Neuschwanstein Castle is the most famous fairy tale castle in Germany. It was built by the king Ludwig II of Bavaria in the 19th century. But, the king himself could not see the entire castle made because before the castle could complete he died by drowning in the nearby lake under mysterious circumstances. From the planned 200 rooms in the castle, only 14 were finished when he died.
The castle is located on a beautiful location i.e. on the hills of the Alps in Bavaria from where you can look over the beautiful valley of Hohenschwangau. The castle reminds of various Walt Disney movies. Actually, this castle has been the inspiration for most of the Disneyland stories including Cinderella's. More than one million people visit this castle annually and it is amongst the favorite tourist destinations in Europe.
When the Neuschwanstein Castle was built, it was equipped with the latest technology of that time. All the floors had the toilets with the automatic flush system, electric bells were there to summon the servants and also, there was a centralized heating system for the castle. The rooms in the castle were majestically decorated with paintings all over the walls. The interiors beautifully depicted opera scenes of Wagner, the famous composer of Germany. Walt Disney was inspired by this castle and created the Magic Kingdom with this castle in mind.
How to Get to Neuschwanstein Castle
The castle is close to Munich and trains, buses and taxis are available which take you to the Neuschwanstein Castle.
Opening Hours and Admission Tickets
- The castle is open from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm during the months of April till September.
- It is open from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm during October till March.
Admission Tickets
Adults - €9
Students - €8
Kids under 18 - Free
Do's and Don’ts
- Do take a horse drawn carriage up the hill to the castle. It is a unique experience in itself.
- Take the walk up to Mary’s bridge, which crosses a stunning waterfall and gives you a breathtaking view of Neuschwanstein and the surroundings.
- Visit the Hohenschwangau Castle where King Ludwig spent most of his life. This castle is equally spectacular.
- Do not click pictures inside the castle.