Neuschwanstein Castle, the most beautiful fairytale castle in Germany.
Neuschwanstein Castle is what you call a real Disney palace. A fairytale castle that stands stately on the mountains of the German Alps with a view of a clear blue Alpine Lake.
We don't just call Neuschwanstein Castle a Disney castle. It is said that this castle was the source of inspiration for the castle in the Disney fairy tale Cinderella. The gray and white towers are even reminiscent of the castle that is central to Disneyland.
Neuschwanstein Castle is visited by thousands of tourists every year
Unfortunately, Neuschwanstein Castle is no longer an undiscovered gem. With its beautiful towers, decadent interior and impressive location, this castle is one of Germany's biggest attractions. In the summer it is so busy that as many as 6,000 visitors a day visit this castle.
Despite the large crowds that you find here every day, we still think you should visit Neuschwanstein Castle when you have the opportunity. It really is a magical place, the kind of place you just want to visit once in your life.
King Ludwig, the artist behind Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein Castle was built by King Ludwig. King Ludwig is known as a somewhat unusual figure and was also known as the "Mad King" or "Fairytale King."
King Ludwig had several castles built and each one was lavish and overly decadent. Neuschwanstein Castle is the most special of all the castles he had built.
The Young King, King Ludwig
King Ludwig was born in 1845. He was the son of King Maximillian II and Princess Maria of Prussia. Besides King Ludwig they had 1 other (schizophrenic) son. King Ludwig's parents were not known as the most loving parents. He spent a lot of time alone during his childhood. King Ludwig was only eighteen years old when he became king of Bavaria. So you can say that King Ludwig became king at a very young age
King Ludwig, a king in name only
He was a quirky king. He liked to be alone and hated the social obligations that came with royalty. It was suspected that he had a social anxiety disorder. It is said that he even asked his staff to pretend not to see him.
King Ludwig of Bavaria was a king in name only. During his entire reign, Bavaria was under the power of Prussia. King Ludwig actually had little to say about how his country was governed.
The construction of Neuschwanstein Castle
King Ludwig built several castles, of which Neuschwanstein Castle is definitely the most famous.
At the time when Neuschwanstein Castle was built, it was seen as a great waste of money. Since King Ludwig was only a king in name and didn't actually have a kingdom of his own to lead, he created his own fantasy world. Neuschwanstein Castle became his own fantasy place, his refuge where he could reign as king. He ended up spending most of his time in this castle.
The opera as a source of inspiration for Neuschwanstein Castle
King Ludwig loved opera. Richard Wagner's operas were especially favorite with the king. You could even draw a comparison between Neuschwanstein Castle and Wagner's operas. Neuschwanstein Castle is just as dramatic and whimsical as an opera. You can literally see Wagner's operas in the interior of Neuschwanstein Castle. In the bedroom you can admire a fresco with a scene from the famous opera Tristan and Isolde.
Neuschwanstein Castle, a modern medieval castle for its time
The construction of Neuschwanstein Castle took no less than 24 years. You can still clearly see the Medieval influences in this castle of King Ludwig of Bavaria, but it was a fairly modern castle for the time in which it was built. Neuschwanstein Castle had flushing toilets, steel beams, a telephone and for this time a beautiful kitchen with modern appliances. For example, there was also hot running water, a luxury for that time, and he had central heating in his living room.
But there were also some other clever tricks in the construction of this castle. Neuschwanstein Castle was based on the palaces of the French King Louise XV, a king King Ludwig was in awe of. But where King Louis XV often had to eat his food cold, due to the great distances that had to be traveled, King Ludwig had an elevator built to deliver his food. So no cold meals for King Ludwig.
Was Neuschwanstein Castle built as a castle to show off?
King Ludwig was involved in every detail during the construction of Neuschwanstein Castle. All details of the exterior and interior had to be approved by King Ludwig himself. You would think that King Ludwig wanted to show off his beautiful self-designed palace. But just the opposite was true. Visits were prohibited in Neuschwanstein Castle. This domain was for the King himself and for him only to enjoy.
There was 1 exception, the mother of King Ludwig
Only King Ludwig and his staff, which consisted of 60 people, were allowed to enter this castle. One exception was made. His mother was allowed to visit the castle on one single occasion for her birthday. She is the only one to ever visit Neuschwanstein Castle, as long as King Ludwig lived in the Castle.
