Well sadly we are nearing the end of our trip around Southern Germany, but still have a couple of great tours left which happens to be one of Germany's top tourist attractions, the Neuschwanstein Castle.
Once we left Berchesgaden, we drove to the village of Hohenschwangau to tour both the famous Bavarian King castles in the area. We stayed at the Villa Ludwig Suite Hotel for the evening, and I would very much recommend this hotel while it was a little more expensive than we might normal book; the room, hotel, and location were well worth it. Click Here to read my review of the hotel on TripAdvisor.
This was the view from our hotel room! Seriously this was awesome, we bought a bottle of wine from the hotel, and finished out our night sipping wine on the balcony and enjoying the view.
We picked up our castle tour tickets from the hotel front desk in the morning and we were off to explore these beautiful castles of the Bavarian Kings.
Our first castle tour was the Hohenschwangau Castle the childhood home of King Ludwig II. Ludwig's father Maximilian II built this palace. On the tour which you are not allowed to take photographs the castle was filled with furniture, artwork, and chinaware from the palace residents. They even had a wheelchair which was once used by the King, the tour gave great description of the wares of the castle and who they were used by, it was a very lived in feel.
Just a few pictures of the grounds around Hohenschwangau Castle
Finally after a wonderful tour of the childhood home of King Ludwig the II, we are off to the piece de resistance the Neuschwanstein Castle.
We had some time between tours which was great because it gave us a chance to first of all walk to the castle as well and walk around some of the grounds before heading in.
King Ludwig built this castle in fairy-tale style which makes sense that it's was Walt Disney created the Sleeping Beauty Castle after. Again no photography was allowed inside the castle, but this castle inspired great musical works from Richard Wagner a close friend to King Ludwig II.
I have to admit the walk was steep! I do like to count my step on the fitbit, but I get that it's not for everyone. They also have a horse drawn carriage to bring you near the top as well.
Renovations to the castle's facade where underway when we went which sometimes you can't avoid, but the view was stunning. Also closed was the hike to the bridge where you can view online those iconic pictures of this beautiful castle, but we can't complain the views were spectacular, and no it's not totally of those two beautiful children in this picture!
After we finished up the castle tours, we left the fairy tale city to travel to Munich. Upon our arrival we went to Dachau to take in some more history that is much more solemn than the fairy tale castles we visited earlier in the day. We decided not to take pictures even though they are not forbidden however we walked through the grounds with an eye-opening appreciation for the atrocities that occurred there. It was a place to touch history for us and our children, and to see the not so pretty part of history. We left feeling glad we got to learn first hand this part of history, but with a solemn sad place in our hearts when we were done.
Our trip is in the books! While it was different than our trip to Paris a little over a year ago, so glad we got to experience Southern Germany and all it has to offer. Now the question becomes where do we go next?
Just a few pictures of the grounds around Hohenschwangau Castle
Finally after a wonderful tour of the childhood home of King Ludwig the II, we are off to the piece de resistance the Neuschwanstein Castle.
We had some time between tours which was great because it gave us a chance to first of all walk to the castle as well and walk around some of the grounds before heading in.
King Ludwig built this castle in fairy-tale style which makes sense that it's was Walt Disney created the Sleeping Beauty Castle after. Again no photography was allowed inside the castle, but this castle inspired great musical works from Richard Wagner a close friend to King Ludwig II.
I have to admit the walk was steep! I do like to count my step on the fitbit, but I get that it's not for everyone. They also have a horse drawn carriage to bring you near the top as well.
Renovations to the castle's facade where underway when we went which sometimes you can't avoid, but the view was stunning. Also closed was the hike to the bridge where you can view online those iconic pictures of this beautiful castle, but we can't complain the views were spectacular, and no it's not totally of those two beautiful children in this picture!
After we finished up the castle tours, we left the fairy tale city to travel to Munich. Upon our arrival we went to Dachau to take in some more history that is much more solemn than the fairy tale castles we visited earlier in the day. We decided not to take pictures even though they are not forbidden however we walked through the grounds with an eye-opening appreciation for the atrocities that occurred there. It was a place to touch history for us and our children, and to see the not so pretty part of history. We left feeling glad we got to learn first hand this part of history, but with a solemn sad place in our hearts when we were done.
Our trip is in the books! While it was different than our trip to Paris a little over a year ago, so glad we got to experience Southern Germany and all it has to offer. Now the question becomes where do we go next?
We shall see!
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