After a long nap, I woke up right next to the Alps at Neuschwanstein Castle. This impressive castle was commissioned by King Ludwig II of Bavaria in the 19th century, although it appears much older because of its architecture. This retreat from the industrial world felt like something out of a fairytale or a movie.
To get to the castle, we had to walk up the mountain, and since I love hiking, I thought it was super fun. Once we reached the top, we got our first view of the castle. It looked different than I expected because I had only ever seen photos from the side or back from far away, never from the front. The castle also felt much bigger in person, and I couldn’t understand why someone would want to live there all alone.
Looking out over the town below felt just as beautiful as seeing the castle itself. We could see the Alps on one side and what felt like the entire state of Bavaria on the other. Germany is very flat, so it felt like you could see for miles.
We took a short tour through the inside, where we learned that not all of the rooms were finished because Ludwig died before construction was completed, and the castle was later turned into a museum. While walking through the castle, Dr. Feick mentioned that it was built next to Ludwig’s father’s castle, Hohenschwangau Castle. He explained that Ludwig’s father wanted him out of the house because he was spending too much of the family’s money, but then Ludwig built this extravagant castle with intricate details that cost even more. If my parents are reading this, I told you it could be worse…
After the tour, we hiked to another viewpoint to get the infamous photo from the bridge. This was the picture spot I recognized from Google Images. What Google didn’t mention, however, was what the bridge actually felt like. I’m not afraid of heights, but this made me feel like I was. The boards moved with every step, and there were openings that felt way too big for comfort (okay, maybe not that big, but still). I snapped a quick picture for the memories and headed back to solid ground.
On our way down from the castle, we stopped at a small shop for quark balls, a super light fried donut-style dessert made with cheese and topped with powdered sugar. It was the perfect treat after such a long hike.
After spending a couple of days immersed in factories and industry, it felt relaxing to escape into nature and enjoy the peace of such a beautiful place. The entire experience felt like a dream. Ludwig built the castle outside the city because he wanted a private retreat and an escape from the pressures of royal life. I can’t say I blame him, I could definitely get used to that view.