Modern Day Fairy Tale Adventure

At this time, three years ago, I was sleeping peacefully at the youth hostel after a long day of touring castles.  (Because it would have been 2:46 am).  That day just might have been my favorite day ever.  Although it's tough to decide, all those days at Wroxton were pretty awesome.

Linderhof *

With crisp fall air and clear blue skies, the morning of 19 Oktober 2008 began extra-awesome, despite how early we had to get up.  We climbed aboard a bus for a two hour journey to the edge of the Alps, to our first stop: Schloss Linderhof (Linderhof Palace). This castle was built by Ludwig II, commonly known as the "Marchenkonig," or "Fairytale King," due to his construction project Neuschwannstein Castle... but we'll get there in a moment.  The bus dropped us off in by a quaint little shop, and we hiked a short path through the tall, thin alpine trees, a mix of fall oranges against the rising mountain backdrop (which would inspire the setting for my senior writing project).

Finally, we reached the castle, and snapped a few pictures of the beautiful courtyard and fountain.  It sounds almost silly to say, but there really was this majestic, regal quality to the place.  Sure, you would expect a castle to be "regal," but there was something a little more to it in this one.  Perhaps it was the detail on the columns, or the gold balustrade on the balcony.  Inside, the tour took us through rooms with the most intricate ceiling designs I have ever seen, some even incorporating relief artwork on the walls.  In the gift shop, I bought a notebook for the sole reason that I had to take notes about the inspiring atmosphere.

Look at me clinging for my life on
the Marienbrucke *

Our next stop was the small town Oberammergau, famous for their Passion Play.  I had just enough time to buy some wood carving souvenirs for my family before we all climbed back into the bus for our final road stop: Schloss Neuschwannstein.

Some backstory: I took German in high school, and we actually learned about Neuschwanstein in class and read about the mysterious death of King Ludwig II.  I can't remember if I actually remembered this at the time -- I think it all sounded familiar, and when they started talking about King Ludwig II, everything clicked.  Neuschwanstein is a very well known castle and inspired Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle and Disneyworld's Cinderella Castle.

Neuschwanstein Castle just might be my favorite place in the entire world.  The bus dropped us off at the bottom of the mountain, close to Hohenschwangau, the yellow castle at the bottom notable for its swan figurehead.  After passing Bavaria's trademark maypole, we began our long hike up the mountain.  Neuschwanstein sits perched on the top of a rugged hill, and sections of the walls are even carved into the stone on the mountain. Tours of the castle are scheduled, and we arrived a little bit too early, so we continued up the path towards the Marienbrucke (Marie's Bridge).

The Perilous Cliffs of the Marienbrucke
(picture by böhringer friedrich)

Now, anyone knows me knows I am terrified of heights.  The Marienbrucke is ridiculously, perilously high.  Beyond nosebleed high.  And another thing - you can see through the floor.  Yep.  That said, the view of Neuschwanstein from the bridge is absolutely breathtaking.  As terrifying as it was, I'm glad that I went.  (Plus, the Marienbrucke was a major inspiration for a key plot device in my senior writing project, which I have continued to work on since graduating.)

The castle itself was actually incomplete on the inside - King Ludwig II died before it could be finished.  The rooms that were finished were, naturally, of a beauty you would expect to find in any fairy tale fantasy.  The "Marchenkonig" mainly designed his last castle based as an homage to Richard Wagner.  To capture the fairy tale, medieval element, Neuschwanstein was built in the Romanesque Style.

If you're going to southern Germany, definitely take a trip to see these castles.  In fact, if you're planning on going to Germany at all, plan to go to Bavaria so you can see these castles.  One day, when I actually have money, I'm going back.

*Unless otherwise specified, pictures were taken by my travel partner.