Neuschwanstein Castle was one of those places I had seen in photos years before ever coming to Germany. Some call it the most beautiful castle in Germany, and for me it was the most beautiful castle I had ever seen at the time. It’s located in southern Germany very close to the Austrian border. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I arrived, but the town below the castle is pretty touristy. Above are a restaurant and shop at the base of the mountain. It’s over a mile to the castle from the town below, so you can stop at the shops or grab lunch before heading up. I opted to walk, but there are also horse-drawn carriages for people who would rather not make the climb.
The road up to the castle gives you some great views of the surrounding mountains and waterfalls. I had no idea what the name or height of this mountain was, but it was my favorite of the ones I saw while traveling through this part of Germany.
Walking around the castle grounds and surrounding trails is free, but going inside requires a timed ticket. When I bought mine after waiting in line, I was told the next available tour was still about three hours away. I figured I’d hang out in town, but for some reason I decided to hike up to the castle anyway. That turned out to be a good decision because there are plenty of trails to explore while you wait. The photos above show Marienbrücke, the famous bridge near Neuschwanstein. It takes a short hike to reach it, and once there you get some of the best views of the castle and the gorge below.
Beyond the bridge, the hiking trail changes from a developed path into a more rugged and steep climb. I’m not sure exactly what the warning sign said, but the message was pretty clear that the terrain could be dangerous. Some sections are steep enough that a careless step could definitely send you down the slope.
From the trails beyond the bridge I got by far the best views of Neuschwanstein Castle. One of the photos above was taken from the hiking trail, while the other was taken as I approached the castle from the town below. I always assumed Neuschwanstein was a medieval castle, but it was actually built much more recently in the 19th century. Construction began in 1869 for King Ludwig II of Bavaria, who wanted to create an idealized romantic castle inspired by medieval legends and architecture.
You can get very close to the outside of the castle without a tour ticket, although some areas of the courtyard and interior are restricted to ticket holders. Ludwig II became king of Bavaria at just 18 years old and became famous for his ambitious and extravagant building projects. Neuschwanstein was financed from Ludwig’s personal fortune and extensive borrowing rather than directly from Bavarian public funds, but the enormous cost still contributed to growing conflict between the king and his government.
As Ludwig continued spending heavily on Neuschwanstein and his other palaces, his relationship with the Bavarian government deteriorated. In 1886 he was declared mentally incompetent and removed from power. Shortly afterward, Ludwig and the psychiatrist overseeing him were both found dead in Lake Starnberg. Ludwig’s death was officially ruled a suicide by drowning, but the circumstances have remained controversial ever since and inspired plenty of alternate theories. Above are images of Ludwig displayed around the castle, along with photographs and posters showing Neuschwanstein from some much better angles and weather conditions than I had during my visit.
The interior is just as elaborate as the exterior, filled with richly decorated rooms, murals, carved woodwork, and details inspired by medieval legends and German mythology. Above are views from inside the castle, including one of its ornate hallways and Ludwig’s royal bedchamber. Neuschwanstein was never fully completed before Ludwig’s death, but even unfinished it became one of the most recognizable castles in the world.
