One of the best castles in the world is Neuschwanstein Castle. It is the classic fairy tale castle and when you see it in a photo you feel like visiting it and getting lost inside. It's in Bavaria, Germany, and is a tribute to Richard Wagner, the great composer of classical music.
It is not a medieval castle but the romantic recreation of a castle, an architectural inspiration based on Wagner's operas. Only by knowing this data is one able to understand what one is seeing as it approaches: a castle to travel, to imagine, to dream. Impossible not to feel like going to Germany to see it so I'll leave you practical information To visit him.
Neuschwanstein Castle
It was built on the orders of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, great admirer of Richard Wagner. Part homage, part royal refuge, at least in theory, its construction was very expensive and took a good part of the sovereign's public funds and personal fortune.
It is in the municipality of Schwangau, in an area of divine alpine hills. Ludwig's father already had a castle in the area, the imposing Hohenschwangau Castle, so when he was a child the future king spent his summers here and wandered among the ruins of two medieval fortresses that were where he, years later, would build his dream. As soon as he assumed the throne in 1864, he began his project, stone on stone.
He baptized it with the name of New Hohenschwangau, in honor of the castle of his childhood. By then romanticism was in vogue so the vision of the Middle Ages was tinged with pink and looked more like a fairy tale, with knights and kings, than the long centuries of poverty, filth and war that it really was. From that romantic idea was born the castle of Ludwig, a mixture of styles: It has Romanesque, Gothic and Byzantine details and modern details and services, typical of the XNUMXth century.
And also, with clear inspirations in the work of Richard Wagner, operas Parsifal, Lohengrin and Tannhäuser. By 1882 the works were completed and the castle fully finished and furnished. During those decades it was the main source of work in the region and the workers even received monthly payments and when one of them died, their families came to collect a pension.
Neuschwanstein Castle became the king's refuge, without a court. The ironic thing is that Ludwig lived there for just 172 days and that Wagner couldn't even step on it as he died in 1893.
How to go to Neuschwanstein Castle
You can get there by train or car. If you go by train the best option is to get from Munich to the village of Füssen. The trip is two and a half hours and the ride is full of beautiful landscapes. Once in Füssen you take a bus, the 73, to Feuerwehrhaus, or the 78 to Tegelbergahn, in Schwangau. The station is Hohenschwangau. The round trip from Munich costs 58 euros, the bus included.
You can save by buying the Bavaria ticket: allows you one day of unlimited travel through Bavaria, local transport, buses and trams. The ticket costs 23 euros and it is great when you travel in a group because if one only has the ticket, the rest enjoy a discount on transport. Children under 15 years of age travel for free if they travel with their adult relatives, parents or grandparents.
You can also drive direct to Füssen on the A7 motorway in the direction of Ulm-Kempten-Füssen. From there you continue on the B17 to Schanwagau always going towards Hohenschwangau. If you drive to the castle you will have to pay for parking but you can always park on the road, near the forest, in the area around the village. And now yes, you must go up and meet the castles (there is the Neuschwanstein and the one built by Ludwig's father, an elegant terracotta castle called Hohenschwangau).
From the city the cheapest option is to walk. I like it a lot because you also know the place and have other views. Calculate some 40 minute walk uphill so it is not a path for everyone. Even if you are young, you will surely arrive earlier. The trails are paved and cross the forest in some sectors. There are signs that indicate part of the history of the place so you slowly get into the weather.
A sunny day is really a beautiful hike. If you don't feel like walking or you just can't there's a bus going up the hill. It costs € 1 and it does not work if there is snow or ice on the road.
Visit Neuschwanstein Castle
Act quickly. buy the entrance ticket before arriving at the castle. You can buy it at the box office in Hohenschwangau or online, although they charge a little more. In the city the ticket office is at Apseestrasse, 12, D-87645. The ticket includes the time the visit begins so you cannot be late. Everything is very organized. If you miss it, you will have to pay again. The price is 12 euros for the castle and 23 euros for the visit to the two castles. Children under 18 years old are free if they accompany an adult.
You cannot enter the castle if it is not with the guided tour, so if you are not very interested in knowing the interiors paying the ticket is not worth it. You can wander outside both castles. Also, inside they don't let you take photos. Lastly, this it is one of the most visited castles in the world so expect a lot of people on your visit. Especially in high season. If you want to avoid the crowds then it is best to go in winter. It is cold but the landscapes are just as beautiful. Of course, the castle closes 3 pm.
In high season they are only sold 6 thousand tickets per day so if you go in summer try to buy it very early. The box office is open from 8 am to 5 pm. In the summer the castle's hours run from 8 am to 5 pm.