Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Neuschwanstein and Ludwig II
An idealized vision of a knight's castle on the outside and a homage to Wagner's
operas on the inside, Neuschwanstein was Ludwig II's most ambitious project.
During the same period, he commissioned Linderhof and Herrenchiemsee, two
castles in the French style. More than 50 million visitors have admired these
fairy-tale castles since they were built by the shy and world-weary king. At
Neuschwanstein, in particular, there seems to be no low season. A daytrip from
Munich toward Füssen in the Schwangau is an unforgettable experience.
Top 10 Features
1 The Building
2 Throne Hall
3 Bedroom
4 Chapel
5 Study
6 Minstrel's Room
7 Grotto
8 Dining Room
9 Winter Garden
0 Hohenschwangau
Hohenschwangau in the hills
below Neuschwanstein
Refreshments are
available in the cafe-
teria located on
the castle grounds;
and there are several
restaurants nearby.
!
The Building
Guided tours are
mandatory; tickets
show the tour
number and precise
time of entry.
The foundation stone was
laid in 1869, the gatehouse was
completed in 1873, and the
castle in 1884
(centre)
. Work
continued, with the king con-
stantly altering the plans, until
his death in 1886. The keep
and Ritterbad (knight's bath)
were never completed.
@
Throne Hall
• Schwangau bei Füssen
•
Map Q4
• Tourist Office Schwan-
gau (0 83 62) 81 980
• Neuschwanstein
Castle
•
(0 83 62)
93 98 80 • www.
neuschwanstein.de
• Tickets at Ticketcenter
Hohenschwangau
(0 83 62) 93 08 30
•
Open Apr-Sep:
9am-6pm daily (ticket
office hours 8am-5pm),
Oct-Mar:10am-4pm
daily (ticket office hours
9am-3pm)
•
Closed 1 Jan; Shrove
Tue; 24, 25 & 31 Dec
•
Adm: €9 (reduced €8);
combined admission
with Hohenschwangau
€17 (reduced €15)
•
Call ahead to book a
special tour held Wed
for those in wheelchairs
£
Bedroom
In contrast to the
romanticism of the living
quarters, the bedroom
was designed in a Gothic
style complete with
elaborately carved oak
panelling. Scenes from
Wagner's
Tristan and Isol-
de
decorate the walls.
Gold, saints, and a
touch of Byzantium: the
throne hall is modelled in
part after Munich's All Saints
Church and the Hagia Sophia
in Istanbul. Originally, the
throne was to stand - like
an altar - in the apse
(below)
.
$
Chapel
Altar and murals
depict Ludwig IX, the
beatified king of France
and namesake of the
fairy-tale king of Bavaria.
%
Study
Ludwig's study is
filled with pictures from
Wagner's opera
Tann-
häuser
. On his desk is a
fanciful pen-and-ink set in
the shape of
Lohengrin
.
28
Two alternatives to reaching the castle on foot are a bus service,
or, for a romantic experience, a horse-drawn carriage.