What would he think of the hordes of tourists who visit Neuschwanstein Castle every year?
King Ludwig was unable to finish Neuschwanstein Castle
Unfortunately, Neuschwanstein Castle was never completely finished. King Ludwig was arrested and dethroned. The reason for this was probably his spending pattern, because during his reign King Ludwig spent far too much money. Ultimately, King Ludwig died during his captivity. The official statement reads that King Ludwig died by suicide, but sources say he was shot in the back while trying to escape from his cell.
Neuschwanstein Castle, a special place during the Second World War
A special fact about Neuschwanstein Castle is that it was used by Hitler during World War II. Neuschwanstein Castle was the place where Hitler stored all his stolen art. He was convinced that enemies would never dare to attack such a special place as Neuschwanstein Castle. It is said that Hitler planned to blow up the castle towards the end of the war so that it could never fall into the hands of the enemy. Fortunately for all of us, Hitler's dictatorship was over sooner than he himself had anticipated.
Would you like to visit Neuschwanstein Castle?
You can visit Neuschwanstein Castle completely free, at least the exterior of this castle
It is quite a climb to get there, but it is worth it. Don't feel like walking?
Then there are electrically powered carriages downstairs that take you upstairs to the castle. Because the carriages are electrically powered, they are not too heavy for the horses and it is secretly nice that you do not have to walk all the way up.
Of course there are also shuttle buses to the top.
At the top you can walk around Neuschwanstein Castle and admire the castle from different angles. There are several vantage points to view the Castle. Of which the most beautiful is definitely the Marienbrucke. However, this is also the most famous view point and it can get crowded here.
The decadent interior of Neuschwanstein Castle
But you can also visit the interior of Neuschwanstein Castle. There is plenty to see in Neuschwanstein Castle, because everything is lavish about the interior. The rooms all have beautiful murals and decadent decorations.
For example, you can visit the special space, The Cave Grotto. A space in which a moon, rocks and even a waterfall have been imitated. Who recreates a cave in their own home? It just goes to show how “crazy” King Ludwig really was. But the music room, bedroom and study of King Ludwig are all special rooms to see.
If you have enough time, we definitely recommend you to visit Neuschwanstein Castle.
How do you get to Neuschwanstein Castle?
You can go to Neuschwanstein Castle by car, train, or with an organized tour.
If you go by car, there are parking spaces at the bottom of the hill where the Castle is located. These are paid parking lots. Parking costs about 7 euros for a whole day.
Make sure you are on time
When buying tickets in advance to enter Neuschwanstein Castle, make sure you are on time. The Germans are punctual. And because you can only visit guided tours in Neuschwanstein Castle, you have to be on time here too, because the tour leaves at the reserved time and does not wait ten minutes for latecomers.
Book your tickets for Neuschwanstein Castle
It is advisable to buy your tickets in advance, because the tickets sell out quickly.
You must pick up your reserved tickets in advance at the ticket center. Pick up the tickets approximately 90 minutes before the time you have reserved. Also pay close attention to the line you stand in, as there is a line to buy tickets and a line to pick up reserved tickets.
The tour itself takes about 35 minutes
When is the best time to visit Neuschwanstein Castle?
You can visit Neuschwanstein Castle in all periods. Each season gives a different atmosphere to Neuschwanstein Castle. Keep in mind the weather. In the German Alps in Bavaria, the weather can be changeable and unpredictable. So take into account possible rain and certainly fog. So be sure to bring an umbrella, because you never know if it will rain.
If you have the choice, we recommend that you do not visit Neuschwanstein Castle on the weekend. Neuschwanstein Castle is always busy, but it's even busier on the weekends. So try to avoid the weekends.
Hohenschwangau Castle, the neighbor of Neuschwanstein Castle
When you visit Neuschwanstein Castle, you also have the option to visit Hohenschwangau Castle. This is the castle which was built by King Ludwig's father and this is also the castle where King Ludwig grew up.
Neuschwanstein Castle, an unforgettable castle
Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the most beautiful castles in the world. It is a castle, as every child imagines a castle; on a high hill, overlooking the city and the countryside, with high towers and that magical atmosphere. When traveling through Bavaria, Neuschwanstein Castle should definitely be a stop on your trip. In any case, we thought it was very special.
Adress Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwansteinstraße 20, 87645 Schwangau, Germany
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