Europe with Asmir and Miriam

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After finishing with our exploration of Hohenschwangau, it was time for Neuschwanstein. Neuschwanstein was built by Ludwig II, who practically bankrupted Bavaria with his over-extravagant castle building. This caused a likely-trumped up charge of insanity to be levelled against him, and he was removed from office. As a result, Neuschwanstein was never completely finished, although most of the exterior and several major sections of the interior are.

Old to New

Bard at Hohenschwangau

Fairytale Castle and Mist

It was said that Ludwig often surveyed the building of Neuschwanstein from a room in Hohenschwangau castle, and indeed you get a clear but distant view of Neuschwanstein from Hohenschwangau. The castle is fantastic looking, with it's overly narrow and tall profile and soaring turrets. As you may already know, Neuschwanstein was supposedly the inspiration and basis for the Walt Disney castle (and many other fantasy castles thereafter, I'm sure).

It was a bit of a walk up the long, long hill to where Neuschwanstein is perched, and we were pretty sweaty by the time we got there. We were quicker than anticipated, though, so we went a bit further along to see the graceful Marienbrucke bridge over delicate green-blue waterfalls and pools and a unique view of the castle.

Neuschwanstein Castle

Walk to Neuschwanstein

Mighty ramparts

View back to Hohenschwangau

View from Marienbrucke

Neuschwanstein Entrance

The castle tour itself was again highly interesting (not for the quality of the tour, but for the castle itself). The majestic throne room, king's bedroom, the cave-grotto recreation, and the top-level theatre/hall all were spectacular highlights. Again they had this stupid ban on pictures inside. After the tour, as I was walking through the gift shop (which they so carefully guide you through at the end of the tour), I finally had a glimmer as to why that might be. Racks upon racks of reasonably expensive glossy books contained many pictures of the castle's interior, and I couldn't help but wonder if the picture ban had more to do with sales of picture books than anything else. On principle, I resolved then and there not to buy anything from these gift shops (or well, at least until someone can prove my theory wrong).

Lower Courtyard

Main Courtyard, Neuschwanstein

We emerged from the castle to more of the same gloomy, rainy afternoon, headed back down to where the car was parked, and off towards Niederstotzingen, where Miriam's Mom had prepared a hearty and excellent dinner for us.

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