Nestled in the Alps and below Neuschwanstein Castle, a real-life Disney castle is Füssen. It is about two hours by car or by train from Munich.
Neuschwanstein Castle
The castle in Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty” is based on this castle in Germany. It is the vision of King Ludwig II of Bavaria.
Personal note — I used to have a poster of this castle hanging in my dorm room, so yeah; I’ve always wanted to go here. The best part it is now only two hours away from where we’re living in Munich so I can visit it as many times as I want.
I’m not the only person who has wanted to visit the castle seven weeks after King Ludwig died the Neuschwanstein was opened for tours. Every year 1.4 million people come to see this fairytale castle in the summer 6,000 visitors a day stream into the castle.
Construction began on the castle in 1868 using the newest building techniques including a foundation of cement and walls of brick incorporating a facade of light colored limestone. The building is encased in steel construction for support and cranes helped in making his vision come to life.
The castle stands on the edge of a cliff and is a marvel to behold from the hills that surround it. Below are some different sights to take note when you’re visiting it.
Parts of the Castle
Courtyard – the planned position of an unconstructed Gothic castle church.
Gatehouse – During construction the king lived here on the second floor.
Singers Hall – Modeled on the singing room of the Wartburg castle in Eisenach.
Vestibule and other rooms – The paintings inside incorporate Richard Wagner’s operas and medieval legends. They also deal with love and guilt, repentance and salvation. Kings and knights, poets and lovers fill the walls. There are three main figures: the poet Tannhäuser, the swan knight Lohengrin and his father, the Grail King Parzival (Parsifal). These were Ludwig’s models and kindred spirits.
Throne Room – Religious and political ideas were involved in the planning of the castle. This can be seen in particular in the throne hall. The paintings here show how Ludwig saw kingship “by the Grace of God”: as a holy mission, with powers that the Bavarian king had never possessed. The Gilded interiors similar to Byzantine and the palace church of All Saints in the Residenz in Munich.
Dining Room – Fabulous pictures, intricately carved panels and furniture from the skills of 19th century craftsmen.
The castle also had modern conveniences of the time with central heating, running water with hot and cold water, and toilets that had an automatic flushing system.
The king even used an electric bell system to summon his servants and a lift was used to bring him meals from the kitchen.
Why the swans?
You can see motifs in the interiors of the swan, such as one on the door to the conservatory. The swan was the heraldic animal of the Counts of Schwangau, whose successor the king considered himself to be. It is also the Christian symbol of the “purity” for which Ludwig strived. He is also known as the “Swan King.”
DETAILS
Hours: Daily April – Oct. 15, 9 am – 6 pm; Oct. 16- March 10 am – 4 pm. Ticket Center: April – Oct. 15 7:30 am – 5 pm, Oct. 16 – March 8:30 am – 3 pm.
Admission: Reserving tickets in advance helps to guarantee that you don’t arrive and find it sold out for that day. €13 euros, Children ages 18 and under are free. Combination ticket with Hohenschwangau Castle — Same Day €25 euros.
Combination ticket “Königsschlösser” (combination ticket King Ludwig II’s palaces): €26. The combination ticket is valid for six months; you can visit each of the palaces Neuschwanstein, Linderhof and Herrenchiemsee once.
Address: Neuschwansteinstraße 20, 87645 Schwangau, Germany
Schloss Hohenschwangau (Hohenschwangau Castle)
Another amazing castle is nearby. Hohenschwangau Castle is 2.2 kilometers from Neuschwanstein Castle and was the childhood home of King Ludwig II. In 1832 Crown prince Maximilian of Bavaria had the ruin of Schwanstein Castle being rebuilt in neo-gothic style. He later became King Maxmillian II and the father of King Ludwig II. After its completion, it was the summer and hunting residence of the Bavarian royal family.
Parts of the Castle
Hall of Heroes – The largest room in the castle and the paintings here show different scenes of the Wilkina Saga and its hero Dietrich von Bern.
Oriental- Room – This room used to be the bedroom of Queen Mary, the mother of King Ludwig II. King Maxmillian II had this room refurnished after his trip through Turkey and Greece.
Hohenstaufen-Room – It was a dressing room for both kings, but it was also the music room for King Ludwig II. The piano was probably the one the famous composer Richard Wagner used to play when he visited.
Tasso-Room – The bedroom of the kings. It has a starry sky with illuminable stars and moon integrated in the ceiling.
Berchta-Room – The writing room of Queen Mary. You can see beautiful painted ornaments and the murals to the Bavarian legend about the birth of Charlemagne.
Hours: Late March – mid-Oct., daily 8 am – 5:30 pm; mid-Oct. – mid-March , daily 9 am – 3:30 pm .Ticket Center Hours (Same as Above).
Admission: Adults €13, Children under 18 years Free. See above for combination tickets.
Address: Alpseestraße 30, 87645 Schwangau, Germany
Museum of Bavarian Kings
In the former Grand Hotel “Alpenrose” below Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau and traces the history of the Wittelsbach dynasty, which King Ludwig II is a part of, from its very beginnings to the present day. It is a comprehensive history of the Bavarian kings.
Hours: Daily, 9 am – 5 pm.
Admission: Adults €11, Children 18 and under free and can be combined with the other castles at the ticket office.
Address: Alpseestraße 27, 87645 Schwangau, Germany
Note: Reservations for these attractions can be made online depending on availability and at least two days before your visit. For more information click HERE.
How to get there: We will be taking the train from the main station in Munich to Fussen then taking a bus to the castle from there. The trip will be about 2 and half hours total to the castle doors. There are a number of ways to get to the castle, follow this link for information on the different options: https://www.hohenschwangau.de/
Marienbrücke (Queen Mary’s bridge)
The Marienbrücke is about 15 minutes walking distance from Neuschwanstein Castle and is named after Queen Marie of Prussia, the mother of King Ludwig II.
King Maximilian II (the husband of Queen Marie) constructed it in 1845, over the Pöllatschlucht.
The Marienbrücke is very popular today as a location for excellent photos of Neuschwanstein castle and its surroundings.
Address: 87645 Schwangau, Germany
Other sights: Hohes Schloss – High castle of Fussen, Kaiser-Maxmilian-Platz, Hotel Hirsch, and the Franziskaner-kloster (Franciscan Monastery).
