The ride to the castle was awesome and vastly different from the drive to Munich earlier in the week. The trip involved little to no traffic and mostly consisted of winding back roads through farmland. Even today, I can understand why this area would be viewed as a getaway destination. The hike up to the castle was also great, and the small shops along the way were all very unique.
From the photographs I had seen before the trip, the castle seemed almost larger than life. In person, however, it was smaller than I expected. Even so, the inside of the castle was incredibly impressive. The architecture and design felt timeless and did not seem like something built in the late 1800s. One thing I found especially interesting was the heavy depiction and fascination with swans throughout the castle. At first, I thought it was odd, but the tour guide explained that swans symbolize purity, grace, and nobility.
The nine completed rooms were all very different from one another, which made the tour fascinating. I was also surprised by the strong emphasis on faith and religion throughout the castle. The murals in the throne room were incredible, along with the massive and ornate chandelier. The addition of dragons in sculptures and illustrations also made the castle feel much older and more mythical than it actually is.
My favorite part of the experience was definitely the bridge and the incredible view from it. Crossing the bridge was unforgettable, although the engineering could probably use some improvement because parts of the floor noticeably wobbled as people walked across.
The economic layout around the Alps and nearby villages was also interesting to me. There were large stretches of farmland and agriculture, and then suddenly a ski lift would appear nearby. The town and village we visited afterward were awesome and had a wide variety of shops and items. One thing I found surprising, though, was how expensive some of the shops near the historic church were. I also noticed there was a bar only about a quarter kilometer away from the church, which felt somewhat contradictory to the values typically associated with a religious setting.
It was great to spend a day surrounded by nature and away from the larger crowds in Munich. Although the weather was cold, it thankfully stayed mostly rain-free, which made the experience even better. Overall, the castle absolutely lived up to the hype and has been my favorite part of the trip so far.
