Today we awoke in the town of Schwangau at the Landhotel Guglhupf bed and breakfast. We then set off to visit two of King Ludwig II’s castles.
Hohenschwangau translated literally is “High Swan County Palace” and was built by King Ludwig II father, King Maximilian II in the 19th century as a vacation home. This area must of had a large population of swans for quite sometime. The first fortress built on this site in the 12th century was called Schwanstein.
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| This map shows the ticket center, Hohenschwangau, Neuschwanstein and the paths to reach each one. |
The town of Hohenschwangau has a few restaurants, hotels, and a May Pole.
Ways to get up to the castle
Tickets are available at the Ticket Center located in the middle of Hohenschwangau. There is a slight discount if you decide to see multiple castles or the museum in one day (ticket prices and hours). In addition, there are parking lots near by that you can leave your car for 5 euro a day. If you were staying at a hotel in Hohenschwangau you could walk. However, since we were 2 miles a way in Schwangau, and raining, we drove. You can also take a bus from the Fussen train station. The staff is quite helpful to help pick times of tours if you are seeing both sites.
We opted for a carriage ride up to the castle. 6 euro uphill, downhill 3 euro, paid directly to the driver.
A view of the castle from the gardens.
A gorgeous neo-gothic archway marks the entrance to the castle with quatrefoils and a crest of the Bavarian lion.
A well in the courtyard with a painting of the Virgin Mary, a lion’s head spout, a crest of Bavaria and a crest of a swan which pertains to the area around the Schwangau region.
A fountain with four Bavarian lions.
Photos are not allowed inside of the castle unfortunately. I found these beauties on line. I love the gold and purple room!
King Ludwig II would observe construction of Neuschwanstein from Hohenschwangau with a telescope. This is a view from the garden courtyard
History on the Wittlesbach Family
Ludwig II mother Marie was Prussian and his father Maximilian II was Bavarian. Bavaria was an independent kingdom until 1870 when Ludwig II joined the German Empire after the Franco-Prussian Wars. Afterwards, Ludwig II withdrew even more from politics and became quite the recluse. If you are interested in more information on Ludwig II’s life check out this biography.
Being beer connoisseurs we had to try the local brew, Konig Ludwig Dunkel. It was amazing and I wish I could get it in the states. Very smooth and not hoppy – high drinkability factor.
Check out aerial photos of King Ludwig’s castles in the snow from the Rococo Roamer
Have you visited the castles of King Ludwig II? What were your thoughts on the style?
Cheers,
Amy
Read our other German posts: Cologne,Traveling the Rhine Burg Rheinfels – traveling the Rhine, Marksburg Castle, Burg Eltz, Heidleberg , Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Neuschwanstein Castle, Linderhof
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