IN A NUTSHELL
WHAT: Neuschwanstein and Hohenschangau Castles (both on
one ticket)
WHERE: Village of Schwangau (right by Füssen on the
German Austrian border)
WHY: Perfect fairy tale castle
WHEN: Any time of year!
HOW: Short trip for those staying in Garmisch. Day
trip for those in Southern Germany.
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 Hohenschwangau
Castle is the older of the two castles above the German-Austrian
border town of Füssen.
This castle was originally built in the 12th Century.
Hohenschwangau was destroyed by Napoleon, but was later restored in
1837. Mad King Ludwig II--the King for whom Füssen's
other castle, Neuschwanstein, was built--grew up in Hohenschangau
Castle.
Today,
Hohenschwangau is still privately owned, although it is open to the
public as a museum. The interior of the castle features
paintings of Bavarian knights and folk heroes. Neuschwanstein
and Hohenschwangau are Germany's most visited tourist destinations
and tourists can visit both castles on the same ticket.
LOCATION:
The castle is a short walk up the hill from the town of
Füssen,
although some visitors may wish to ride in a horse drawn carriage.
Hohenschwangau lies right above the alpine lake Alpsee.
INTERIOR:
If you decide to take the guided
tour of the castle, be prepared to wait. During peak tourist
season, throngs of visitors flock to the German Alps to see
Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein. The tours, offered in
English and German, will take you through 14 rooms that were
inhabited by King Ludwig II's family. The most spectacular of
these is the Celebration Hall, which occupies the complete width of
the castle and is decorated with paintings of Germanic lore.
The scenery around the castle is
spectacular, and the castle offers a
splendid bird's eye view of the
countryside below.
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TOURS:
Numerous local services offer day and extended trips to
Neuschwanstein & Hohenschwangau from German metropolitan cities.
Neuschwanstein Day Tours from Munich
Neuchwanstein & Romantic Road Overnight Tours from Munich
Neuschwanstein & Romantic Road Overnight Tours from Frankfurt
HOTELS:
Use our hotel finder to get the cheapest rates for hotels in
Füssen and
Schwangau.
TICKETS:
 You may only enter the castle on a tour (available in English).
You can purchase your tickets for both Neuschwanstein and
Hohenschwangau at the information booth located in the valley between
the two castles.
HINT: Be sure
to bring along your student or US military ID cards to get a
discount. Be sure to bring Euros for parking and entrance
fees.
Guided tours
take about 35 minutes, and you will have to walk 170 steps up and
down--a lift is not available. The castle (like Hohenschwangau)
is open daily April to October, 8.30-5.30, November to March 10-4.
You are not allowed to take photographs or videotape the inside of
the castle.
Tickets can be booked in advance by calling (0 83 62) 93 08 30.
CHECK OUT OUR
HOHENSCHWANGAU
INFO SHEETS
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
DIRECTIONS:
From Stuttgart
Take the A8 towards München
(Munich), then turn right on the A7 towards Kempten. Exit off
of the A7 onto 309/310 towards
Füssen.
Turn right at the T-intersection onto 16, and drive into Füssen.
Turn left when you come to the Füssen
pedestrian zone and head out of town. After the bridge, take
the second right at the Y-intersection and follow the road to the
castle.
Click Here to map your route to Hohenschwangau!
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