Located in Germany, Neuschwanstein Castle is in itself a fairy tale. Every inch of it holds a surprise for tourists who are interested in sightseeing as well as knowing its interesting history. Many of its prominent features add up to make it an amazing tourist spot to stop by and as a result, it has become one of the most beautiful places to visit in Germany. Some such aspects include a throne hall, frescoes, turrets, and impressive towers.
The castle is fascinating to the extent that regardless of whether you have been to it before or visiting it for the first time, it seems to be equally charming on all occasions. Read on to know more about the castle.
Neuschwanstein Castle History
The history of the tower dates back to the duration following the Austro-Prussian War in which Prussia conquered both Austria and Bavaria in 1866. Two years later, the then King of Bavaria, King Ludwig II commissioned the castle. Following the war, he retreated and adopted a lavish lifestyle.
As a consequence of it, he started exploring the possibility of living in opulent castles. In pursuit of it, he lived in many castles. He also laid the foundation of the castle in 1869 and desired it to be completed by 1873. However, this plan did not materialize. Only the gateway building was complete by the year in which the entire castle was supposed to be complete. But he couldn’t live in Neuschwanstein Castle due to his early demise before its completion.
Today, the castle is open for visitors and stands tall to tell the story of its rich history to which it has been an eye-witness. In addition, it also has several other aspects based on which it draws the attention of tourists from across the globe.
Fun Facts about Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein Castle is a tourist destination with several fun facts linked with it. These include the ones given below.
1. Why Did Ludwig II Want to Build Neuschwanstein Castle?
There are two schools of thought regarding the reason for which Ludwig II built Neuschwanstein Castle. One of them is that he wanted to build a more stunning and livable castle than Hohenschwangau. This becomes clear from a letter to one of his friends, namely Richard Wagner, in which he mentioned his intention.
Another school of thought, which is more undisputed, believes that Ludwig II built the castle purely due to political reasons. After entering into an alliance with Prussia following its invasion of Bavaria, he lost his royal power. As the merger of his kingdom with Prussia was against his will, he wanted to build a castle to make it the centerpiece of the kingdom that he imagined.
2. How was the Life of Ludwig II before the Merger of Bavaria with Prussia?
Bavaria’s entry into an alliance with Prussia after the historical Austro-Prussian War changed the life of Ludwig II altogether. Due to it, from a powerful ruler, his status was reduced to that of a subordinate. The situation in his life by then was diagonally opposite of what it was in his childhood. When he was a child, he had a comfortable life at Schloss Hohenschwangau. Ludwig II was stripped of his power two years after his accession to the throne (at 20).
3. Neuschwanstein Castle Has a Striking Resemblance with the Castle of Disney’s Cinderella
A castle shown in Disney’s “Cinderella”, which made its public appearance in 1950, has a striking resemblance with that of Neuschwanstein Castle. In addition, the “Sleeping Beauty’s” castle also has a resemblance to that of Neuschwanstein Castle.
4. Both the Interiors and Exteriors of the Castle Have Many Tourists Attractions
The interiors of the castle welcome tourists to explore a long list of attractions. As far as the attractions of the castle are concerned, there are many of them. Popular among them are Ludwig’s Dressing Room, Throne Room, the King’s Bedroom, and Singer’s Hall. While the castle has many rooms in its interiors, only 14 of them are well-furnished. The exteriors of the castle have trails that are worth exploring. In addition, the scenery of the place looks stunning with Marienbrücke bridge.
Neuschwanstein Castle Ticket
As a visitor, you need a ticket to enter Neuschwanstein Castle. The castle remains open almost every day, except for a few days in a year. If children under 18 years of age accompany you, they can enter with a free ticket that you can book online. The fee for the ticket for adults to enter the castle is 15 Euros. Visitors cannot take a tour of the castle on their own. Only guided tours are permissible for them.
Neuschwanstein Castle Tours
By now, you would have come to know that there’s a lot to explore at Neuschwanstein Castle after you come here on a Germany visit visa. No doubt, it is one of the most impressive castles in Germany. But it is also the one that has many rooms. So, it can be confusing for someone to explore everything in a go. Don’t worry about exploring the castle, though, as you can take a guided tour of it.
As far as the guided tours are concerned, taking them is not a matter of choice but a necessity for tourists. That’s because the only way a tourist can explore the castle is by taking a guided tour from Munich or its neighborhoods.
How to Reach Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich
The straight choice for a tourist to reach the castle is to join a tour group. Alternatively, you can also do it with the help of public transport (buses and trains). If you go there by car, it will approximately take two hours to reach the place. However, you will need to park your car somewhere in Kempten or Füssen and board a bus from there.
Conclusion
Whether you think of Neuschwanstein Castle from the standpoint of history or its facts, it is a fascinating tourist destination for visitors on a Germany Visa. If you are planning to visit it, do not forget to carry a camera. This way, you will be able to capture the memorable moments that you spend with those who accompany you. In addition to Neuschwanstein Castle, there are several more fascinating spots and things to do in Germany Cultural sites that you can explore. Don’t wait up for the perfect opportunity, start planning for a cultural Germany trip today!