Neuschwanstein Castle
The fairytale castle of Neuschwanstein is one of the most visited sights in Germany. The castle was built on behalf of King Ludwig II of Baiern. Ludwig II was possessed by the idea of a holy kingdom by the Grace of God. In reality, he was a constitutional monarch, a head of state with rights and duties and little freedom of action. For this reason, he built a fantasy world around him in which he could feel like he was a real king.
The new structures that Ludwig II demanded to make his private retreat and fantasy world complete were beyond the means of the king, which led to threats from banks in 1885 to seize his property. Ludwig’s refusal to react rationally led the government to declare him insane and depose him in 1886. Ludwig II was interned in the Berg Palace. The next day he died in mysterious circumstances in Lake Starnberg, together with the psychiatrist who had certified him as insane. Here’s where it gets ironic. The castle was a financial burden to Ludwig II. However, it became an incredibly lucrative source of income for the House of Wittelsbach rulers. It opened to visitors just seven weeks after his death and today it’s visited by 1.3 million people each year!
How to get to Neuschwanstein Castle
By foot
Neuschwanstein Castle is situated in the mountains of Schwangau. The path to the castle starts in the village of Hohenschwangau, and this is also your last opportunity to park. Cars and bicycles are not allowed on the road to Neuschwanstein Castle (Neuschwansteinstraße). It takes approximately 30 to 40 minutes to walk from the ticket centre to the castle (around 1.5 km on a steep uphill road).
By horse-draw carriage
You can also make use of the horse-drawn carriage which takes you up to 2/3 of the walk. Due to space limitations is it not possible to go right up to the castle. The walk from the drop of point to the castle entrance is 10-15 minutes.
Visit the castle
A visit to Neuschwanstein is only possible as part of a guided tour. Guided tours are offered in German and English and audio tours are offered in other languages. Tickets can be bought online or in the Ticketcenter Neuschwanstein-Hohenschwangau. The admission ticket is valid for a guided tour of the castle at a specific time and costs € 13,00. Children and young people under 18 are free of charge. It is also possible to buy a combination ticket so you can visit the other palaces in the area.
Surrounding area
Marienbrücke
The surrounding area of Neuschwanstein Castle consists of green meadows and dark forests. The best views of the castle are not at the castle itself but from Marienbrücke or Mary’s Bridge named after Queen Marie. Originally, a wooden footbridge was placed above the gorge by King Maximillian II in 1845, which was replaced by an iron substitute by King Ludwig II in 1866. The Marienbrücke is only 500 meters from the castle Neuschwanstein and offers fantastic views of Neuschwanstein from above!
Another view
Another phenomenal view of Neuschwanstein awaits you if you cross the Marienbrücke. Follow the hiking trails uphill into the woods for around 15 minutes. The trails are well-marked and well-groomed.
Hike
You can also choose to walk further and ascend from the Marienbrücke bridge to Branderschofen peak (1881 m). It requires a bit of vigorous effort, but the good news is that there’s a beer garden near the summit and the views from there are amazing. You will have to ascend 800 meters in 5 km on a rather steep and rocky forest path, which can take 2-3 hours, depending on how fit you are.
Other castles
The area of Schwangau knows multiple castles. Hohenschwangau is within walking distance of Neuschwanstein. An easy drive away is Linderhof. From Linderhof, you can also easily visit Oberammergau. There is another in the area that’s high on people’s list, Mittenwald and Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
To stay
There is a great selection of hotels near Neuschwanstein Castle in the village of Hohenschwangau. You can choose to walk from your hotel in Hohenschwangau to the castle, but we recommend the following:
Located just a few hundred meters away from the entrance of the Neuschwanstein Castle is Schlossrestaurant Neuschwanstein. If you book a room in this hotel you can drive all the way up and leave your car in the parking lot in front of the hotel, so you don’t have to climb up the hill from the village. The walk from the hotel to the castle only takes 2 minutes. An additional perk – you get a discount at the castle! The hotel is located in a traditional German building housing a restaurant (that closes at 6 p.m.). We had a room that was quite basic with a shared bathroom, but apparently, there are other more fancy choices – if you are lucky enough to get them. It doesn’t matter which room you book, it is worth it because of the location!
