This castle is absolutely awe-inspiring. Adorned with ornaments of gold, each room is a masterpiece of the King Ludwig the II, the "mad" king of Bavaria. The love and devotion he poured into the construction of his majestic is evident in every aspect of it; from the high vaulted ceilings and dramatic murals illustrating scenes from The Saga of the Volsungs to the view of the rolling hills below.

Designed to emulate a medieval castle, Neuschwanstein was built in the late 1860s, with all the modern conveniences of hot air, running water, and automatic flush toilets. King Ludwig was inspired by the operatic works of his dear friend Richard Wagner, for whom he built the cavernous amphitheater within the halls of his castle, so that Herr Wagner's works might be performed in an atmosphere of acoustic perfection. Inspired by the operatic works of Wagner, the design of each room can only be described as "epic." This monument to art and beauty should not be missed!

Guided tours cost currently cost 8€ (approximately $10). This tour takes a little over half an hour and includes 165 stairs to climb, but it is worth every last step. Tours are also available on Wednesdays for disabled in wheelchairs and walkers.

Information

Schlossverwaltung Neuschwanstein Neuschwansteinstr. 20

87645 Schwangau

(0 83 62) 9 39 88-0

Fax (0 83 62) 9 39 88-19

svneuschwanstein@bsv.bayern.de www.neuschwanstein.de

Opening hours April-September: 9am-6pm October-March: 10am-4pm

Open daily

Tickets on sale in ticket centre only:

April-September: 8am-5pm

October-March: 9am-3pm

Closed on: 1.1., Shrove Tuesday, 24.12., 25.12., 31.12. Tickets can be booked in advance for an additional charge at the ticket centre in Hohenschwangau:

Ticketservice Neuschwanstein Alpseestr. 12, 87645 Hohenschwangau

Tel. (0 83 62) 9 30 83-0,

Fax: (0 83 62) 9 30 83-20

Internet:www.ticket-center-hohenschwangau.de

Guided tours (ca. 35 minutes) in German and English

Audioguide tours in 11 languages Admission charges

9€ regular

8€ reduced

Combination ticket

"Neuschwanstein Castle and Hohenschwangau Castle"

17€ regular

15€ reduced

Please note

Toilet for the disabled available near the castle.

Special tours on Wednesdays if booked in advance.

Bus (RVA) to "Hohenschwangau"

There are coach trips up the mountain from the castle that end below.

Neuschwanstein is probably the top tourist attraction in southern Germany but if you’re into castles, it is definitely worth all the hype. Perched high above Pollat Gorge, it seems to float above the clouds and early morning mist, adding to its dramatic and romantic setting.

The castle was built between 1869 and 1886 by Ludwig II of Bavaria. Ludwig was only 19 when his father died and he was crowned king, something he did not want at such an early age. He was far more interested in architecture and the arts, especially the music of Richard Wagner. This alienated Ludwig from his subjects, even more so when he left Munich to spend most of his time building a castle that he felt would outshine Versailles in Paris.

The castle was equipped with (then) modern conveniences including hot air central heating, running water on all floors, hot and cold water in the kitchen and an automatic flushing system for the toilets. Construction costs started high and kept rising and rumours were rife that Ludwig was using up all the public money for construction. In fact he was using his own funds but there was so much anger and condemnation that he was declared insane, deposed of his rule and forcibly taken from the castle. He was found dead the next day and historians still debate whether he committed suicide or was murdered.

Within months following his death people started coming to see the castle. Nowadays visits are conducted via a 30 minute regimented group tour that covers 15 rooms. The total decadence and opulence of the rooms and furnishings totally took my breath away. There was no time to linger as the guide whisked our group from one room to the next but she did provide lots of details on the individual rooms. Highlights included the Singers Hall, the largest room in the castle, decorated with paintings and murals from the legends of Parzival and the Holy Grail and lined with giant candelabras holding 600 candles. Ludwig’s bedroom was decorated with paintings of Tristan and Isolde and his wash basin had a swan fountain. Swans motifs are featured throughout the castle because they were Ludwig’s family emblem as well as a symbol for Wagner’s Lohengren opera.

The Grotto was definitely out of the ordinary, even for a king. Complete with artificial stalagmites and stalactites that glistened as if real, it originally featured a small waterfall and coloured lighting to enhance the cave like effect. The Throne Room was modeled after the Byzantine church of Ayia Sofia in Istanbul. The walls were painted with murals including biblical scenes and St. George killing the dragon.

The castle is open from 9 -6 April to Sept. & 10-4 Oct. to March. Cost of the tour is €9 per person and absolutely no photography, including digital, is permitted inside the caste.

Tip: Make a point of walking uphill from the castle to Marienbrucke, Mary’s Bridge for the best views of the castle.

This is the most famous of King Ludwig II's castles and a must see while in Baveria. You have to purchase a ticket for admission--tour tickets are sold for specific times. Therefore, the best thing to do is purchase in advance; that way you can plan to arrive about an hour before your tour is scheduled to start. (Tours begin daily at 8:30am and you will want to arrive before all the tour buses pour in from Munich.)

Unless you are a die-hard hiker, take the bus up the mountain--the cost is minimal and worth every cent. Don't worry, once the bus drops you off there will still be plenty of hiking to get to the Palace entrance. Before leaving the area, make sure you go to St. Mary's bridge. This allows you to get a breathtaking view of the castle.

The castle is indescribably beautiful! Guides provide detailed information about the king and each of the rooms you will tour. Much of the decoration is in tribute to the operas of Wagner and the detail of each of the finished rooms is amazing--especially his indoor "cave". Unfortunately, the palace was never finished and surprisingly the king never actually lived here. This castle is an absolute must see and was the inspiration for Mr. Disney's castle at Disneyland!

Neuschwanstein may be the most photographed castle in Germany. At least it seems that would be the case when you traipse up the hill with hundreds of camera-clad tourists scurrying to find the best angles. But despite the fact that this castle--often referred to as the Snow White Castle by Americans--has become almost a cliche unto itself because of its popularity, a trip here is worthwhile.

The castle itself was built between 1869 and 1886 by King Ludwig II of Baveria, nestled among the Alps. The castle is five stories and is of Romanesque design. Many of the rooms were built based on the music of Richard Wagner (Ludwig was his benefactor and most devoted fan). Particularly impressive are: 1.) the throne room with its half-domed golden alcove, mosaic floors and huge chandelier; 2.) the neo-gothic style bedroom created by 14 woodcarvers who spent four years working on the room. 3.) the singer's hall with its perfect acoustics. 4.) the sprawling kitchen with thoughtful design, including ahead-of-its-time hot and cold running water, and automatic spit roasters. The guides here are excellent and love to answer questions. Spend some time delving into the strange death of Ludwig two just hours after he was forced off the throne by a rival.