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Neuschwanstein Castle

The famous Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria attracts tourists from all over the world. It looks like the dwelling of a fairy tale princess, and the decoration of the chambers inspires famous directors and writers to create a new masterpiece.

Basic information about Neuschwanstein Swan Castle in Germany

Castle in Germany
The fairytale castle Neuschwanstein in Germany.

The name of the palace translates from German as “new swan stone” (after the name of the nearby lake Schwansee). Tourists at first glance amazed by the power and at the same time the elegance of the architecture of the building.

Location and description of the facility

Castle Neuschwanstein is located in Germany. It is separated from Munich, the capital of Bavaria, by a distance of 128 km.

Nearby are the city of Füssen and the village Hohenschwangau.

The building is a Gothic fortress with snow-white walls, bright red gates and spires of the towers. It is built on top of a cliff and rises 800 meters above the surrounding area.

Lock location
The castle is located on a cliff.

Construction history and author of the project

The construction of the castle was started by Ludwig of Bavaria. On his orders, on September 5, 1869, the ruins of the ancient castles were blown up. In their place, to the design of Édouard Riedel and under the direction of Master Christian Jank, workers began to erect a romantic nest for the king.

In 4 years they managed to build a gate and 3 floors with royal chambers. The palace was ready to be lived in. However, the customer did not move into it.

Despite the acceleration of the pace of work, over the next 10 years the construction was not completed. In 1884 the impatient ruler settled in the castle and lived there for only six months. The palace was finally handed over after his death.

Interesting facts about the palace

There are several interesting facts about Neuschwanstein:

  1. After his visit, Tchaikovsky created the ballet Swan Lake.
  2. The outline of the structure is present on the screen saver from the cartoons of Walt Disney Studios.
  3. The image of the fortress is on the €2 jubilee banknote.
  4. The structure became the prototype of Snow White Castle in Disneyland Europe.

Legends associated with Neuschwanstein Castle

Two legends are associated with the palace of Ludwig of Bavaria. The first concerns Lohengrin. He ruled Brabant and forbade asking about his origins. But his wife broke the ban, and the Duke rode off into the unknown in a carriage pulled by a swan. The Duchess could not bear the loss and passed away.

The second legend is closely related to the first. This is the legend of Parsifal, the knight of the Holy Grail. He devoted his whole life to searching for it. This warrior was a member of King Arthur’s circle and was the father of Lohengrin.

Images of two mythological characters and swans decorate the walls of most of the rooms of Neuschwanstein.

What tourists can see in Neuschwanstein Palace in Bavaria

Each room of the castle is worthy of visitors’ attention. Therefore, you should start the inspection with the very first of them.

Entrance gate and gatehouse

You can get inside the building through the gatehouse. It is surrounded by 2 towers with stairs forming a portal gate. They face east and, unlike other structures, are in 2 colors – red on the outside and yellow on the inside.

There are spires along the eaves of the roof, and the upper tier of the gatehouse decorates the gable. It was where Ludwig stayed during his visit to the construction site.

Entrance gate
Powerful entrance gate of the castle.

Rectangular tower

The most majestic structure in the upper part of the courtyard is the Rectangular Tower, 45 m high. It was designed to serve as a watchtower, but after the death of the ruler it was reduced by half and left as a decorative structure.

From the observation deck guests can see the panorama of the northern Alpine foothills.

Rectangular tower
The rectangular tower is 45 meters high.

Knight’s House

From the rectangular tower, through a gallery with an arcade, visitors enter the Knight’s House. Here there were utility rooms and rooms for servants.

Knight's House
A knight’s house in a castle.

Library and Dining Room

The dining room was decorated in burgundy and red by order of Ludwig. The walls are decorated with oak and engravings of love and knightly scenes. The owner liked to dine alone, so the size of the room is small. It is connected to the kitchen by a manual elevator.

The library is decorated with carved paintings of Lohengrin and Parsifal.

The main surprise is the barely discernible door that leads to the grotto with the pool. Here the king would retreat to nature.

Dining Room
The dining room is not too big.

Throne room and study

In the West Wing on three floors is the Throne Room. It is designed in the Neo-Byzantine style with columns around the perimeter and a basilica. Its dome is crowned by frescoes with crowning of monarchs motifs. A bronze chandelier with 96 candles illuminates the room.

A small staircase of 9 steps ends with an empty space. The plan was to have a marble throne here. However, after the king’s death it was not assembled.

The study is also decorated with paintings and carvings. The images tell the story of Tannhäuser, the mythological bard. The author of the work is the famous European artist Josef Eigner. The image of a swan is also present here.

Throne Room
A throne room with columns and a large chandelier.

