Castles

Neuschwanstien Castle

Located at about two kilometers from Fussen, the Neuschwanstien Castle is without doubt the most famous castle in Germany with over one million visitors annually. This castle is the inspiration for Walt Disney’s movie Sleeping Beauty and Walt Disney logo. The construction started in 1869 by King Ludwig the Second and ended in 1886 when the king was declared insane and incapable to lead by the State Commission. He was arrested at the castle. The king died the same year, the causes of his death are unknown to this day. Because of that, only fourteen rooms were finished and decorated. The architecture of the castle is special and unique. King Ludwig himself wrote in a letter to his friend, the composer Richard Wagner that he intends to build on the old ruins a new castle in the most authentic style of the German Knights. The name of the castle is inspired by one of Richard Wagner’s pieces- the Swan Knights.

Marienbruke

Behind the castle, just a few minutes walk is the Marienbrucke or Mary’s bridge, named after Queen Mary of Prussia. It’s the place from where the king would look and admire his new castle.

Hochenschwangau Castle

Just one mile from the famous Neuschwanstien castle there is another attraction just as famous, the Hoch castle. The first historical record about this location comes from the twelfth century where it’s mentioned as the Schwanstein fortress. The architecture of the castle is in the neogothic style.

On the ruins of this fortress Maximilian the second, the father of King Ludwig started the construction of the castle in 1832 and ended it in 1837. The castle becomes the summer residence for King Maximilian and Queen Mary of Prussia and their sons, Ludwig (future King Ludwig the Second) and Otto (Otto the First of Bavaria).

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