Day 8 – ’10 Days of Walking in Bavaria’ – Fairytale Castles and a World Heritage site.

Post 263: 17 May 2018,  Neuchwanstein, Schloss Hohenschwangua and Wieskirche

Travelling out to King Ludwig II’s castles of Neuchwanstein and Schloss Hohenschwangua, we took a wrong turning after Bad Kohlrub. However, every cloud has a silver lining and it took us past one of his other castles, Linderhof, and along some scenic roads, forests and past Lake Plansee.  The route was Saulgrub, Ober-ammenau, Ammer-Saltet, Lake Plansee, Reutte, Fussen. 

Neuschwenstein then came into view. 

We parked at the castle car park near a lake and went for coffee.  We passed  the 14th century Schloss Hohenschwangua which, after being destroyed in 1832, was rebuilt in 1837. It rises up to its dominating position on an 864 metre-high mountain ridge. Our main goal for the day was Neuschwenstein, which impressed as we walked uphill to a viewpoint on a bridge above it. 

The views from the path were staggeringly beautiful as we got higher and higher. Schloss Hohenschwangua became quite small next to the lake.

We arrived at the Marienbruke the cast-iron bridge above the Pollat Gorge 300 feet down.

The views from the bridge were dramatic.

However, we couldn’t stay for too long as we had a tour of the inside of the castle booked.  No photographs were allowed inside

The castle, typifying everything ‘medieval’,  was built between 1869 and 1892 by King Ludwig II of Bavaria. His plans were greatly influenced by a visit to the Warburg in 1867, and of course by Wagner’s operas. Although it was never completed, Ludwig spent more than six million marks building and furnishing it between 1869 and 1886. Finally, he was considered unfit to govern on 10th June in 1886 and was arrested two days later. On 13th June he drowned mysteriously in the Starnberger See. He nearly bankrupt Bavaria.

Leaving the castle and the tourist crowds we had further views from the road showing another perspective of this extraordinary place and locality. Disneyland in reality. 

Victoria had another surprise up her sleeve for me at Wieskirche. A 1993 UNESCO listed World heritage Site consisting of the church of Zum Gegeibelten Heiland, nestling in sub-Alpine scenery. It is a fine example of South German Rococo and possibly the finest in the world.In 1738, the figure of Christ in a small chapel in the fields south west of the present church is said to have wept tears.

Soon afterwards pilgrims began to flock to the site of the miracle. In 1743-4 the Premonstratensian abbot of Steingaden commissioned Dominikus Zimmerman to design a church here. It is simply stunning:

Of course great views carried on during the journey back to Tegernesse. What a beautiful country.

Time was pressing and I managed to persuade Victoria to let me take her to a restaurant of her choice. As ever she made an excellent choice. A great finish to another fascinating day out.

Miles Walked 6.7