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Schloß Neuschwanstein |
King Lugwig's bedroom |
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Leaving München on Monday morning, we drove a couple of hours south through the incredibly scenic Bavarian countryside in search of the castle to end all castles. As we travelled along a rural two-lane highway, we drove through many charming villages, each one surrounded by perfect green hills that looked as though they had been landscaped. Passing through the villages, we did see men wearing lederhosen and feathered caps to complete the postcard stereotype.
Nestled in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps only kilometers from the Austrian border is Schloß (Castle) Neuschwanstein. Built 125 years ago by the supposedly insane King Ludwig II, it is truly breathtaking; it's the perfect storybook castle, and was the model for Sleeping Beauty's castle in Disneyland.
We travelled up the hill to the castle in a horse-drawn carriage which inadvertantly was the source of great amusement. Upon arrival at the castle gates, we embarked on a guided tour of the upper floors of the interior; even though King Ludwig died before all interior floors were completed, what we did see was magnificent! Everything was beautifully handcrafted and decorated - the floors, walls, ceilings, furniture and artwork. Neuschwanstein is splendidly gorgeous, and tourist trap or no, it is worth the trip just to see such a unique piece of architecture in person.
We ended our afternoon with a traditional Bavarian meal at a restaurant below the castle where I learned that I do indeed like sauerkraut! Our original plans upon leaving the area were to head south and west, through Austria, Lichtenstein, and Switzerland, but as it was snowing in the Alps and we did not know what types of roads lay before us, we decided against that plan. We did, however, drive through the "secret tunnel" into Austria just to say that we had been there! |
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Marienbrücke (Queen Mary's Bridge), from the castle |
Susan & Gina on the bridge |
Tunnel to Austria |
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