Neuschwanstein: Bavarian magic and breathtaking scenery
During our stay in Germany, we visited Munich and then went on to Neuschwanstein Castle. This world-famous castle inspired Walt Disney to create Sleeping Beauty. It is located near Füssen. We took the opportunity to explore the surroundings of this magnificent medieval town.
At the end of the article, you’ll find King Kiki with a history lesson about King Ludwig II of Bavaria…and his opinion on the visit to Neuschwanstein Castle and its surroundings.
Visit Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein Castle is a romantic medieval castle in the Bavarian Alps. It was built in the 19th century by King Ludwig II, who wanted to create a residence worthy of fairy tales. To find out more about Ludwig II, Kiki offers a history lesson at the end of the article.
How do I get to Neuschwanstein Palace ?
Neuschwanstein Castle is 1 hour 40 minutes from Munich. If you’d like to find out more about the Bavarian capital, read my article on our weekend in Munich.
To make the most of your visit to Neuschwanstein Castle, we recommend you park your car in parking lot P4 (for €10). Then go to the bus stop near the parking lot and buy a return ticket for €7. You can walk to the castle, but given the distance and steepness, we recommend you take the bus.
Hop on a bus (there’s one every 20 minutes). Then hang on tight, as the climb is quite strenuous. Finally, you’ll have to walk 10 minutes to enter the castle.
To visit Neuschwanstein Castle, it’s essential to buy your tickets in advance (several months in advance, especially in high season). This will give you a timetable for entering the castle. If you arrive too early or too late, you won’t be able to enter the castle.
Visit Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein Castle is a guided tour. This means you can’t visit the castle on your own. So we booked a tour of Neuschwanstein Castle with an audio guide. At the entrance, you pick up your audio guide, and then follow a guide while listening to your audio guide.
You follow a short tour, listening to some very interesting information about Ludwig II. We visited 4 or 5 rooms. The explanations were very interesting, but it took only 15 minutes. It was a big disappointment, as we would have liked to see more of the castle. In fact, even Louis II’s bedroom was being renovated. What’s more, it’s forbidden to take photos in the castle. At the end of the tour, we were able to see the kitchens and, above all, several souvenir stores.
I was captivated by the castle’s exterior, with its location on a steep hill and the breathtaking view of the surrounding mountains creating a fairytale atmosphere. However, I was disappointed by the interior. The tour was far too fast-paced and touristy.
Marienbrücke Bridge
When you visit Neuschwanstein Palace, you’ll be taking a bus. At the bus terminus, if you turn left, you’ll be heading for the castle. If you turn right, you’ll reach the Marienbrücke bridge after a five-minute walk.
It’s the best view of the castle! Be careful, it’s very slippery and crowded.
In fine weather, you can even hike from the Marienbrücke bridge.
Alpseelake
Before returning your car to the parking lot, continue walking to the shores of Lake Alpsee. It’s absolutely magnificent. I could have spent hours watching these swans, whose beauty continues to fascinate me.
You can also visit nearby Hohenschwangau Castle, the childhood residence of Ludwig II.
Near Neuschwanstein Castle: Füssen
Füssen lies in the Allgäu region, on a road that crosses the Alps. In the Middle Ages, it was an important stopover between Venice and Augsburg.
Füssen is therefore a very pleasant medieval town with a picturesque, pedestrianized old town offering beautiful views of the mountains. The narrow streets and colorful houses are also charming.
What’s more, there’s plenty to see and do in Füssen.
Visit the Füssen Museum
A visit to the Füssen Museum is a must. It is located in the former Benedictine abbey of Saint Magne.
You can also visit several rococo-style reception rooms.
Plus, inside, you’ll visit the incredible St. Anne’s Chapel, with its famous painting of skeletons moving in “a surprising danse macabre”. As well as a section on the history of Füssen.
Don’t miss the splendid two-level Baroque library and the collection of musical instruments.
The view outside is also magnificent.
On leaving the museum, you can climb up to the castle and visit the Basilica of Saint Magne.
Basilica of Saint Magne
The Gothic Basilica of Saint-Magne is dedicated to Saint-Magne, a Christian saint. Construction began in the 13th century and lasted several centuries.
The interior of the basilica is impressive, with vaulted ceilings, colorful stained-glass windows, Baroque altars and murals. There are so many details. You really have to take the time to look.
Castle Hohes Schloss
Hohes Schloss is a medieval castle on a hill overlooking the town. It offers breathtaking views of the surrounding Bavarian Alps.
Hohes Schlossa Castlewas built in the 15th century for the noble family of the Augsburg bishops. Surrounded by ramparts, it features an inner courtyard and a baroque chapel.
You can visit the castle’s interior, with vaulted ceilings, murals, tapestries and period furniture.
You can also climb the tower for a magnificent view of Füssen and the Alps.
The museum and château are open Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 5pm from April to October and from November to March, and Thursday to Saturday from 1pm to 4pm.
You can buy a combined ticket for the museum and castle for 9 euros. It takes about an hour to visit the castle. There are several parts of the castle that are free of charge, but only the exhibitions.
A visit to Füssen is a must if you’re in Bavaria. Take the opportunity to explore the surrounding area.
