Three Castles in Bavaria, Germany
Neushwanstein, Hohenschwangau and Linderhof
One of the many buildings in Füssen that is painted in a 3-D fashion. That bay window is a flat painting.
Neushwanstein Castle taken from a bridge.
View of Hohenschwangau Castle taken from Neushwanstein Castle.
Linderhof, tiny, perfect palace
Just outside of the charming town of Füssen is the castle that Disney fashioned the Sleeping Beauty Castle after --Neushwanstein Castle, built by Ludwig II. Nearby is Hohenschwangau Castle where Ludwig II grew up. From Füssen it is only 5 kilometres (bus, car, or walk) to the base of these two castles from which you can walk, or weather conditions permitting, take a bus or a horse-drawn sleigh up to each castle.
There are many hiking trails you can take, walking between the many lakes, with lovely views of the Alps.
Neushwanstein Castle was built between 1869-1886 but all the rooms were not finished. Perched on a ridge by a deep gorge, it is easily spotted as you walk around the area. You have to take their guided tour and they whisk you through pretty fast - about 40 minutes. The castle is dedicated to Wagner. The interior is magnificent - filled with carvings, porcelain, and paintings relating to Wagner's operas. There are lots of spiral staircases to climb but it is well worth the effort. This castle does not disappoint! The most intriguing room was fashioned as a cave, and it is on the 5th floor. Ludwig II had a very creative and vivid imagination!
Hohenschwangau Castle was restored from 1832 to 1836 by Maximilian I of Bavaria, Ludwig II's father. This was their summer family home and the house that Ludwig II's great friend, the composer Richard Wagner stayed at frequently. You can see Wagner's bedroom and superb piano as well as many furnishings and paintings. Ludwig's father was imaginative too as the castle has a marble bath that opened up to the gardens. One could bathe in it while looking out at the gardens and the Alps.
About 50 kilometres from Füssen and about 12 kilometres from Oberammergau, is the tiny perfect castle that Ludwig II built and lived in for 20 years, Linderhof. A big fan of Louis XIV of France, Ludwig designed his home (I'd call it a palace) as a New Versailles - gold and more gold everywhere, and even a mirrored room.
None of the rooms are large as Ludwig was the only person living there and he didn't entertain. In the dining room is a small table and one chair. The table could be lowered down to the servants so that they could put the food on it and lift it back up to the dining room. Ludwig II could eat in peace without anyone hovering around. One of his favourite activities was riding around his land at night in a sleigh that was lit by lights powered by batteries. He even wore costumes for his nightly jaunts.
Linderhof is the only one of his castles that was completely finished (1878). Twenty-minute guided tours are given of the interior. The castle is open year round but the other buildings on the grounds and the intriguing grotto are closed in the wintertime. The Venus Grotto with its 'secret' door entrances, was heated and lit by electricity.. There is a Moorish kiosk and a Hunding's Hut that includes a stage set from one of Wagner's operas.