 Neuschwanstein
Castle is Mad King Ludwig's magnificent and most famous castle.�
This is also the castle that Walt Disney patterned his theme park
after.� With its turrets and mock-medievalism, and its interior
styles ranging from Byzantine through Romanesque to Gothic,
Germany's number one tourist spot is a real fairy-tale fantasy come
true.
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The castle is
perched high on a hill overlooking the border town of F�ssen.�
The castle was built for the
Bavarian King Ludwig II
as a comfortable home above the Alpsee lake and with the Alps
towering all around the castle.� Construction went on between
1869 and 1886, but only about a third of the building was actually
completed.
The 15 rooms you see on the tour show astonishing craftsmanship and
richness of detail.� The woodcarvings in King Ludwig's bedroom
took 14 carpenters 4 1/2 years to complete.� Wagner was a
frequent companion of the King (he had his own room in the castle)
and the castle's wall murals feature highlights from his operas.
The best view of the castle and a 45m waterfall is from the nearby
Mary's Bridge (Marienbr�cke),
which spans a deep gorge.� You can get to this bridge by taking
the trail which branches off the road at the foot of the castle.�
This trail wraps up and around the ridgeline to a scenic outlook at
the bridge.� NOTE: This trail may be closed due to ice during
winter.
The scenery around the castle is
spectacular, and the castle offers a splendid bird's eye view of the
countryside below.
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TOUR:
You may only enter the castle on a tour (available in English).�
You can purchase your tickets for both Neuschwanstein and
Hohenschangau 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.
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Directions:
From Stuttgart
Take the A8 towards M�nchen
(Munich), then turn right on the A7 towards Kempten.� Exit off
of the A7 onto 309/310 towards
F�ssen.�
Turn right at the T-intersection onto 16, and drive into F�ssen.
Turn left when you come to the F�ssen
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 Neuschwanstein!
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