Extended Travel: Neuschwanstein, Germany

Less than two hours outside of Munich, along a quaint two-lane highway, sits a castle any little girl will recognize. The castle rises from amongst the treetops, high up the mountainside, looking as if it has emerged from a dream and if you were to blink, it might disappear forever. The castle is Neuschwanstein, former home of a reclusive king, several films and the inspiration for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty castle.
 
The castle was built in 1869 in the Romantic, Romanesque style by King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Since the King’s death in 1886, the castle has been open to the public and receives over 1.3 million guests annually. Films made at Neuschwanstein include Spaceballs, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Great Escape. Music fans would be interested to note that the work of composer Richard Wagner, whom Ludwig was a great friend and admirer of, is the basis for the castle’s architecture and much of the interior is painted as if the King lived on a stage, in an incredibly theatrical manner.
 
Neuschwanstein sits above picturesque village of Hohenschwangau and is open daily: April-September: 9 am-6 pm, 
October-March: 10 am-4 pm.

Get there:
Take the train (Deutsche Bahn) to Füssen, then the bus RVA/OVG 73 in the direction to Steingaden / Garmisch-Partenkirchen or the bus RVA/OVG 78 in the direction to Schwangau until you reach the stop Hohenschwangau / Alpseestraße.
 
For more information on the films made at Neuschwanstein and in Munich check out Film + Travel Europe.
 
All photos ©Jennifer Kellas