Sightseeing around Füssen
Tegelberg
Tegelberg is a mountain near the town of Schwangau, reaching an altitude of 1,880 meters. Take a ride on the cable car to the top of the mountain. On the way up, you’ll enjoy magnificent views of the mountains and the Lech valley.
As you board the gondola, turn right for a splendid view of Neuschwanstein Castle and the Alps in the background.
The views from the summit are spectacular. You can see a dozen lakes and Germany’s highest mountain, the Zugspitze, at 2,962 meters.
There’s also a restaurant where you can enjoy a meal or just a coffee.
There are also many hiking trails and you can even go paragliding.
Return tickets cost €26.50. The price is a bit steep, but it’s definitely worth doing, as the view is so spectacular.
Wieskirche (Wies church)
On your tour of the Füssen area, stop off at the Baroque church in Wies. It was built in the 18th century in rococo style. More, it is considered one of the most beautiful churches in Germany. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.
The interior is magnificent, with splendid frescoes and sculptures. We didn’t take any photos inside, as there was a mass going on when we visited.
We enjoyed the magnificent exterior. Indeed, the church is set in a secluded valley surrounded by mountains, and offers spectacular views of the surrounding countryside.
Benedictine Abbey Ettal
Ettal Baroque Abbey is a Benedictine abbey founded in 1330 by Emperor Ludwig IV of Bavaria.
It also boasts a brewery, Klosterbrauerei Ettal, which has been producing craft beers for over 400 years. Unfortunately, it was closed when we visited.
Oberammergau
Just a few minutes from Ettal, you can visit Oberammergau. The town center is charming.
You can also admire houses with paintings of Hansel and Gretel and Little Red Riding Hood on their facades.
We stopped off at a restaurant for a delicious bruschetta.
Linderhof Castle
Schloss Linderhof is a Rococo-style castle located in Ettal, 15 minutes from Oberammergau. It was built in the 19th century by King Ludwig II of Bavaria. It looks more like a large villa than a castle.
If you want to visit the interior of the castle, please make a reservation. Otherwise, you can walk around the castle grounds without a reservation.
Lake Plansee
On the way back to Füssen, we stopped off at Lake Plansee. This mountain lake lies close to the Austrian border. With a surface area of 2.7 km² and a maximum depth of 78 meters, Plansee is one of the largest and deepest mountain lakes in the region.
The panorama is splendid, with the Bavarian Alps and forests. An air of Canada!
Baumkronenweg
Our last stop was Baumkronenweg, a site that begins in Germany and ends in Austria. The Baumkronenweg is a 480-meter-long suspension bridge that crosses a forest of beech and fir trees 25 meters above the ground in Germany and Austria.
The route is very fast but very pleasant.
Where to stay near Neuschwanstein Castle?
We stayed at the City Apart hotel Füssen, located right in the center of Füssen. The room is comfortable. However, there is no elevator to access the upstairs rooms.
The breakfast was also very good.
We recommend this hotel for its location right in the center of Füssen!
Where to eat near Neuschwanstein Palace?
There’s no doubt about it, we eat well in Germany! We got our first taste during our weekend in Munich. This was confirmed during our stay in Füssen!
We recommend two restaurants in Füssen, all located in the town center:
Restaurant Ritterstuben
We had delicious Spätzle with cheese and onions. And for dessert, a Kaiserschmarr (pancake batter lightened by whipped egg whites with apple compote).
Gasthaus Zum Schwanen
We had an excellent Schnitzel, but we also recommend the Spätzle at this restaurant!
Kiki’s opinion of Neuschwanstein Castle
My dear readers. If you’re not interested in the story, you can simply skip the next part. However, I absolutely must tell you the tragic story of King Louis II, the king of fairy tales. It not only fascinated me, it also touched me.
Kiki’s little history lesson
Once upon a time, at the age of 18, a king ascended the throne unprepared. Loved by his people at first, he preferred to devote himself to the arts rather than government. And it seems he was also an eccentric and a dreamer. He even called off his marriage to Princess Sophie, a sister of Sissi (Kiki would certainly have married Sophie). Increasingly isolated, he began planning the construction of three castles. As money became increasingly scarce, some of his ministers decided to make plans on how best to depose the king. He was declared mentally ill.
The king, meanwhile disillusioned that his people no longer loved him, resigned himself to his fate and went to Berg Castle on Lake Starnberg to isolate himself. What happened next will probably forever remain unexplained and a matter of myth. Only one day later, he was found dead in the lake with his psychiatrist. How sad! But one thing is certain: King Ludwig II may not have been the best of kings, but thanks to the construction of Neuschwanstein Castle, he is unforgettable!
And finally, here’s Kiki’s opinion of Neuschwanstein Castle
Castles have always fascinated Kiki. And of course, he has long dreamed of seeing the fairytale castle of Neuschwanstein! And he wasn’t disappointed. No matter what the weather or the perspective, this castle is simply magnificent and fascinating! He still daydreams when he remembers it. The whole region has an incredible charm, especially the village of Füssen, where he felt so at home. Incredibly, he even took the time to visit the museum to find out more about Füssen’s fascinating past.
Speaking of history, if you skipped Kiki’s little history lesson, he recommends you read it anyway. He still gets goosebumps when he thinks of the tragic story of King Louis II.
