September 30, 2006 Schloss Neuschwanstein Castle (Fussen, Germany)
We drove as a family to a castle called Schloss Neuschwanstein in Fussen, Germany. (The nearby town of Fussen made you feel like you stepped back in time, with it’s narrow streets, pastel colored buildings, and cherub spouting fountains). Walt Disney replicated this castle in Disneyland, which was dubbed the fairy tale castle. This was our first trip since arriving in Austria 3 days ago! King Von Ludwig the 2nd worked on this castle from 1869-1886 and completed only 1/3 of it. Ludwig became king at the age of 18 in 1864 and died at 40 years of age in 1886. The circumstances were mysterious and happened in the Starnberger Lake near Leoni. Some say he was drowned.
We had to hike up a steep incline for 45-minute to reach the castle. When we saw the castle turrets towering above the tree tops it filled us with anticipation and we couldn't wait to see the rest of it. The front of the castle and the inside courtyard displayed multiple colors, where as the back of the castle was a gleaming white. The cobble stone road that approached the castle was narrow and could also be reached by a horse drawn carriage. The hike felt good and made us that much more thankful when we had reached our destination!
Once we reached the top and stood in the shadow of the castle we surveyed the incredible view of the lake below. The king chose a picturesque location for this very special castle. On the opposite side of Neuschwanstein castle you could see King Ludwig's childhood home, the Hohenschwangau Castle, in the valley below. It was yellow and completely different architecturally then the Neuschwanstein castle. It was originally built in the 12th century, but ruined by Napoleon. Maximilian (Ludwig’s father) rebuilt it in the 18th century.
When we entered the castle for our English tour the first thing we had to do was climb a narrow turret upwards into the castles belly. Emerging gratefully from the claustrophobic staircase brought us face to face with the unexpected. Glancing upwards we witnessed the most beautiful ceiling we had ever seen. There were multiple arches converging into blues, reds, and yellows revealing a mosaic like pattern. Tiny lanterns made of glass and lead hung delicately from the ceiling. To our right you could look out of the medieval styled windows onto the lake below. It felt like a watercolor painting, so surreal. You stepped back in time for a fleeting moment to experience what a princess must have felt like, looking out of her kingdom window, while she pondered her life.
Inside we climbed over 300 steps and visited 15 rooms with original furnishings. There were paintings on the walls along the way that told stories of the yesteryears. Each one depicting a romantic fairytale or a dream the king must have fantasized about. They were so rich in color and bold in statement. In the kings bedroom (which was gilded-lily) the tale played out like the story of Romeo and Juliet. There were secret passageways hidden in the bedchamber that allowed for a quick escape or a silent entry.
The room that followed had swans on the handles, swan sculptures enclosed in glass, and swan paintings on the walls. The adjoining room was a cave that helped King Ludwig to relax, since it piped in music from one of the rooms below. A sunroom enclosed in glass followed this room and donned a sheer drop into the forest beneath the castle.
An impressive throne room displayed marbles floors and a massive staircase leading up to what was supposed to be King Ludwig’s throne. The throne was never completed for this room, but a massive 1000-pound chandelier hung from the ceiling with 96 candles on it. There were beautiful paintings of Jesus and his apostles on the walls of this majestic room.
There was also a large ballroom where King Ludwig would watch the people dance from a balcony high above. Although he was a hopeless romantic the King was never to be married. He was engaged to his cousin Princess Sophie Charlotte of Bavaria for only a short time. A marriage coach was built and commemorative medals were minted, but the king broke off the engagement unexpectedly.
The fascinating details of his short life made the visit to the castle impactful and memorable. We are forever changed by the knowledge of this compelling history we were fortunate enough to experience.
Author: Lisa Allen