Castles: Neuschwanstein & Hohenschwangau

Yesterday we took a bus tour to Neuschwanstein & Hohenschwangau castles. The weather was very chilling, but that didn't stop us from exploring the sites both inside and outside the castles. Since both castles sit on a hill, your options for getting there, were a shuttle bus, horse & carriage or walking. We picked walking to the top.

Hohenschwangau castle served as a summer residence to King Ludwig II and he also spent time there in his youth.  Neuschwanstein is only half finished because King Ludwig ran out of money and the family never finished it. It was built as a retreat where the King could escape to his dreamworld. The tour takes you to the king finished rooms which were awesome. According the website, it is one of the most popular of all the palaces and castles in Europe. Every year 1.4 million people visit "the castle of the fairy-tale king". In the summer around 6,000 visitors a day stream through rooms that were intended for a single inhabitant. 

Marienbrücke, the bridge over the Pollät gorge was closed due to maintenance, which was a bummer. I bet the view from the bridge would have been awesome! I guess I will have to go back this summer to see the view. Then, we walked Little Schwansee Lake which is at the base of the castle. From the pictures you can see the Black Mountain in the background and the turquoise water. It was so pretty.