My first full day in Bavaria was spent fulfilling a lifelong dream, seeing the famous Neuschwanstein Castle. I decided to book a bus tour to the castle, I know #touristyaf, but it was the easiest way for me to see the castle and not have to worry about buses, trains, etc. I could also nap on the bus which was a total plus because after an exhausting week in Berlin my body was being pushed to its limit.
My trip was with Grayline Bus Tours. With my trip, I not only got to see Neuschwanstein, but I also got to see Linderhof Palace and the village of Oberammergau. You could tell that Neuschwanstein was the main attraction, at both Linderhof and Oberammergau the bus only stopped for an hour to an hour and a half at most while we spent four hours at Neuschwanstein, no complaints from me though. I enjoyed Linderhof and its Baroque/Rococo fashion and the extraness of Ludwig II's favorite palace. Literally, it was over the top with gilding and intricate scrollwork and porcelain figures and chandeliers. The gardens of the palace boasted a gorgeous fountain and pond as well as other pieces of landscaping. I have to admit I would have liked to see some more of Linderhof's gardens.
The stop in Oberammergau was very short and to be honest I could have skipped it. The village is home to the famed Passion Play the villagers put on every ten years. The tradition and history of this play dates back to the 1600's with the lethal combination of the Thirty Years War and the Bubonic Plague. In order to spare their village, the villagers promised and prayed to God that if their village was spared the plague and war they would perform a passion play for the Lord. Well, they were #blessed and they all survived. Keeping their promise, the villagers have continued to perform the passion play every ten years. The village is cute and charming but I could have done without it.
Now, what we've all be waiting for NEUSCHWANSTEIN!!!!! Can you tell I'm excited to tell you all about it? As the bus pull around a bend of the country road, I caught my first glimpse of the castle and my heart started pounding from excitement. As I mentioned before, we had four hours at the castle and our guide purchases tickets for a 3:05 tour. The castle is literally on top of a mountain so it does take some time to climb up it. Our tour guide suggested everyone get a leisurely lunch and then take a bus up to the top since the walk was long and not super suitable for the elderly and those with physical limitations. For me, there was no question I was going to hike up and down that mountain and then make it up to Mary's Bridge to get my quintessential picture of the castle. No leisurely lunch for me. I got off the bus and darted to a Currywurst stand and probably finished my currywurst in less than five minutes. Did I burn my mouth, yes? Did I care, no. I digested on the go and began my ascent up the mountain. So the walk is supposed to take 40 minutes total, I made it up in 25 minutes. There is no other word for it, I charge up that mountain with a purpose. Two people actually commented on my pace, not realizing I could understand English. This feat would not have been accomplished without a large bottle of water, so I highly recommend packing one. When I finally made it up I was in awe. Here it was the place I've been dreaming about since I was a little girl watching Rick Steves and flipping through travel books in the back of the library. After taking it all in I began to climb toward Mary's Bridge. By the time I made it through the crowds of people on this questionably sturdy bridge, I had the perfect, and I mean perfect view of the entire castle. It was quite simply breathtaking. I'm not sure if my tears were from my legs, which at this point felt like jello, or from how utterly beautiful the entire scene was. I couldn't have visited on a more perfect day.
On my way back down to the castle from Mary's Bridge, I found an old man sketching the castle and selling some of his work. I bought one of his gorgeous pictures as my souvenir from my perfect day. I prefer buying from local artists, it feels much more special than getting a generic image from the gift shop and supporting local artists is also awesome. After making it back to the castle I bought a well deserved Coke for myself and just relaxed for a bit drinking in the view.
My guided tour of the castle began at 3:05. It was a very, very large group. Not only were the people from my bus tour, but other tours, and the general public. We each received an audioguide which our tour guide spoke to us through. The tour was very rushed due to the crowds of people visiting the castle, however, I wouldn't skip the tour as it is the only way for you to see the inside of the castle. Neuschwanstein has incredible artwork decorating the palace that tells the story of great operas of Wagner and other German artists and mythologies.
After the tour I made my way back down the mountain, breathing in the fresh air, stopping for some freshly made donuts at a stand on the path. I felt incredibly at peace. Something about the castle, the natural beauty that surrounded Neuschwanstein, everything about this experience was magical. I also felt a sense of accomplishment on finally visiting a place I had dreamed about since I was little. The two-hour bus ride back to Munich, I fell asleep and you can bet I dreamed about this perfect day.
If you're interested in what tour I did, click here!
