’ Hall of Neuschwanstein, the most important room of the manor much more imposing than the original and realized with the iconographic program of the Parsifal saga and the Holy Grail. The coffered ceiling and immense chandeliers give a sense of grandeur to the environment which in September hosts the ‘Concerts at the Castle’ event. Another famous room is the Throne Room, built in 1881 where Ludwig II intended to recreate an environment like the Hall of the Grail. Here blue and gold dominate among figures of angels adorning the walls. Also interesting is the king’s bedroom decorated with scenes from Tristan and Isolde. After you have completed the guided tour, do not forget to take a walk in the woods. In 20 minutes you will reach Marienbrücke, King Ludwig II’s favorite spot because from here you have a wonderful view of the castle. Its location on a hilltop, surrounded by fir trees, with its pinnacles make this enchanted place exude a fairytale aura. How to get to Neuschwastein Castle and where to buy tickets Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau To reach Neuschwanstein Castle you can leave your vehicles at the four paid parking lots located in Hohenschwangau. Beyond that point, you cannot go because Neuschwansteinstrasse, the road leading to the castle, is closed to motor vehicles and bicycles (unless authorized by the castle administration). If you arrive by train, you need to get off at Füssen station and take bus no.78 which takes you to ‘Hohenschwangau Neuschwanstein Castles, Schwangau’. The ticket office is located near the parking lots so you need to buy your ticket before heading up to the castle. During peak times (weekends and summer season), it is advisable to purchase tickets for Neuschwanstein Castle a few days in advance to ensure you find entrance tickets and above all to eliminate endless and nerve-wracking lines. In this case, you will pay a small supplement that will save you time and patience. Remember that there is an option to purchase a single ticket to enter both Hohenschwangau Castle and Neuschwastein Castle. At the ticket office or by booking online, you must choose the language for the guided tour and then meet at the entrance at the time indicated on your ticket. The guide will be there waiting for you on-site to explain about the history and rooms of the castle in about 30 minutes. With your ticket in hand, all that remains is to reach the castle entrance by walking uphill for 1.5 kilometers which will take you about 30-40 minutes. But this is not your only option obviously. There is a carriage service departing from three locations (Hotel Müller, Alpseestrasse, Hohenschwangau) where you can purchase your ticket directly at each carriage stop. Another (cheaper) option to reach the castle is to use the shuttle bus service starting from parking P4. Tickets can be purchased directly on board but remember that both carriages and buses stop 500 meters before reaching the entrance. Bikers can use their dedicated bike path to head directly to the castle.”