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Home » Fairytale Castle in Bavaria — Neuschwanstein Day Two in Germany

Fairytale Castle in Bavaria — Neuschwanstein Day Two in Germany

December 29, 2015 20 Comments


we chose to take a horse drawn carriage to the top of the mountainside (you can see the castle directly in front on the right hand side of this photo)

we chose to take a horse drawn carriage to the top of the mountainside (you can see the castle directly in front on the right hand side of this photo)

 

After one week of teaching my marketing seminar in Landshut, Germany, my husband joined me in Munich.  There we hopped onto the train to visit the famous fairytale castle in Bavaria — Neuschwanstein Castle.

I wanted to start off our week long tour of Bavaria and Austria with a huge bang!  This destination certainly packed a big power of jaw-dropping awe!

It’s so hard to describe this famous castle of Mad King Ludwig.  It’s simply amazing, both inside and outside.  There is no photography allowed inside.  So if you can get there, I highly, HIGHLY recommend visiting this beautiful man-made creation.

The king may have been ‘mad’ in his own way, but he certainly had an eye for beautiful design and exquisite  taste in the ornate.

Here’s a link to learn more about this famous German king, his castles, and his very sad story.

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I loved the hat of this jolly German carriage driver

I loved the hat of this jolly German carriage driver

 

We booked an all-day private tour for just the two of us with our own guide (Frederico from Milan, Italy!).  It was a major splurge in money, but worth every penny for all of the places that Frederico took us to.  I also chose this tour company because of the winter time of year that we visited Bavaria.  Winter is a time when the majority of tour companies stop taking you to the top of the mountain where Neuschwanstein Castle is set.  Keep that in mind if you visit the castle after October when many tours stop due to snow (which never happened while we were there this year).

The tour company and link is:  European Castles Tour. I HIGHLY recommend booking a tour with this company; they offer a lot of different packages with different times and prices.  I found this company on my own and I’m not getting paid a penny for making this recommendation.  I just want to share good things with you and this is one super tour company!

Here’s our fabulous tour guide:  Frederico from Italy!

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IMG_1074

 

Frederico picked us up at our hotel in the nearby town of Fussen where we spent the night before and he did all of the driving for the entire day.  The only way to go!  Our first stop was to pick up our tickets for the castle tour (audio-led) and horse-drawn carriage up the mountainside (or else you can walk yourself if you like).

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pretty architecture of a tourist stop at the base of the mountain

pretty architecture of a tourist stop at the base of the mountain

With the Alps in the background, the visual sensations are everywhere in traditional German architecture at the beginning of the carriage ride.

As you view these photos, keep in mind that although the sun was out.  We were literally  in the shade of the towering Alps.  This position caused the ‘blue-ish’ tint in the photos —  from being in the shadows!

 

the mountainside on which the castle is set, is extremely steep!

the mountainside on which the castle is set, is extremely steep!

 

 

it's straight up, which you can see by the steepness of the ground

it’s straight up, which you can see by the steepness of the ground

 

from our horse-drawn carriage, tourists also choose to hike up the steep mountainside to the castle

from our horse-drawn carriage, tourists also choose to hike up the steep mountainside to the castle

 

a quaint mountainside tavern on the way up to the castle

a quaint mountainside tavern on the way up to the castle

 

a stop for tourists on the way up the mountain

even this little tavern has darling exterior design!

 

The weather was absolutely perfect for a winter day!  Normally there is a fog that covers the entire area and the castle!  But the sun was out for us, although we’re on the side of the mountainside (that’s why the photos have a slight ‘blue’ tint from being in the shadows of the Alps).

the castle is set high on the side of an Alpine mountain -- it's quite a hike up!

the castle sits high on the side of an Alpine mountain — it’s quite a hike up!

