Visiting Castles - Sept 12 (UK trip day 31)
Breakfast buffet, part of the
room, had us downstairs at 8am. I've been delighted in Germany to find
boiled eggs as a staple, without which I don't consider it breakfast.
There is always cereal, yogurt and fruit for Jim. I've still not
figured out the platters of meat and cheese - sandwich for breakfast?
Picked up our castle entry tickets from reception. Our timed entries,
first at 9:55 am to castle Hohenschwangau where Ludwig II grew up, then 1:55
pm to castle Neuschwanstein. The fairy tale castle that Ludwig II designed
and built as his personal romantic castle.
The Germans are really
fantastically efficient - requiring that all tickets are purchased at
the ticket office down in the village, the tickets are for a specific entry
time (for German or English tour) and then the entrance turnstiles are fully
automated. There are electronic display signs showing the timed entries
corresponding with the number on your ticket. Reminded me of a train station
with everyone gathered near the turnstiles waiting for their number /time to
appear on the display. When your number appears on the screen you scan
your ticket at the turnstile then enter the castle where you are then
greeted by the tour guide. You must be on time or your ticket is not
accepted during the scan and there is no refund.
Our Hohenschwangau guide was interesting, energetic and obviously loved the
castle and his job. We were in a smallish group of 20 so could move about
each room to see everything. The paintings on the walls including the wall
murals reminded us of Lord Butte's Cardiff Castle and Castle Coch in Wales.
Hohenschwangau castle was where King Ludwig was born and grew up so it was
easy to see why he later designed his own larger castle above the village.
Hohenschwangau Castle or Schloss Hohenschwangau
(lit: High Swan County Palace) is a 19th-century palace
in southern Germany. It was the childhood residence of
King Ludwig II of Bavaria and was built by his father,
King Maximilian II of Bavaria.
Our guide explained that these castles were not hurt in either World War as they were not deemed strategic. But he also mentioned The Monuments Men movie which he said was the first they'd known about the French art treasures stored by the Nazi's in Neuschwanstein. Apparently a very well kept secret so they even went so far as to interview local seniors who corroborated the stories.
We used the long paved path - 20 minutes - to return to the village. One overlook gave us excellent views of the clear lake for beautiful pictures. Deciding that the best view in the village for lunch was from the balcony in our room, we picked up a couple sandwiches and ate looking up at Castle Neuschwanstein. The rain was now intermittent and light so it was fun watching the castle in various stages of being covered in mist.
Neuschwanstein Castle (English: "New Swanstone Castle") was commenced by the Bavarian King Ludwig II in 1869 and never completed. It is an idealized version of a medieval castle that Ludwig built as a retreat and as an homage to Richard Wagner. (Ludwig became King at the age of 18 and died under questionable circumstances at the age of 22.)
The palace was intended as a personal refuge for the reclusive king, but it was opened to the paying public immediately after his death in 1886. It has appeared prominently in several movies and was the inspiration for Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle and later, similar structures.
Having decided that the 15 minute shuttle bus was our best option for the journey up the steep mountain road to Neuschwanstein, we joined the line. I'd been looking forward to arriving at the castle by horse-drawn carriage but the reality of being squished in the farm-type wagon with 10 other people huddled within the surrounding green canopy to stay dry and not being able to look out at the passing scenery had lost it's appeal. And the 45 minute steep uphill walk was unthinkable in the continual rain.
Upon alighting from the bus we hiked up the trail to the Marienbruke bridge over the Pollat river/falls and waited our turn to take a picture - conveniently with our selfie pole. The pic didn't show the clogged mass of people on the narrow bridge - and we didn't get a video of the woman running thru pushing everyone aside yelling "follow me, we're going to miss our entry time" to her private tour couple behind her. Jim and I took advantage and fell in right behind the path that she cleared as we'd also been trying to exit the bridge.
Marienbrücke (Marie's Bridge, or Pöllatbrücke). Marienbrücke is across the Pöllat directly behind and directly visible from Neuschwanstein Castle.
Then back to the bus area and 15 minute walk down another road to the castle. Along the way we stopped at an overlook above the lake, with incredibly clear turquoise water where we took more incredible pictures.
Again the timed entry scheme - with the display screens at several prime picture taking locations around the castle. We chatted with another US couple who had arrived in Hohenschwangau that 8am and after standing in the ticket line for almost an hour, had ended up with entry time of 3pm!
Our Neuschwanstein guide was young, nervous and spoke halting English. That coupled with a much larger group - about 35 - and going thru faster I enjoyed the earlier tour better. Since Ludwig died before the castle was completed there are several unfinished floors which now house the cafe and souvenir shop. Since no picture taking was allowed on either tour, we purchased a CD with pictures of the interior of both castles.
Only the pictures we took are included in the video below......