It has long been a dream of mine to see Ludvig II’s Neuschwanstein Castle, which Walt Disney based his Fairytale Castle on. Before meeting up with the group on July 3, I made a side trip to the tiny village of Hohenschwangau.
A dream come true
Virgin Atlantic’s “Sweet Dreamer” arrives at London Heathrow, July 2
After a Lufthansa flight and a U-Bahn (suburban rail) ride, I catch a DB regional train
Waiting on the platform at Pasing station
that’s my train
soggy landscape
all the rivers are very silty
statue in Fussen
my first glimpse of the castle
my digs for the night: Hotel Garni Schlossblick
cute little beds
the view from my balcony
very touristy, but too cute!
Jagerhaus hotel
Hohenschwangauuu Castle, home of Maximillian II, where Ludvig II was born
Schloss means castle
ß means “double s”
walking up to the castle grounds
was the seat of the knights of Schwangau in the Middle Ages
Maximillian II rebuilt it from 1832 in the Gothic style
this is where I was told the castle is closed and had to leave the grounds.
I had to walk the long way back to town
but came across Alpsee lake
it was worth the extra walk
Alpenrose. I would stay in a hotel by the same name in Mittenwald
Maypole shows what trades town offers
nice garage
look Ma! Hotel Müller
Kartoffelreibekuchen mit Apfelmus (potato pancakes with applesauce) for dinner
antlers are a recurring decorative theme in the area
area map shows the trails, huts, altitudes and gondolas
9pm, the sun breaks through!
July 3: the day dawns clear, horses clip-clop past my window
one way of getting up to the castle. I took the bus from Schlosshotel Lisl.
Marienbrüke (Mary’s Bridge) gives the best view of the castle
there it is, in all its glory! Ludvig called it his “New Castle”
Ludvig died before the interior was finished
It was named Nueschwanstein after his death and opened to the public in 1886
2.75 hours to Tegelberg, (1720m=5,643 ft) Summer only, mortal danger with snow
wonder if they fell off?
the postcard shot! What a beautiful valley
I hiked a little bit of the trail
wow
here you can see part of the “Sleeping Dragon” The humped back of the dragon-
-with its head just in front of Hohenschabgau castle (left side). the 2 lakes are the wings
Alpsee lake, more wow
view of Mary’s Bridge from the castle
water spout detail
from inside the courtyard
hard workers, going up and down the mountain all day
Gertie (L), Luna (R) walked me down to town
my driver, spoke as much English as my German
busy road
back at the Hotel Müller
flags of Schwangau and Germany
Cyclists stop to assist a motorbiker who had fallen- our bus driver did not stop
Hotel in Fussen
main pedestrian shopping area
local children having a race
furniture delivery truck (I can’t get away from it)
countryside back to Munich
no rain today
Mom, this one’s for you!
me and my stuff ride the train
bikes are a major mode of transport here
Munich airport courtyard
meeting at the Tulip Inn: Chip, Vivian, Thomas, Seth, Sue, Chrisite (behind) Ray, Tom, Kelly
Fred, Nancy, Keven, Mary
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