 

truly beautiful as daylight appears over the mountainside

truly beautiful as daylight begins to appear over the mountainside

 

neuschwanstein castle

looking up the mountainside during the carriage ride, the castle is simply breathtaking

 

bare trees are one of the added benefits to visiting the castle in wintertime

bare trees are one of the added benefits to visiting the castle in wintertime

 

neuschwanstein castle

with bare trees, the castle’s beauty becomes more clear

 

continuing closer to the castle in the carriage

continuing closer to the castle in the carriage

 

neuschwanstein castle

truly a picture perfect fairy tale castle against a pure blue sky

 

neuschwanstein castle

at the top of the steep hill, the entrance to the castle stuns visitors with visual beauty of the snow-covered Alps in the background and the architectural detail of the castle

 

Version 2

 

Frederico snapped a shot of my husband and me in front of the castle!

 

IMG_1174

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carved coat of arms

carved coat of arms

 

neuschwanstein castle

upon entering the front gate, this view of the beautiful castle awaits

 

a castle complete with tower!

a castle complete with a watch tower!

 

beautiful architecture

beautiful architecture

 

neuschwanstein castle

in the royal kitchen of the castle:  just one of three walls of copper pots and pans!

 

Neuschwanstein Castle

one of several displays of all of the royal copper molds — the king ate 16-course meals — alone!  He never received guests!

 

The castle's kitchen sink!

the castle’s kitchen sink!  Oh to have a copper kitchen sink!

 

The kitchen desk with notes and cookbooks from the royal chef of the king.

the kitchen desk area with notes and cookbooks from the royal chef of the king

 

Neuschwanstein Castle

glimpses inside the royal cookbook, complete with images of swans that the king loved

 

Neuschwanstein Castle

beautiful architecture all the way to the end of the tour!

 

Neuschwanstein Castle

Black Forest Torte, Apple Strudel and an Apricot Cheesecake to select a treat from after an exhausting tour of walking up and down hundreds of steps!

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Neuschwanstein Castle

perfect apple strudel in custard sauce!

 

neuschwanstein castle

the little café at the end of the tour is decorated with the coolest lit up tables!

 

neuschwanstein

one last view from the castle looking down onto the village the king’s boyhood castle

I hope that you will someday enjoy this beautiful region of Bavaria, Germany!


Previous Post: « Bavaria, Germany — Day One Landshut
Next Post: Fussen, Bavaria, Germany — The Village By Neuschwanstein Castle »

Reader Interactions

 

I read each and every comment and respond to questions asap, so ask away!  As I always say, “If you’ve made a recipe, please take a photo and I’ll be happy to share your experience and photo of the recipe with all of us in this blog community!”

The kindness of giving a thumbs up 5-star rating is greatly appreciated!

~ Roz

Comments

  1. Larry says

    December 29, 2015 at 1:28 PM

    Great that you are living your dream of a Bavarian Christmas – too bad it isn’t white though.

    Reply
    • Roz says

      January 29, 2016 at 10:08 PM

      It was a fabulous trip Larry . . . even without any snow!
      Roz

      Reply
  2. Kate says

    December 29, 2015 at 1:51 PM

    Wonderful post! Thank you for sharing. I have not yet made it to Munich….next trip. You got some great shots of the castle!

    Reply
    • Roz says

      January 30, 2016 at 12:26 PM

      Hi Kate,
      This was our very first time to Munich too. We really enjoyed it and sadly only spent a few days there which is not enough to pack in the Christmas markets and all of the other historical things to see. This calls for a second trip!
      Roz

      Reply
  3. Annamaria @ Bakewell Junction says

    December 29, 2015 at 10:36 PM

    Roz,
    Love the photos. Everything looks beautiful. It looks like you had a wonderful time.
    Annamaria

    Reply
    • Roz says

      December 29, 2015 at 10:58 PM

      Annamaria, I don’t know what is going on with my email subscriptions to your and many other blogs either. I had a ‘bug’ on my computer that I thought that i had (paid dearly to be) fixed, but others besides you have written that my blog posts still continue to ‘not’ be delivered.

      I just don’t know what to do after spending over a thousand dollars to try to fix this issue. Thank you so much for stopping by ‘on your own’ . . . I’ll continue to try to fix this issue, but as you can understand, I’m tired of spending so much money on this problem that doesn’t seem to get solved.