Singing Hall

The Singers’ Hall was created for the production of plays and competitions for vocalists. The room was intended for the work of the German composer Richard Wagner, who did not have to work here because of Ludwig’s death.

The oak ceiling in the form of a trapezoid not only decorates the room, but also acts as a resonator. The walls are finished with acoustic materials and covered with images of ancient bards.

Singing Hall
A singing hall with an oak ceiling.

Royal and Ladies quarters

The royal bedroom is done in Gothic style with wood carvings. Sixty sculptors worked on the decoration of the walls for 18 months.

A large area of the room is taken up by the bed. It was made for four years by 16 carvers. At the foot is a crucifix by sculptor Philippe Ferron, and in the headboard is a miniature copy of a mosaic of the Madonna from St. Sophia Cathedral in Constantinople.

The furniture and trim are in bright blue, contrasting with the tones of the natural wood. The curtains, baldachins, and mosaics of the lancet windows are decorated with swans (the symbol of the Schwangau family) and lions (heraldic figures from the coat of arms of Bavaria).

The architect had provided rooms in the castle for the queen. However, Ludwig was not married, so this room became only a symbol of her.

Royal Chambers
The King’s bedroom in Neuschwanstein Castle.

Lower and Upper Courtyards

From the gatehouse, tourists walk through a lancet aisle and into the Lower Courtyard. It served as an entrance to the castle and connected the rooms of the fortress.

A small staircase takes guests up to the Upper Courtyard to see the unfinished Rectangular Tower and the site where Ludwig had planned to build a Gothic chapel. On the edges are the main buildings, and in the center is the main building of Neuschwanstein.

Yard
Castle courtyard.

The surroundings of the palace

On a clear day, travelers can see from the observation deck:

  • Alpine lakes Alpine and Swan;
  • the waterfall and the bridge over it;
  • Hohenschwangau Fortress;
  • the city of Füssen.
Hohenschwangau Fortress
Hohenschwangau Fortress on the outskirts of Swan Castle Neuschwanstein.

How to get to Neuschwanstein Swan Castle

To get to Neuschwanstein Fortress, you have to go to Munich. From there, there are several ways to get to your destination.

By public transport

There are trains from the capital of Bavaria to Füssen. The travel time is about 2 hours.

Then you have to take the chartered bus, which stops in the valley and goes to Talstation: am Alpseeparkplatz P4 at the foot of the cliff. A ticket there costs €2.5, a ticket downwards costs €1.5. If you pay for the trip there and back, you have to pay €3.

By car

Travelers in a personal or rented car should do the following route:

  • on the A7 from Munich via Ulm and Kempten to Füssen;
  • on the B17 motorway through Schwangau in the direction of Hohenschwangau.

Second option:

  • on the A7 to Kempten;
  • on the B12 to Marktoberdorf;
  • on the B16 to the village of Roshaupten;
  • further on B17.

It is forbidden to go up to the Neuschwanstein cliff by any means of transport.

You can leave your car in one of the parking lots:

  • P1 near the Appolo store;
  • P2 and P3 not far from the Kainz restaurant;
  • P4 near Lake Alpsee.

The cost of parking is €8 per day.

Map
The location of the castle on the map.

Walking

Fans of hiking can walk to the palace on their own. All you have to do is follow the signs. In an hour and a half tourists overcome 1.5 km and after 40 minutes enter the Lower Yard through the gatehouse.

Working time

Before you make the ascent to the cliff, you need to know the schedule of the museum complex.

In the winter period

In winter, tours to the castle are from 08:30 to 15:00 every day. The exceptions are the holidays – Christmas on January 24 and New Year’s Day on January 1.

In summertime

In summer, the number of those wishing to see the fairy palace increases. Therefore, the time for visits varies. You can visit the fortress daily from 07:30 to 17:00.

Types and prices of tickets

The cost of tickets in Neuschwanstein Castle is as follows:

Name Cost, €
“The Prince’s Ticket.” 22
“Royal Ticket.” 25
“Swan Ticket.” 31,5
Royal Palaces Combination Ticket 26
Children’s 15
Student (school) with the presentation of a certificate, pension 14
Group from 15 people 14
Children under 18 years old on birth certificate free

Popular excursions to Neuschwanstein

You can see the exposition of the famous Neuschwanstein Castle as part of several tours:

  • “Tales of the Nibelungen” from Munich with a visit to Neuschwanstein Castle, the village of Oberammergau, and Linderhof Palace;
  • “Castles of the Kings of Bavaria” with a hike through the castles Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein, a stop in Füssen and a private brewery, an introduction to the palaces of Oberammergau and Linderhof;
  • “Neuschwanstein and Linderhof castles” with a tour of the Wieskirche cathedral.

In the summer, there are guides for travelers to arrange individual trips to the Swan Fortress.

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