Neuschwanstein Castle

I June 16 - We stayed at Fussen last night, a picturesque town that nestles up against the Bavarian Alps.  It lies about 10 miles from the castle at Neuschwanstein.  We drove to the tourist town of Hohenschwangau that lies just below the castle.  There are at least six Alpine lakes in this immediate area due to runoff from the high mountains, all very scenic.  In the classic picture of Neuschwanstein, one of these lakes is usually placed to the left and another on the right.

Neuschwanstein is not that old by European standards. Young Ludwig grew up in the neighboring castle of Hohenschwangau, seen below.  He cleared an old castle off the dramatic outcropping, and in 1869 started to build Neuschwanstein.  Although he had acceded to the throne of Bavaria in 1864, he initially used his own funds.  After Bavaria joined the North German League headed by Bismarck, Ludwig neglected his royal duties and devoted himself to his dream castle.

But the fairy tale did not end well.  In a bloodless coup, he was declared legally insane in 1886 and his throne taken over by a regent.  Ludwig died under suspicious circumstances a few days later.

The ancestral castle of Hohenschwangau

Neuschwanstein as seen from Marienbrucke (Miriam Bridge), spanning a very deep gorge

This picture was taken in the town which sits between and below both castles. Neuschwanstein can be seen in the upper right. 

The lower gate and the court just inside

The lower court