      I hope that you have a most wonderful and blessed New Year!!!!!!! xoxo Roz

      Reply
  4. Ciao Chow Linda says

    December 30, 2015 at 10:53 AM

    What a wonderful experience for you. I once read that Neuschwanstein inspired the castle at Disneyworld.I remember going to Neuschwanstein decades ago when our kids were young and will never forget it. I loved the murals of the scenes from Wagner’s operas in some of the rooms. I hope they’re still there.

    Reply
    • Roz says

      December 30, 2015 at 11:50 AM

      Hi Linda! How wonderful that you took your kids to Neuschwanstein. Yes, you’re right that it inspired Disney. All of the Wagner opera scenes are still on the walls. The painting of the inside of this castle was so amazing! I need to listen to more Wagner now!

      Reply
  5. Ilaria says

    December 30, 2015 at 1:06 PM

    Wunderbar!!! 🙂
    Have a nice journey in Germany.
    I wish you a Happy New Year!

    Reply
    • Roz says

      January 30, 2016 at 12:39 PM

      Cara bella Ilaria,
      The trip to Germany was, yes, very wonderful. We hope to return again someday, and possibly in spring! But of course, our next visit to Europe is Northern Italy!!!
      Baci,
      Roz

      Reply
  6. Claudia says

    December 30, 2015 at 3:12 PM

    I was there many years ago when I studied in Austria (so many, many, many years ago). I am hoping to make it back when I go to Germany in September 2016. So much to see! The photos brought it all back. Happy New Year, Roz to you and yours.

    Reply
    • Roz says

      January 30, 2016 at 12:35 PM

      I don’t blame you for wanting to return to Austria. It rained on the days that we were there, so we’d love to return again, and this time in spring. What a beautiful part of the world!
      Roz

      Reply
  7. 2 Sisters Recipes by Anna and Liz says

    December 31, 2015 at 4:47 PM

    Gorgeous! You are so lucky to travel in such beautiful countries! And the food in your photos are making us hungry!
    Have a Happy New Year!

    Reply
    • Roz says

      January 30, 2016 at 12:27 PM

      It was a blessing to be able to visit Germany and Austria in December. We can’t wait to return someday!
      Roz

      Reply
  8. Mindy says

    January 4, 2016 at 9:51 PM

    Oh my gosh, how amazing. With little girls of my own, the castle made me think of a classic Disney movie. Incredible.

    Reply
    • Roz says

      January 30, 2016 at 12:28 PM

      This castle was actually the exact castle that Walt Disney imitated for the Cinderella castle at both Disneyland and Disney World and all of the movies and branding. It’s quite lavish and extraordinary. There’s a reason the king who built this died broke . . . he never finished it!
      Roz

      Reply
  9. Shari Kelley says

    January 5, 2016 at 9:12 PM

    What an amazing place to visit! I loved all the pictures of the castle and the alps in the background. It was fun seeing the kitchen and all the pans and copper sink. How wonderful that you got to go on a private tour! You must have learned so many details about life there. Very fun post, Roz!

    Reply
    • Roz says

      January 30, 2016 at 12:31 PM

      Hi Shari,
      You’re right, it was a superb trip and we learned so much about life in Bavaria that we never knew about before! We want to go back again someday!
      Roz

      Reply
  10. Karen (Back Road Journal) says

    January 6, 2016 at 4:14 PM

    You are right, you do see more of the castle in the winter with the bare trees. I’m glad the weather is so nice while you are there.

    Reply
    • Roz says

      January 30, 2016 at 12:30 PM

      Thanks Karen. The weather was perfect and almost a little TOO warm for all of the heavy clothes that we bought for the trip. I gave much of it away for those that needed it more than I do. I hope to visit Bavaria in the spring sometime too!
      Roz

      Reply

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Ciao, I'm Roz!
From my family's kitchens and restaurants in the U.S. and Italy, I share classic, delicious recipes . . . and always served with 'amore'! I'll help you master the art of cooking with easy to follow instructions and cooking tips. Get ready for the compliments! Buon Appetito!

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