Travel in Germany: Neuschwanstein Castle

After waking up with an Oktoberfest-sized hangover, somehow by the grace of God, we managed to rally and make a day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle. 😀This 19th century castle was the vision of King Ludwig II, known as the fairy tale king. He was responsible for the construction of numerous castles around Bavaria, all of which could conjure up visions of a fairy tale romance. In fact, this castle in particular was the inspiration for Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty.
To get to the castle, we took a U-Bahn train courtesy of Deutsche Bahn, which took us from Munich to the town of Füssen, where we then we rode a bus to the town of Hohenschwangau. Total travel time- 2.5 hours. Budgeting tip: Purchase a Bayern-Ticket, which costs 28 Euro for two people, and covers all train rides and bus trips in Bavaria for a full day.From the town of Hohenschwangau, we walked 40 minutes up hill to the castle. The paths were well-maintained and all the attractions were clearly labeled. If you don’t feel like walking, you could also pay to take a horse and carriage. We were enjoying the crisp autumn air, so we really didn’t mind the scenic walk uphill. 🙂Our first stop was to Marienbrücke, a narrow bridge overlooking the castle.
The bridge is set between two rock faces and overlooks the stunning Pollät gorge.As I stepped across the bridge, I was truly in shock and awe of how absolutely picturesque this castle is. Wow! 😍From the bridge, we walked downhill to the castle entrance, where we were still in disbelief of this architectural beauty. The design is Romanesque Gothic, with slim towers and delicate embellishments.The exterior is covered in a combination of white limestone and red brick, all with a regal Bavarian coat of arms painted across the Gatehouse passage.Although this opulent palace begin its construction in the early 19th century, it ceased to be completed, due to the death of famed King Ludwig II. For this reason, much of the interior is barren, and we opted not to take a tour of the inside.Tour tip: If you do wish to tour the castle, reservations are recommended up to two days in advance, easily booked on their website.We were more than content with simply viewing the castle exterior, and taking in the surrounding beauty of the breathtaking Bavarian alps.The village sits alongside a gorgeous lake, and is surrounded by dense green forest. When we were there, we even saw a few paragliders taking in the view from above. 🙂Additionally, the village is also home to Hohenschwangau Castle, the childhood summer residence of King Ludwig II.We were able to mosey around the exterior of this castle as well, which was covered in gorgeous mustard yellow facade.After 3 hours of walking, and a brief stint at the souvenir shop, we made our way back to Füssen.It’s worth noting that there are many lovely shops, hotels, and restaurants in both villages, and if one can afford it, it would be a breathtaking place to spend the weekend. 🙂When we arrived back in Füssen, we had about 30 minutes to kill before our train arrived, so we took a stroll around the village. As a traditional Bavarian town, I found it to be absolutely darling, with pastel colored buildings dotted along cobblestone walkways, and quaint cafes spilling into the streets.When we arrived back in Munich, it was around 8 PM and we indulged in a Brotzeit, a German mealtime word I have learned since coming here. Essentially, we set out platters of cold cuts, soft cheeses, and whole grains on the table, and everyone nibbled away as they pleased. Any easy way to enjoy mealtime with zero prep and 100% satisfaction. 😉Anyway, that completes day two in Munich, and there’s still plenty to see. Stay tuned for more sightseeing highlights in Munich. Until then. 🙂