Schloss Neuschwanstein is a pleasant day trip from Munich.
Flyers with detailed transportation information in English are available from
Munich Hauptbahnhof. It is highly advisable to go early to minimize queuing for
castle tickets even out of season.
Neuschwanstein is the castle that inspired Disney and even
if you have never seen pictures of it you may have seen its resemblance in
various Disney productions. Construction began in 1869 but it was never
completed. This castle and several other grandiose constructions consumed first
the private fortune of Bavarian King Ludwig II and then a large portion of the
state budget as well. Eventually Ludwig was declared mad in 1886 and he died in
mysterious circumstances soon after being disposed.
The original floor plans, which were frequently altered on
the King’s whims, were by a theater designer and many basic architectural
mistakes are evident including stairways leading to nowhere. Be as it may, the
grayish-white castle is a sight to behold in all kinds of weather.
The interior can only be visit on a guided tour included
in the ticket price. The tour doesn’t allow much time to linger but gives a
general idea of what is represented by the lavish rich decorations in several
rooms. Ludwig was inspired by romantic ideas and themes from Wagner’s operas
feature strongly. Photography of the interior is strictly prohibited. There is a
small coffee shop at the end of the tour but it gets crowded even on a very
quiet day.
The best views of the castle and the surrounding
countryside is from the Marienbruecke - an 1866 engineering masterpiece built 92
m over the narrow Poellath River valley. The 45 m high Poellatfalls can be seen
from several rooms in the castle. The bridge is about 15 minutes uphill from the
castle on well signposted walkways.
In a small step for man but a huge leap for German
bureaucracy, tickets are now sold in the village allowing you to roam and spend
money in town rather than queue with nothing to do for hours at the castle door
as was done presumable since the castle was opened to the public in 1886! The
lines moved slowly even on a very quiet winter’s day and the tour time was
more than two hours later making one wonder if it is a conspiracy to keep one in
town longer? Strolling up to the castle can take between 20 and 60 minutes
depending on the route. A limited bus service is also available.
You can also visit the less picturesque Schloss
Hohenschwangau which is where Ludwig spend much of his childhood. The castle is
close to the new ticket office.
It may be worth considering a day tour in season to avoid
having to queue for tickets. A day tour may also include visits to other castles
and sites, such as Linderhof, which are hard to reach by public transport.
From journal Munich - a south German gem