An early breakfast today at 07:00 (it normally starts at
08:00) before our departure at 08:00. There are a couple of groups leaving
today so we are not the only ones in early.
We are blessed with another super day with not a cloud in
the sky.
We are going to the fairytale castles of Neuschwanstein
and Hohenschwangau, and arrive at 08;40. As I’ve said yesterday I am a little
unsure of how it all works with visiting both castles, the horse and carriage
up to Neuschwanstein and where do we get lunch!
I follow the signs to the coach parking and after paying
my €11.00 park up and walk with the group back to the ticket office which is
only five minutes away. In between the two are the horse and carriages waiting
outside of the hotel Muller. We have booked two carriages at a cost of €102 per
carriage.
I pick the tickets up at my appointed time of 08:55 (one
hour before our entry time) and go back to hand them out. We are booked into
Neuschwanstein at 09:55 and Hohenschwangau at 14:05 and both tickets are
numbered – 423 for Neuschwanstein and 173 for Hohenschwangau.
I talk with the horse people and am told that it will be
cheaper to pay €6 each individually rather than pay for two carriages. So in
the end the whole thing has cost me €108.00 which is quite a saving! Now being
here it is apparent that I didn’t need to pre book the carriages especially
turning up this early.
We all climb into the carriages and begin our climb
towards the first castle. Both castles are close together and there are plenty
of places to eat. I will not need to drive between the two.
It takes about fifteen minutes for the horses to pull us
up the hill and all this effort does transfer into a touch of wind! Or are they
just changing gear!
We are dropped off and I’m told if we want to go back down
by horse and carriage it will cost €3 per person.
I thought we would be close to the castle but there is
still a steep walk ahead that curls around not giving much of a clue as to when
it will end!
It is about 10/15 minutes further to walk and a couple of
people are struggling a bit. I feel guilty as I should have known this but
didn’t although they all make it to the top and we have time for a group photo
and a rest before we go inside. It is all very efficient with a waiting area
close to the top that displays the numbers and times of the next four tours.
They are all five minutes apart and in different languages and the idea is not
to have too many people at the top together.
Our number is displayed and we make our way up the final
ascent to the courtyard to await our entry into the castle.
Neuschwanstein is a beautiful castle from the outside, a
real fairytale castle, but is very dark and not so interesting inside. This is
probably because it hasn’t been lived in with Ludwig dying before its completion
and soon after it became the museum it is now. Well worth a visit though.
There are a few stairs inside and again I have a couple
struggling (quite understandably) and mention this to our guide who is very
helpful and takes them up by a hidden away lift to save any more stairs.
After the tour you have the obligatory shop and cafe but
I make my way down to the horses and catch a carriage down. Lazy I know but I
want to be at the bottom before anybody else to help with the next castle which
is a shorter walk but you can also catch a horse and carriage but from a
different place.
As I near the bottom I can see Barry and Jayne who have
walked down probably quicker than my horse! I should have walked.
I go to see the place where the horses go up to
Hohenschwangau, which is by the ticket office, but there are no horses there.
I meet up with Barry and Jayne and we go for a drink at
the Hotel Muller. My reasoning is most people will return by horse and
carriage, will be dropped off here and then be attracted by the yellow
umbrellas of the garden restaurant! I can then speak to them or at least be
available if anyone has any questions.
The walk up to Hohenschwangau isn’t anywhere near as
harsh as Neuschwanstein although I think one or two may opt out.
As well as the castles there are plenty of
cafes/restaurants and souvenir shops and a gorgeous lake at the end of the road
by the coach park. The Alpsee is one of those crystal clear lakes surrounded by
forested mountains and reminds me very much of Konigsee near Bertchesgarden.
We sit in the cafe and order our drinks as well as a
slice of cake (raspberry) which is delicious. A bit naughty but lovely just the
same!
All of the group end up in here!
Six people are not going to the next castle and will
enjoy the holiday atmosphere he
I walk up to near the top of Hohenschwangau and it is
easy compared with the last one! There is a view point close to the top with a
seat and it is full of our folk! The views are truly magnificent out towards
the lake.
Another short walk to the top and then a wait for our
time and number to be displayed. It is very hot now and the shade at the top is
very welcoming. A cafe here would be good but will have to settle for a shop
only!
173 comes up and we go through to await our guide. At
14:10 the actual tour begins and it is very interesting. The castle has very
obviously been lived in and each room is bright and airy with lots of windows
all offering superb views of the surrounding countryside, a marked contrast to
the previous castle.
The guide is fantastic and before the tour starts warns
that no photography is permitted. After a couple of rooms somebody has taken a
picture and we are all told in no uncertain terms that if anyone takes a photo
they will going to the exit! No grey area there!
I really enjoy this tour and the inside of Hohenschwangau
is far more interesting than Neuschwanstein although the contrast in itself is
interesting.
The walk back is by a different route and is easy as it
takes you down to the coach parking by the side of the lake.
W are away from here at 15:30 and back at the hotel by
16:15 for what has been a most enjoyable day that everyone has enjoyed.
Once I have dropped everybody back at the hotel I go to
the BP garage at the beginning of the village. I have to fill up on the right
due to all the cars in the way but it doesn’t take long with the commercial
pump. This is the first time I have topped up since Petersfield and could
probably have gone a bit further but don’t want to chance it.
Due to all of the cars I can’t turn around so have to
drive out of the village to find a turning area!
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