As previously noted, we were unable to take any pictures inside the castle so I’ve found a few online to give you an idea of what’s there. The one thing to keep in mind when viewing Neuschwanstein is that this structure was never intended as a fully functioning royal residence. Rather, Ludwig II conceived of Neuschwanstein as his own personal retreat from the world at large (and its attendant responsibilities as King of Bavaria) and it was meant as a solitary place with a minimum of staff. Heavily influenced by Romanticism, the decoration incorporated elements from Germany mythology as embodied in the The Ring of the Nibelung. Ludwig also drew heavily from Christian themes and running through everything was a heavy fantasy element that’s hard to precisely define.
Here are few of the rooms that impressed us the most. First is the Throne Hall:
Above are three views of the Throne Hall looking from where the throne would have been. Ludwig died before the throne could be completed so the order was simply cancelled. And now for some views looking towards the throne platform:
And a close-up off of some of the detail:
The Throne Hall was quite an impressive sight, especially since it combined elements of Byzantine and Gothic architecture. Next on our most impressive list was the Singer’s Hall (which was never meant for actual concert performances):
The Singer’s Hall looking in both directions. Here’s some views of Ludwig’s study and bedroom:
And finally, some of the most curious of the rooms- the Grotto and the Wintergarden:
We have to say, that as much as we liked seeing all of this “in the flesh,” it was impossible to get any unobstructed views due to the large crowds of tourists- they’re simply letting too many in. We would have been more than willing to have paid three or four times as much to take a private tour… With the tour over, we exited the castle and took a horse-drawn carriage ride down the mountain. We highly recommend this mode of travel if the lines aren’t too long:
We were definitely worn out from all the walking so we repaired to a local gasthaus for a hearty Bavarian lunch before getting on the train back to Munich. It was an amazing day and I would highly recommend visiting Neuschwanstein to anyone with the caveats that it can be quite crowded and there’s A LOT of walking involved. 🙂
I’ve enjoyed your posts about visiting Neuswanstein. This is on my list to visit so many thanks for your advice regarding the walking and what to expect.
It’s a wonderful place to visit but it’s definitely one of those “do it once” type of places- it’s just too crowded. I do love the area though and someday I’ll return to view Hohenschwangau, which is a more fully developed residential castle.
That’s a good point. There are other palaces and castles too in the area that are worth visiting. If I go to Neuschwanstein, I’ll bear in mind your blog. Many thanks again.