The blaring alarm went off at 5:15 as Lily and I peeled out of bed. We rushed to get ready, excited for the stunning views of Neuschwanstein Castle. I made sure to wear comfortable clothes, since previous students had informed us there was a bit of a hike to the castle.
After a scenic bus ride, we were dropped off at Hohenschwangau, where we saw King Ludwig II’s castle, Hohenschwangau Castle, which surprised me because of its color. When I think of castles in my mind, I don’t imagine them being yellow. I realized many of my ideas about castles probably come from movies and American media, where castles are usually shown as dark gray stone fortresses. Seeing a brightly colored castle made me realize how much media can shape our expectations of historical places.
From there, we began our trek up to Neuschwanstein. It felt relaxing to be in the woods after a few days in the city, and we even saw big Clydesdales that were pulling carriages up the hill. Occasionally, there were gaps in the forest, where we could look out and see the trees and fields down below, which made me feel small.
Once we made it to the top, I was completely in awe. The views of the Alps surrounding the castle were breathtaking, even though the fog partially covered them. I had never seen anything like it before. Pictures online really did not capture how massive and dramatic the scenery felt in person. Standing there made me understand why Neuschwanstein inspired the Disney castle, because it felt like a fairytale.
After a few more steps, we entered the castle, and it did not disappoint! My favorite room was King Ludwig II’s bedroom, where the bedframe was so intricately carved from wood that it shocked me that humans were able to create something so detailed by hand. I also noticed the swan motif that flooded nearly every room. It made me realize how much symbolism was incorporated into architecture and design during that time period, unlike many modern buildings today that have no personality and tell no story.
After that fairytale, we explored the town of Füssen where I noticed many hat shops around each corner, something I would never see in America. I got a muffin after walking around, and we loaded onto the bus for our final destination.
Wieskirche or Pilgrimage Church of Wies took any breath I had left after the castle away. The entire room was covered with detailed sculpting and paintings. We were so lucky to be there while a musical performance was going on with a mixture of singing and violin covers, it felt magical. After spending the day surrounded by mountains, castles, and historic churches, I understood why Bavaria feels so different from the modern image many Americans have of Germany. The entire day felt peaceful and enchanting, a much-needed reset after two industrial factory tours.
