Neuschwanstein

Neuschwanstein might, in some minds, be the perfect representation of a medieval castle. It’s large, built on the top of a hill with a spectacular view with forest stretching out for miles around, and it has a decided look of a fairytale about it. One can easily imagine a princess living, sighing wistfully at her window, waiting for her knight in shining armour to return to her.

For me, Neuschwanstein was baffling.

Why is it not perched higher, specifically on top of slightly higher of the two peaks right behind it? Why does it not have a wall around the back to protect those windows? They seem awfully low. Why are there no arrow or gun slots? This place must have been a security nightmare!

I’d come to realise my concerns were valid, but misplaced. The palace was built in 1869. For reference, that’s only 45 years away from the start of the First World War, and 349 years away from the last possible date which could be considered Medieval.

The castle was built by King Ludwig the Second of Bavaria. You may remember him as the little boy who was born at Nymphenburg, and who built himself Linderhof as a hunting lodge. Some call him the Fairy Tale King, or the Swan King.

If you wish to see this beautiful castle, you’ll need to purchase a tour ahead of time. Online is easiest! Even pre-covid-19 you couldn’t just wander the castle by yourself, which is a pity because it looks to be worth the wander. The tours are exceedingly quick, too much so in my opinion, and photography is not allowed, so you’ll need to find a pamphlet of some sort if you want pictures of the interior. Books of that sort are available in the little village below the castle, likely where you or your tour bus parked when you arrived.

The castle itself is built on a hill, and so there will be a bit of an uphill walk to reach it. There are horse-drawn carriages that will bring you part of the way but you’ll still need to walk a bit. If you have time I suggest going up to the viewpoint first. There’s a bridge spanning a river which flows from the mountains behind Neuschwanstein, and from that bridge you’ll get the most gorgeous, unobstructed pictures of the entire palace. The bridge is actually part of a path, and if you have time to take the rest of it you can, but make sure you get to the bridge at least before you head back for your tour. When you come back down to the village there is an enchanting lake which can be accessed near the back end of the parking lot. It too will offer some beautiful pictures so be sure to check it out!

The road up to the castle is paved, but the trail up to the outlook bridge isn’t, so bring good walking shoes, dress comfortably for exercise, and bring a water bottle. You’ll also want to bring a couple of euro in coins as some of the bathrooms are pay bathrooms. Gross, I know. There are souvenir shops and cafes at the bottom of the hill, and a weirdly positioned souvenir shop at roughly the halfway point between the base village and the castle. You won’t be in want for food, but the lines can be long, so packing a lunch can be a good alternative.

Wash your hands, wear a mask, and stay safe gentle readers.