Neuschwanstein Castle

I am a long way behind on my blog – I have been spending too much time doing rather than writing!  We also use my computer to do the accommodation bookings.

However I have decided to start with yesterday.  We specifically stopped in Munich so we could easily make the day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle.  The wonders of our Eurail pass.

We travelled from Vienna to Munich on Sunday (October 13).  As is our wont, we had chosen a hotel fairly close to the station.  Not that it stopped us getting slightly lost when we arrived on Sunday!  However on Monday morning we were up bright and early, had a quick breakfast, and set off.  We made the Fussen train that left a bit before 8am, although there seemed to be wave after wave of commuters coming out of the station!  Fussen is about two hours south of Munich and is the nearest station to the castle.  As we approached Fussen, the views of the mountains were magnificent. 

 According to the little guide I bought, Neuschwanstein was built for the Bavarian king Ludwig II (1845-1886); it was commenced in 1868 but never fully completed.  The king apparently saw his castle as a monument to the culture and concept of monarchy prevailing in the Middle Ages, which he greatly admired and wanted to recreate.  It was built and furnished in medieval styles but equipped with the latest technology of the day.   Also, as I read in my guidebook to Germany, Ludwig apparently also saw his castle as a giant stage on which to recreate the world of Germanic mythology as depicted in the operatic works of Richard Wagner.

Well, when we arrived in Fussen, we followed the crowds and caught the bus to the ticket office at the foot of the castle.  We had considered just walking up to the castle and taking photos from the outside, but decided to take in the full experience and pay for the 35 minute guided tour.  It was great, although until we came to leave, I hadn’t realised how many steps we must have climbed up!  We had already walked up from the ticket office.  I had considered paying for a ride in the horse drawn carriage, but one look at the queue changed my mind!  We had plenty of time to walk up, even time for a coffee on the way.    

Here is a view from the castle:-

Here is a view of the castle itself from Marienbrucke, a bridge which spans the Pollat Gorge just above the castle:-

After all the walking we stopped for some “ready to go” food near the castle and for some delicious dessert at the café a bit further down, the coffee stop on the way up.         

 

The weather was just glorious, coolish, but sunny, and all in all we had a thoroughly enjoyable day and arrived back in Munich a bit after 6pm.

After a brief visit to the hotel, we needed to attend to more pedestrian matters.  I had no foot trouble on the Camino, although I saw some pretty awful blisters on the feet of others.  However on Saturday my right foot was quite red and sore.  My feet had got quite wet on Friday afternoon.  On Sunday morning, Anna discovered that I had worn through the sole of my right boot and the left one didn’t look too healthy either!  As the shops in Germany, Munich anyway, are apparently open until 8pm, we set off in search of some replacement footwear.  The shops are apparently closed Sunday.  

We found a department store with shoes and I am now the proud owner of some very comfortable shoes with intact soles!

We travelled today to Donaueschingen, in the Black Forest, where we are stopping two nights.  We have to plan what we are doing tomorrow… but maybe after we’ve watched a movie on our 3D TV in the room…