We had booked a guided tour to the 2 castles through Viator. This was a day trip from Munich which included a stop in the town of Oberammergau in addition to the visits to Neuschwanstein and Linderhof castles.
Neuschwanstein Castle – This stunning old fortress is widely recognized as one of Europe’s most famous and picturesque royal castles. King Ludwig II of Bavaria built this spectacular fantasy fortress from 1869-86. It is considered as the inspiration for Walt Disney’s iconic theme park castles. Ludwig built this castle as a retreat and personal use. He paid for its construction out of his personal fortune, but he died in 1886 and never got to live there. The castle was opened to the public shortly after his death.
We were not allowed to take any photographs inside the castle.
The less known Hohenschwangau castle which situated next to Neuschwanstein is also as beautiful. From 1832 to 1836, the neo-Gothic castle was build by crown prince Maximillan of Bavaria from the ruins of the ruined castle Schwanstein. King Ludwig II spent his childhood here and it served as the romantic summer and hunting residence for the Bavarian royal family. The four striking corner towers and walls with battlements give the castle a medieval appearance. The castle is a nice addition if you are staying in the region for a longer period of time, we admired this castle from a viewpoint.
Linderhof Palace – Linderhof was built from 1872 to 1878 and was designed to be a rococo-style royal villa. It is the smallest of the three palaces built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria and the only one which was actually completed and that he lived in most of the time from 1876. He wanted it to be a palace for him and him alone, a wish that is clearly reflected in the size of the rooms. We were not allowed to take any photographs inside the castle.
The grounds at Schloss Linderhof are equally as impressive as the palace itself. Beautiful flower gardens surround the palace and the extensive park has trees and winding pathways.
Ride back to Munich and Oberammergau – Oberammergau is a small town in Bavaria on the Ammer River known for its woodcarvers and woodcarvings and for its 400-year tradition of hosting Passion Play – The Passion Play or Easter pageant is a drama presentation depicting the Passion of Jesus, his trial, suffering and death. The first Passion Play was performed around 1634 and continues to be performed every 10 years. The theater was closed on the day we went.
The town is also known for its colorful painted houses. The fresco paintings on the houses were once used to show the owner’s status and wealth. Businesses, restaurants, and hotels now occupy these houses. Stunning paintings of festivals, fairy tales, religious scenes adorn the houses.
The Kofel mountain looms on top of the town. The cone shaped mountain has a cross on the top with many trails around it and is a favorite among hikers.
