Things I Think I Think: Neuschwanstein Castle

100 Places To See Before You Die!

Neuschwanstein Castle

Hohenschwangau, Germany

I haven't done one of these "100 Places" blogs in a while, so I thought I'd give it a go with one of our favorites so far. Neuschwanstein Castle, or Schloss Neuschwanstein in German (which translates literally to "New Swan Stone Castle") is probably the most visually recognized castle in existence. It is a romanticized version of a medieval fortress that has provided the inspiration for many film versions of a dream castle as well as for the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland.

I won't bore you with a lot of background info (Wikipedia it up), but I will relay a few fun facts about the creator, Mad King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Ludwig ascended to the throne in 1864 at the age of 18 and was already considered eccentric. His new found power didn't help as he continued to go further and further off the deep end (I like to call this the Bieber Effect). He started building fairytale castles in the Alps and in 1869 started construction on Neuschwanstein. It took 23 years to complete, although complete is not entirely accurate as of the castle's 360 rooms, only 14 were ever decorated. Ludwig was declared insane and deposed by his subjects in 1886 and mysteriously drowned in Lake Starnberg shortly after. I'm sure he was, in truth, murdered by his subjects, but CSI wasn't around in those days so the mystery remains.

Ludwig actually spent 11 nights in this castle before his death, but basically it was immediately opened to the paying public in 1886 and has served as a tourist attraction ever since, with over 1.3 million visitors a year.

Enough of the background, now for some practical tips:

Visiting Neuschwanstein means heading to the Bavarian Alps of Southern Germany. A lot of places on the "100" list are as much about the area as they are about the actual place. This castle would probably make the list anyway, but Bavaria is a fantastic place to visit! Munich is probably the best city in Germany for tourism and the area around Neuschwanstein in beautiful and fun in all four seasons. The area is geared to the castles - as is illustrated by the scene on the inside of our hotel's elevator door in the picture above - but it's very tasteful and clean about it. It all fits.

The "other" castle: Schloss Hohenswangau - Visit both!

There are actually two castles in the town, the other being Schloss Hohenswangau, and the only way to go inside them is on a tour. You must buy your tickets in town at the ticket center - don't make the mistake of hiking up to either castle without a ticket because they don't sell them there. You can, and should, purchase a combo ticket to tour both castles.

This picture shows the cue where you will line up inside Neuschwanstein for your tour. You basically buy a ticket for a certain time and language. For example, we purchased tickets for the 10:00am tour in English. With the usual German efficiency, the electronic boards will have a countdown to your time and tell you exactly where to go. The kid who gave us our tour was fine. He had a strong accent and it felt like he was reading a script, but after the tour we asked a few questions and he loosened up. They do not allow any photos inside the castle, but take all you want outside. It's quite a hike up from the town to Neuschwanstein, but it's gorgeous so worth taking your time. There are buses, and you can also take a ride on a horse-drawn carriage if you prefer.

They're always doing some kind of restoration work, so scaffolding is a possibility.

Take the time to hike the trails around the castle after your tour. The natural beauty of the area is astounding and every time you come around a corner you'll find a new and more amazing view.

We visited in the fall and it was perfect - no crowds, great weather, etc.. I understand that this place, like most of Europe, can be a madhouse in the summer. We hate crowds so we always try to travel when other people don't, but I imagine it would be fine any time. We stayed in the nearby town of Fussen, a mere two miles away. It was clean and picturesque and I highly recommend it.

Neuschwanstein Castle should be on everyone's "100" list both for its iconic beauty as the most recognized castle in the world and for its fantastic location in the beautiful Bavarian Alps. Don't rush your visit. Spend a few days here and a few days in Munich, taking a day to drive the "Romantic Road" in between.