Black Eyed Susan Stories: Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castle

July 7, 2016-

We arrived to Neuschwanstein castle when the ticket office opened in order to make sure that we could purchase tickets and not wait in line as long before they sold out for the day. If you are planning your trip you can purchase tickets in advance online, but I was not sure if the group wanted to see inside one or both castles or the day we would visit. It was well worth the tour inside. We did the audio tour guide, very informative but we did only tour a few rooms but apparently the rest of the castle is no longer furnished.

Ludwig II became King in 1864. He wanted to define his leadership by creating his castles. King Ludwig II built this castle as his home high above his family home and father, Maximilian's Castle, in 1869, but it was never completed. It was furnished with medieval style yet equipped with the latest technology. The main rooms each decorated primarily with murals of scenes from the Germanic and Nordic scenes.

Hohenschwangau Castle dates back to the 12th Century and from then until the 16th Century its owners were the knights of Schwangau. After that it was owned by a couple different people and was partially destroyed during the war. King Ludwig II's father, Maximillian II, acquired this castle in 1832, he rebuilt the castle in the Gothic style. After completion it was used as the summer home and hunting residence of the Royal family, this is where King Ludwig II grew up. The largest room in this castle is the banquet hall, which is also called the "hall of heroes". The paintings show different scenes of battle. The room of Queen Mary, Ludwig II's mother, is furnished by furniture and materials from Turkey and Greece.