One of the most visited tourist sites in Europe, one of the most famous castles in the world, and arguably one of the most spectacular, Neuschwanstein Castle, nestled deep in the Bavaria countryside of southern Germany, is quite the wonder.
We drove two hours from Munich and lucked out on the drive and our visit with bright blue skies and golden sunshine - it would only have been more beautiful with spring flowers or under a blanket of winter snow - but we enjoyed it nonetheless.
The castle was never meant to see strangers; King Ludwig II had it built from 1869 as a retreat from the public eye and a spot to maintain his life-long preference of isolation. Inspired by the Wartburg Castle in Eisenach, Germany, and the Chateau de Pierrefonds in France, Neuschwanstein sits magestically on a peak above a forest, with panoramic views to the lakes and sprawling farmland of the vicinity. Ludwig lived a secluded life, having taken the throne aged just eighteen, dying aged forty by rowing out alone on Lake Starnberg, near his Munich residence, in the middle of the night and leaving his boat, and the world, behind. The suicide theory has long been disputed - Ludwig was a strong swimmer, the lake was not deep, and his doctor died mysteriously by his side in the lake that same night, too.
Perhaps one of the most famous nods to Neuschwanstein is the Walt Disney Cinderella Castle - Neuschwanstein was the key inspiration for one of the most iconic brand elements of Disney, recognizable the world over.
Funnily enough, Neuschwanstein is not a UNESCO world heritage site - yet. But that might change after a vote passed in mid-2023 to get Neuschwanstein UNESCO-accredited. Let's see!
We did not go inside the castle (you can tour the castle with a guide), rather opting to spend a delightful few hours on the trails through the forest, trying to find the best viewpoints from afar.
We hiked up to the Marienbrücke, one of the most popular views - check out our exact route of walking to the viewpoints of Neuschwanstein on Strava. The view of the castle is incredible, but you'll be hard pressed to get a good photo of yourself with it, thanks to both the metal fence blocking the view, and the many people squeezed on the bridge. If you don't want to hike up to Marienbrücke, a regular shuttle also runs from the parking lot.
We then walked back down towards Neuschwanstein and took in the views from the viewing platform just out front. Both views were spectacular - but if you really want the ultimate viewpoint, avoid the touristy spots and head up the Tegelberg (hiking or by cable car) for truly the best view of Neuschwanstein.
In the end, I think our favourite part of visiting Neuschwanstein was actually spending time at golden hour lakeside at Alpsee.
