Today is one of the most anticipated day. Rose early to catch a train to Fussen, a lovely town near Schwangau. I bought a Bayern day ticket (include all bus/train/tram travel) but can only use it after 9am on weekdays. To start travelling before 9am, I had to buy an extra one way ticket. It definitely cost more and retrospectively I felt I should just go after 9am as there is enough time to cover both castles in a day. The view of Bavarian Alps along the way is breathtaking. At the station, I waited for the bus to Schwangau. There are two castles here. The nearest castle near the ticketing counter is Hohenschwangau castle where King Ludwig spent his childhood. The higher castle is the world famous Schloss Neuschwanstein which was first built in 1869 by King Ludwig II(The Mad King or The Fairytale King as the Germans call him). It was partially completed as construction stopped after the death of the King in 1886. The Sleeping Beauty castle in Disneyland is modelled after this elegant castle. The lavish design of the castle drove the King into heavy debts. One would wonder whether it is all worth it since King Ludwig only spent 11 nights here. But his legacy is no doubt the most beautiful castle in the world.
I walked up the hill for about 20minutes before arriving at the entrance to the castle (there is bus from Schloss hotel to the Castle with small fee). Visitors have to enter the castle by guided tour at designated time. The tour was very short and lasted only half hour. Photography is strictly prohibited inside the castle. The completed buildings are Gateway Building, Palace and Knight's building. Main rooms in the palace like Throne Hall and Singer's Hall are decorated with murals of scenes from Germanic and Nordic sagas on which Richard Wagner had based his works. King Ludwig was very passionate about medieval culture and was a great fan of Richard Wagner's music dramas like Lohengrin, Tannhauser, Tristan and Isolde, Der Ring des Nibelungen and Parsifal. The intricate wood carving at the top of the Kings's bed are mini replicas of the spires of famous cathedrals worldwide. There is also a cabinet that was turned into a small artificial grotto based on the Venus grotto in Tannhauser. The last room to visit is the palace kitchen. After exiting the castle, I walked to Marienbrucke which has the best view of the castle. Took a hotel bus down to the Schloss Hotel (one way is euro1). While waiting for the bus to Oberammergau, I had grilled pork for lunch. From Oberammergau, I took another bus to Linderhof castle.
Linderhof Castle is completed in 1878 and is a much smaller castle inspired by French “Sun-King” Louis XIV. Being King Ludwig's favorite castle, he spent 7 years here. The Royal Villa is the King's private residence with Baroque facade and French Rococo style decoration. Inside, the magnificent rooms are Hall of Mirrors, the Tapestry Room, Audience Chamber (though the King never invite any guest), King's bedchamber with 108 candle crystal chandelier and Dining Room with the magic table (table disappears downstairs into kitchen before appear up again loaded with food). The Linderhof Palace park combines elements of French Baroque garden and English landscape garden. In the park, there is pavillion, Venus temple, fountains, Moroccan House, Moorish Kiosk, Hunding's Hut and Venus Grotto. Inside Moorish Kiosk is an impressive Peacock Throne. Venus grotto again is based on Tannhauser play. Inside this man made cave, there is lighting of various colour (red for illusion of Venus Grotto, blue to represent Blue Grotto in Capri), waterfall and a small boat.
While waiting for bus to go back to Oberammergau, I bought Bavarian beer to drink. Yummy! The trip back to Munich is more complicated than I imagined. I had to take another bus from Oberammergau to Murnau then another bus to Uffing to board a train to Munich.
I walked up the hill for about 20minutes before arriving at the entrance to the castle (there is bus from Schloss hotel to the Castle with small fee). Visitors have to enter the castle by guided tour at designated time. The tour was very short and lasted only half hour. Photography is strictly prohibited inside the castle. The completed buildings are Gateway Building, Palace and Knight's building. Main rooms in the palace like Throne Hall and Singer's Hall are decorated with murals of scenes from Germanic and Nordic sagas on which Richard Wagner had based his works. King Ludwig was very passionate about medieval culture and was a great fan of Richard Wagner's music dramas like Lohengrin, Tannhauser, Tristan and Isolde, Der Ring des Nibelungen and Parsifal. The intricate wood carving at the top of the Kings's bed are mini replicas of the spires of famous cathedrals worldwide. There is also a cabinet that was turned into a small artificial grotto based on the Venus grotto in Tannhauser. The last room to visit is the palace kitchen. After exiting the castle, I walked to Marienbrucke which has the best view of the castle. Took a hotel bus down to the Schloss Hotel (one way is euro1). While waiting for the bus to Oberammergau, I had grilled pork for lunch. From Oberammergau, I took another bus to Linderhof castle.
Neuschwanstein Castle
Linderhof Castle
While waiting for bus to go back to Oberammergau, I bought Bavarian beer to drink. Yummy! The trip back to Munich is more complicated than I imagined. I had to take another bus from Oberammergau to Murnau then another bus to Uffing to board a train to Munich.
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