• Finishing off Romantische Strasse becomes Neuschwanstein castle. Hohenschwangau castle is added where Ludwig II, who made the Neuschwanstein castle, spent the boyhood days. Two castles have same motif of Schwan=Swan.

• The first famous castle is called a swan castle as Neu=New Schwan=Swan Stein=Stone or Neuschwanstein. It is comparatively new and incomplete when Ludwig II lost his power in 1886 though the Neuschwanstein castle started constructing in 1869 and spent 17 years in construction while there are a lot of castles of the Middle Ages with old history. Ludwig. II was born on August 25, 1845 in Munich..He became the King of Bavaria at the age of eighteen but died in the lake mysteriously at forty one. He liked to listen to Wagner and invited Wagner in Munich. However, he had a little political experience and had been away from actual politics. Ludwig II spent a solitary life walking in mountains or listening to the Wagner, searched his own aesthetics, and it is said that caused the construction of the Neuschwanstein castle. The construction cost seems to become 200 million dollar or more when it is converted into a present amount of money. Because the building fund and the debt have increased, the government judged to banish Ludwig II from the seat of the throne because of psychosis. He was taken out from Neuschwanstein castle and moved to Berg palace in outskirts of Munich in 1886. Ludwig II went out to walk with a doctor but did not return, and drowning bodies were discovered with the doctor in the lake on June 13, 1886. Construction of Neuschwanstein castle started at the age of 24 in 1869, it took 17 years but it is incomplete with 2/3 of the plan. The the castle gate pavilion was completed in 1873, main building in 1883 and housing area of the fourth floor of the main building had come to be able to move as for the dwelling of the king in 1884. However the stay of Ludwig II in Neuschwanstein were only 172 days. Neuschwanstein castle became open to the public on August 1, 1886 in a short time after his death. It contrarily has a sad history with a beautiful appearance.

• Another Hohenschwangau castle (Hohen=High altitude, schwan=swan, gau=area, swan area on a hill) is a castle of the Neo-Gothic style which is close to the town Hohenschwangau. The Hohenschwangau castle was reconstructed by Maximilian II spending 4 years of 1832-1836. He was the father of Ludwig II who built the Neuschwanstein castle. Originally, a king of Schwangau built it in the 12th century but because the heir of the king family stopped and it became ruins, and then afterwards Maximilian II bought it and rebuilt. It is said that Ludwig II spent most of his life in this castle. Ludwig II seemed to have looked up at the construction of the Neuschwanstein castle from this castle.

• Both castles are not allowed to take pictures inside. But it is possible to take pictures of scenery from the window to the outside.
  It first goes to the Marien bridge by minibus, the photographs of the Cinderella castle style are taken from the bridge, then walking down and it goes to the Neuschwanstein castle. It is convenient and takes less time though we walked to the Neuschwanstein castle this time. It is easier than it walks for a long time to climb up for 30 minutes, and is also possible to go to the Marien bridge at a photo-taking good position.
  Because it sells only at the ticket office in the foot for the both castles and the entering time is already decided then it is recommended to go a little earlier to buy a tickets.
  Visiting time from April to September 09:00-18:00, from March to October 10:00-16:00.

Hohenschwangau town	Hohenschwangau castle is	just looked up at from the town.	Ludwig II spent
his childhood days	in this castle.	Maximilian II reconstructed it	by 4 years of 1832-1836.
Fountain near the entrance	Alpsee lake and mountains are looked down from the windows of the Hohenschwangau castle.
Town and the garden are looked down from the castle.		Fountain of lions.	Swan fountain in the garden.
Neuschwanstein castle is looked up from the Hohenschwangau castle. Is is on a hill.
Big Neuschwanstein castle appears after 30 minutes of walking from the foot of the hill.
First building is the castle gate.	Main building of the castle is looked up at from the gate.		Tower soars high.
Castle gate pavilion from inside.	The tower near the castle gate.	Main building of the castle from inside garden.	Right side castle looking from the inside garden.
Castle gate pavilion from inside looking.	Entrance of the castle looked from inside.	Best photo-taking point, Marien bridge.	Outside can be seen from the windows of the castle.
Neuschwanstein castle is looked up at on the way to go back.		Horse wagon is possible.	Many people are waiting before the castle gate.

2005/04/01