Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein castle
The next castles on our list to see were the magnificent Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein castles. Neuschwanstein was built for the Bavarian king Ludwig II (1845 - 1886) and is widely believed to be the inspiration behind both the Cinderella Castle featured in the Disney animated movie and the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland. It had been on our must-see list for quite some time and always seemed to pop up whenever we searched for new places to explore in Germany. Unfortunately, we were unable to find any camping spots directly near the castles or in the nearby town of Füssen. However, we discovered a lovely campsite called Camping Pfronten, which was beautifully situated at the foot of mountains and next to a river with scenic cycle trails. Shops and bars were just a short cycle ride away, and a gondola ride up the mountain was located about 200 metres along the road. When we arrived, we were met with persistent rain, but thankfully our pitch was a hardstanding surface, so we quickly hooked up and headed to the small café next to the children’s playpark onsite. The owners were very friendly, and the kids thoroughly enjoyed weiners and bread, while we took the opportunity for more white beer and Riesling. The café offered a small but delicious menu of snacks, including incredible cakes such as apple strudel served with ice cream…
As the rain finally died down, we eagerly jumped on our bikes to burn off some energy before heading to bed. Nearby, we discovered a cycle trail just across the road and railway line from the campsite. The path meandered through fields dotted with sheep wearing little bells and passed small farmhouses. The whole scene was truly idyllic.
We woke up early in the morning to drive to secure a carpark space in order to visit the famous Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles. After arriving, we chose to park in carpark 3, which charged us a flat rate of 12 Euro for the day. From there, we made our way on foot to the nearby village and then on to the ticket centre. We learned that visiting inside the castles is only possible as part of a guided tour, which requires booking a specific entry time. Considering the kids and our schedule, we decided it would be more practical to explore the castles' grounds without entering, as joining a tour wouldn’t be ideal for them or fit well with our timing.
You can reach Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein castle on foot and the routes are well sign posted. From the ticket centre is is approximately 30 minutes walk to Hohenschwangau castle and 40 minutes to Neuschwanstein. Due to the persistent rain we paid for the bus up and down to Neuschwanstein castle which cost 5 Euro. From the bus stop, there is a steep 15 minutes downhill walk to the castle or a 5 minute uphill walk to Mary's Bridge.
We headed to Mary's Bridge, known as ‘Marienbrücke,’ which is located high above the Pöllat Gorge. This spot offers a breathtaking and panoramic view of the Neuschwanstein Castle. Interestingly, the history of the “Marienbrücke” stretches back even further than the construction of the famous fairytale castle itself.
We walked back down the winding path and carefully made our way down towards the castle. Visitors are welcome to explore the perimeter of the castle and access the viewing platform without any entrance fee. Close to the main entrance, there is a small shop where you can purchase drinks, light snacks and souvenirs. Additionally, there are restrooms to use before making the walk back up the hill towards the bus stop!
We decided to head back onto the bus and make our way into the village for a much-needed lunch break. After a short walk, we discovered a restaurant called Ludwig's Stuberl, which offered a hearty menu. I chose to order the chicken schnitzel with generous helping of potato salad, while Steve went for the traditional Bavarian roast pork served with sauerkraut and dumplings. It was exactly the kind of warm, comforting meal we needed on this rainy day!
To end our day we headed to the town of Füssen. It is a winding old town with fountains, cafés and boutiques. The persistent rain did spoil our visit as we all ended up soaked and ran back to the van!
