STUDY ABROAD_Poland: Neuschwanstein Castle
The last few articles have all been about Krakow, so it’s about time for a change of topic – Neuschwanstein Castle (Schloss Neuschwanstein) in Hohenschwangau, Germany. The name may not sound familiar, but the castle itself is deeply ingrained in history and pop culture. You might have seen it on the cover of a travel magazine or as a jigsaw puzzle image, but I know you’ve seen it in the movies. Walt Disney found Neuschwanstein so inspiring that he loosely based Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty’s Castle on it (and later based Cinderella's Castle on that, if it can get any more confusing). So if you’ve watched the intro to any Disney movie, you’ve seen a very rough semblance of Neuschwanstein.
Surprisingly, there are two castles in Hohenschwangau, although only one has gained significant fame. Hohenschwangau Castle was the royal family’s summer residence. When Ludwig II became king, he built a new castle, Neuschwanstein, nearby. However, he died before it was finished, so only the structure and some of its interior are completed. Ludwig II spent his own inherited funds rather than money taken from the public to build Neuschwanstein, and described its design as an idealization and romantic interpretation of Medieval castles. The interior was decorated in the style of many of Richard Wagner's operas, with the rooms’ decorations acting as elaborate sets.
Ludwig II hired Eduard Riedel as the architect and Christian Jank as a drafter. While he wanted to incorporate the remaining ruins of earlier castles, the site’s conditions would not allow it. However, he was very involved in the design process, mandating that he view and approve every draft of the plan. Construction began on September 5, 1869 and the king moved into the castle (even though construction was still ongoing) in 1884. Construction was halted permanently when Ludwig II died. While the cost to build Neuschwanstein had bankrupt the king, his heirs recovered their losses by opening the castle for paying visitors. Ownership of the castle has passed through many hands since then, but is now controlled by the Bavarian Palace Department, which offers tours to as many as 6,000 people a day during tourist season.
When it comes to visiting the castle, there’s a lot of travel involved, but I can personally attest that the travel is well worth the trials. I spent a weekend in Munich, and visited Neuschwanstein on a Sunday. While it took four hours on a train, round trip, it was amazing to spend the day exploring both of the royal castles, as well as the hilly trails connecting them to the main tourist center and its surrounding shops. The strangest thing, perhaps, was watching tourists sometimes struggle to climb the steeper parts of the hillside; as someone who spends a lot of time in Knoxville – the land of steep hills – I found the climb very easy, but others without this background did take occasional breaks to catch their breath and enjoy the landscape.
Overall, it was a great experience. The landscape is absolutely breathtaking, and Neuschwanstein is full of intricate details and ornate decorations in addition to its iconic outer appearance. So the next time you re-watch your favorite Disney movie (or sit with your niece/nephew/daughter/son/kid-you-are-babysitting-and-watch-that-one-movie-they-like-for-the-thousandth-time), think about the castle that inspired it all.
Allison’s Recommendations for Neuschwanstein:
Get there early, as it pays to be among the first group of visitors. The fewer the people, the better.
Everyone visits Neuschwanstein Castle, but not everyone visits Hohenschwangau Castle, where Ludwig II spent most of his time, which gives great insight into the royal family’s history.
Take lots of photos. The surrounding mountains are beautiful, so it won’t be difficult to capture beautiful landscape portraits.
Don’t expect to get the beautiful aerial shots that you see on books and puzzles, because you won’t travel that high up the mountains. But you get to go inside the castle, so you’re the real winner.
There are places to purchase food and drinks as you travel to the castles, but packing a lunch is less expensive and gives you a chance to stop and stare at the surrounding countryside while you enjoy your meal.
Bring something to do on the train, because it’s going to be a long ride unless you stay close by.
If it’s sunny, bring lots of sunscreen. If it’s rainy, bring an umbrella. You will be outside a lot.
Enjoy it! Neuschwanstein is one of the most amazing places I have visited so far, and that’s saying something.
