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IN A NUTSHELL
WHAT: Neuschwanstein and Hohenschangau Castles (both on one ticket)
WHERE: Village of Schwangau (right by Füssen on the German Austrian border)
WHY: Perfect fairy tale castle
WHEN: Any time of year!
HOW: Short trip for those staying in Garmisch.  Day trip for those in Southern Germany.
MAP IT!

CLICK HERE FOR MY TRIP DETAILS AND MORE PICTURES

Hohenschwangau CastleHohenschwangau Castle is the older of the two castles above the German-Austrian border town of Füssen.  This castle was originally built in the 12th Century.  Hohenschwangau was destroyed by Napoleon, but was later restored in 1837.  Mad King Ludwig II--the King for whom Füssen's other castle, Neuschwanstein, was built--grew up in Hohenschangau Castle. 

Trail to Hohenschwangau   Hohenschwangau   Hohenschwangau
Hohenschwangau from Below  Hohenschwangau from Below  Hohenschwangau Archway

Today, Hohenschwangau is still privately owned, although it is open to the public as a museum.  The interior of the castle features paintings of Bavarian knights and folk heroes.  Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau are Germany's most visited tourist destinations and tourists can visit both castles on the same ticket. 

 

 Hohenschwangau
 Neuschwanstein from Hohenschwangau
 Neuschwanstein from Hohenschwangau

LOCATION:
The castle is a short walk up the hill from the town of
Füssen, although some visitors may wish to ride in a horse drawn carriage.  Hohenschwangau lies right above the alpine lake Alpsee.

View from Hohenschwangau   Alpsee  Alpsee
Alpsee  Alpsee  Alpsee

INTERIOR:
If you decide to take the guided tour of the castle, be prepared to wait.  During peak tourist season, throngs of visitors flock to the German Alps to see Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein.  The tours, offered in English and German, will take you through 14 rooms that were inhabited by King Ludwig II's family.  The most spectacular of these is the Celebration Hall, which occupies the complete width of the castle and is decorated with paintings of Germanic lore.
  

View of Hohenschwangau   View of Hohenschwangau   View of Hohenschwangau
View from Hohenschwangau   View from Hohenschwangau   Alpsee

The scenery around the castle is spectacular, and the castle offers a
splendid bird's eye view of the countryside below.

 

 Hohenschwangau from Below
 Hohenschwangau
 Hohenschwangau from Below

CLICK HERE FOR MY TRIP DETAILS AND MORE PICTURES

 

TOURS:
Numerous local services offer day and extended trips to Neuschwanstein & Hohenschwangau from German metropolitan cities.

Neuschwanstein Day Tours from Munich

Neuchwanstein & Romantic Road Overnight Tours from Munich


Neuschwanstein & Romantic Road Overnight Tours from Frankfurt

HOTELS:
Use our hotel finder to get the cheapest rates for hotels in
Füssen and Schwangau.

TICKETS:
Neuschwanstein Area MapYou may only enter the castle on a tour (available in English).  You can purchase your tickets for both Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau at the information booth located in the valley between the two castles. 

HINT: Be sure to bring along your student or US military ID cards to get a discount.  Be sure to bring Euros for parking and entrance fees.



Guided tours take about 35 minutes, and you will have to walk 170 steps up and down--a lift is not available.  The castle (like Hohenschwangau) is open daily April to October, 8.30-5.30, November to March 10-4.  You are not allowed to take photographs or videotape the inside of the castle.

Tickets can be booked in advance by calling (0 83 62) 93 08 30.

CHECK OUT OUR HOHENSCHWANGAU INFO SHEETS
FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Info 

DIRECTIONS:
From Stuttgart
Take the A8 towards M
ünchen (Munich), then turn right on the A7 towards Kempten.  Exit off of the A7 onto 309/310 towards Füssen.  Turn right at the T-intersection onto 16, and drive into Füssen. Turn left when you come to the Füssen pedestrian zone and head out of town.  After the bridge, take the second right at the Y-intersection and follow the road to the castle.

Click Here to map your route to Hohenschwangau!
 

Other European Castles

Neuschwanstein CastleNeuschwanstein
Venture into the Bavarian Alps and visit the fairy tale landmark upon which the Walt Disney based his Disney Land Castle: Mad King Ludwig's Schloss Neuschwanstein.

Heidelberg Castle
Heidelberg
Heidelberg is the very image of romantic Germany.  The city's 17th Century red sandstone castle ruin and the old bridge are two of the most majestic sights in all of Germany.

Hohenzollern Castle
HohenZOLLERN
This idyllic castle looks like it was taken straight out of a fairy tale:  with its tall towers and seven successive gates.


Ludwisgburg CastleLUDWIGSBURG CASTLE
This magnificent castle and its extensive grounds are often referred to as the Versailles of Southern Germany.  The baroque palaces are one of the highlights of the German state of Baden-Württemburg. 

Prague CastlePRAGUE CASTLE
The castle complex is composed of palaces, courtyards, churches, and streets spread across the banks of the River Vltava.

Moving to Germany?  Look at out our tips!

Moving to Germany
Whether you are a member of the US Air Force, Army, or Navy, check out our guide to moving to Europe. 
 

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