Who has never dreamed of living the life of a castle! Put on your prince or princess costume, and let’s discover together the magnificent Neuschwanstein castle in Germany, famous all over the world for having served as a model for Sleeping Beauty’s castle…
The history of Neuschwanstein castle, a jewel of Bavaria
At first glance, Neuschwanstein Castle may seem very old with its medieval look due to its towers and keeps. But you should know that this palace was only built at the end of the 19th century by King Ludwig II of Bavaria.
Neuschwanstein was built between 1869 and 1886, just across from another building, Hohenschwangau Castle. At that time, Bavaria was an independent state ruled by King Ludwig II, nicknamed the Mad King, who was only 18 years old when he took the throne.
When Prussia won the war against Bavaria and Austria, Ludwig II lost all his powers and became a mere vassal. To recover from this defeat, he had the castle of Neuschwanstein built, a “folly” straight out of his imagination and in homage to the composer Wagner whom he cherished so much.
Neuschwanstein is a flamboyant mix of neo-Gothic and medieval styles, reminiscent of both Pierrefonds Castle in the Hauts de France and Wartburg Castle in Germany. More passionate about the arts, architecture, and medieval legends than politics, former King Ludwig II wanted a building that lived up to his ambitions: 200 rooms for a total of 6,000 m² (only 15 rooms are furnished), a remarkable white marble throne room and a singers’ hall surrounded by sublime murals.
A model for Disney
Located on a rocky spur in the heart of the Tyrol mountain range, Neuschwanstein Castle overlooks the turquoise waters of the Pollat Gorge at an altitude of over 200 meters. Millions of visitors come every year to discover the most famous castle in Germany.
The scenery around this fantastic neo-romantic castle is simply breathtaking: green forests, snow-covered Sailing peaks, views of the Bavarian Alps, and the deep blue Alpsee lake.
A true fairy tale castle, both eccentric and exciting, Neuschwanstein was first used as a model for Sleeping Beauty’s castle (the must-see castle in Disneyland Paris), then for Cinderella’s in Walt Disney’s imagination.
Visit Neuschwanstein Castle
Here is how to get to Neuschwanstein castle and prepare for your visit :
- It takes about 2.5 hours by car to reach the castle from Munich.
- At the foot of the Hohenschwangau castle is the ticket office (you can also book online and avoid the queue).
- Afterward, it takes about 25 minutes to walk to the top of the castle without much difficulty. It is also possible to go up by horse-drawn carriage or by shuttle bus.
- The tours are guided (in several languages) and last 45 minutes.
- The castle is open from April to October.
- It is forbidden to take pictures inside and strollers are not allowed.
- 10 km from the castle, you can book a hotel in Fussen, a charming medieval village ideal for visiting Upper Bavaria.
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