Exploring Neuschwanstein Castle

We were staying in the southern area of Munich, west of the Isar River, so our goal was to drive there via the Romantic Road ("Romantische Straße"), which gave us a scenic ride through a beautiful areas of Bavaria. See the large lake just south of Starnberg? That is Lake Starnberg where King Ludwig drowned in 1886. It has never been resolved whether his death was accidental or murder.

Neuschwanstein Strasse

To reach the castle, you have two options: walk up the hill or take a horse-drawn carriage. Either way, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of the castle, the lush valley below, and the surrounding forested landscape. The winding paths offer plenty of opportunities to stop and take in the fairy-tale setting, with the towering turrets of the castle often visible through breaks in the trees.

This particular photo was taken from one of the scenic hiking trails east of the castle, a densely forested area that offers serene walking paths and occasional glimpses of the castle’s iconic silhouette. It’s a peaceful escape from the crowds and a chance to connect with nature.

Important note: The walk from the ticket center to the castle is about 1.5 kilometers up a steep incline, and on a hot summer day, it can be quite strenuous, especially if you don’t have water. Thankfully, there are numerous shaded areas along the way where you can pause and cool off, making the journey more enjoyable. For those who love nature and adventure, the walk is part of the experience, with stunning views all around.

Castle Entrance Gate House

As far as I am aware, this is the only public entrance to the castle, through the gate and wait in the courtyard for your entrance to be granted.

Entrance is allowed only via your ticket, which is date & time marked - in other words - you cannot enter until your date & time is called. This is why this area appears to be lightly populated, everyone who was waiting had just gone inside the castle.

Upper Courtyard Level

The most striking feature of Neuschwanstein’s upper courtyard is the Rectangular Tower, an imposing structure that rises prominently above the castle grounds. Although it may appear fortified, much like the castle’s other architectural elements, the tower is largely decorative, designed to enhance the romanticized medieval aesthetic that King Ludwig II envisioned for the castle. Its ornate detailing and elegant proportions contribute to the castle’s fairy-tale appearance, making it one of the most photographed parts of the complex.

At the northern end of the upper courtyard, you’ll find the Knights’ House, visible on the right side of the image. This three-story structure, with its steeply pitched roof and narrow windows, is connected to both the Rectangular Tower and the Gatehouse through a continuous gallery adorned with a blind arcade, creating a harmonious flow of architectural elements. The blind arcade, with its series of recessed arches, adds depth and texture to the courtyard’s design, further emphasizing the castle’s Gothic Revival style.

Together, these structures create an impressive and cohesive ensemble that evokes the romanticized ideals of chivalry, knighthood, and medieval grandeur that inspired King Ludwig II to build Neuschwanstein Castle.

Neuschwanstein East Side

The views of Neuschwanstein Castle from the east side are truly breathtaking, offering one of the most iconic and captivating perspectives of this fairy-tale fortress. From this vantage point, the castle appears to emerge from the dense Bavarian forest, its majestic spires and turrets reaching skyward as if drawn straight from a dream. The contrast between the castle’s gleaming limestone façade and the lush greenery of the surrounding woodlands enhances its otherworldly charm, making it easy to see why Neuschwanstein inspired countless artists and storytellers, including Walt Disney himself.

Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Bavarian Alps, the castle seems to blend seamlessly with the rugged landscape, as though it has always belonged there. The soaring peaks, deep valleys, and ever-changing skies provide a dynamic canvas that makes each view feel unique. Whether bathed in sunlight, shrouded in mist, or dusted with snow in winter, Neuschwanstein exudes a timeless magic that leaves visitors spellbound.

Neuschwanstein West Side

This was taken as our walk up the Neuschwanstein Strasse was completed, looking east along the steep sides of the castle. This entire area was heavily forested, beautiful park-like setting.

The views of Neuschwanstein Castle from the west side are stunning, offering a more dramatic and expansive perspective of the castle against the backdrop of the surrounding landscape. From this vantage point, the castle appears perched high on the rugged mountain cliff, its spires rising above the forest below and seemingly blending into the steep, rocky slopes of the Alps.

From the west side, you can take in the full grandeur of the castle's architecture, with its Gothic-inspired towers and detailed stonework standing out against the natural scenery. The west side also gives a great view of the castle's lower sections, including the intricate windows and turrets, which are often obscured from other angles.

Neuschwanstein East Side from the Trail

It is easy to see that this picture was taken as we ascended the hiking trail on our way to Marienbrücke, the castle views get better & better from this area.

The area behind the castle provides a very nice hiking path, through a beautiful forest area as it heads uphill. The views of the castle from this area are fantastic!

Neuschwanstein Castle Inner Courtyard

This image is from the Neuschwanstein Castle inner courtyard, looking towards the main residence building.

At the time of it's construction, the Schloss Neuschwanstein was called the New Hohenschwangau Castle. After the death of King Ludwig II, the castle was renamed the Schloss Neuschwanstein, which meant the “New Swan Stone Castle”. This was a reference to the castle of the Swan Knight Lohengrin in an opera of the same name by Wagner.

Marienbrücke (Mary's Bridge)

Here is a great view of the Castle from the famous Marienbrücke (Mary's bridge) built to cross the Pöllat Gorge by King Maximilian II in 1845. We were perhaps 500 or more feet above the castle. The hiking path extends beyond the bridge and provides great views of the castle. Looks like a fairy tale kind of building doesn't it? King Ludwig, who designed it and had it built, was far more interested in being an architect, than he was having to be the King of Bavaria.

Since we had been inside the Castle before, and because the crowds were such that all tickets for that day were sold out, we decided to hike up behind the Castle, to see it from above.

Click here to view a Google Map of where the Pöllat Gorge is located in relation to the castle.

Below Mary's Bridge

Here is a great view of the Castle from below the famous Mary's bridge, in the Pöllat gorge. The hiking trails extend into the gorge if you are interested in this kind of view.

NOTE: Image is the property of Robert Böck via Wikimedia Commons and Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Germany.

Posing on Mary's Bridge

It was very difficult to get a picture while standing on this bridge, due to the large number of tourists walking to & fro, but eventually Jeremy was able to take this great picture of us - and oh yeah - with the Castle in the background!

The bridge is an easy walk from the castle, located north of the Castle and above it, click here to view a Google Map of the route.

Hohenschwangau Castle

This is King Ludwig's father's castle (Hohenschwangau Castle), and also where Ludwig was born and grew up.

Hohenschwangau Village is on the left, Schloss Hohenschwangau on right, as seen from Neuschwanstein Castle. The two castles are only 2.2 kilometers apart, click here to view a Google Map of the route..

Hot Day Rest Break

This picture was included to give you a bit of an idea of how hot it was, because on our way back down the hiking trail from Neuschwanstein, we had to stop and get ourselves a cold drink!

If I remember correctly, something had just flown over this area, and I was trying to get a better view of it.

Our Last View of the Castle

This was our final glimpse of Neuschwanstein Castle as we made our way through the quaint village at the base of the hiking trail. The area was bustling with tourists, which is no surprise on a summer day in Bavaria, when the castle attracts visitors from all over the world. The village itself adds to the charm, with traditional Bavarian buildings, souvenir shops, and cafés offering a welcoming atmosphere after the trek.

Looking back at the towering mountain behind the castle, it really hit us just how steep and challenging the hike had been. That climb through the forested trail was worth every step for the incredible panoramic views we experienced at the top. Once we emerged from the shaded path, however, we were back in the direct sunlight, and the heat was intense. The summer sun was unforgiving, and we were grateful that our rental car had A/C to cool us down after such an exhausting but unforgettable adventure.