Schloß Hohenschwangau Things to Do

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When crowds of tourists leave Hohenschwangau, and there are only few inhabitants of several small hotels and not numerous inhabitants in the village, it is possible to take pleasure in true spirit and silence of local places as it was in days of Ludwig. The illuminated castles bewitch.

I heard that Ludwig highlighted the castles too though in his time the electricity was not so is widespread yet. He used torches and candles...

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The best view at the castle opens from a viewing platform which is hardly above Neuschwanstein Castle.

It is considered, what exactly this place was chosen by Ludwig for construction of the new castle which at his life referred Neus Hohenschwangau schloss.

Certainly, the view at the Old castle is even better from the tower of the New castle. However tourists while do not start up there.

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One more sight of the park which surrounds the castle is the small swimming bath.

It's considered, that in this swimming bath Wittelsbach family spent time, simultaneously admiring beauty of adjoining mountains.

Groups of tourists go into the castle every 5-10 minutes. Thus there is a small pause when tourists expect the invitation to excursion. It is possible to fill this pause, having bypassed around of the castle.

It is possible to find out some picturesque fountains there:
Four lions hold a bowl which is filled with water on heads,
a figure of a swan, from which beak a jet of water flows.

The large “Festsaal” hall, also called “Hall of Heroes and Knights”, takes up the whole width of the Castle. The stucco ceiling is decorated with neo-Gothic ornaments on pink background with diorama silver stars. All columns are in Gothic style.

The “Oriental Room” used to be Queen Mary's bedroom. This room has been decorated in an oriental style in memory of Maximilian's trip to Greece and Turkey in 1832/33.

The “Hohenstaufen-Room” used to be the dressing room of King Maximilian II and King Ludwig II. It also was Ludwig's music room. Paintings on the walls illustrate special events from the era of the “Staufen” selected by Maximilian.

The “Tasso-Room” was the bedroom of King Maximilian II and King Ludwig II. All walls of this room are beautifully painted. The paintings tell the story of Armida and Rinaldo according to Torquato Tasso's epic poem “Jerusalem Delivered”.

The “Berchta Room”, used to be the Queen's writing room. Surrounded by beautiful painted ornaments with climbing plants and twines, images tell the myth of the birth of Karl the Great in the Reismuhle near Gauting.

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In 1842, Crown Price Maximilian married Princess Marie of Prussia. He then succeeded to the Throne of Bavaria in 1848 which required an increase to the size of the castle suitable for the larger royal household.

The coach house was removed and replaced by the Prince's building. This is where King Ludwig II spent his childhood. When Ludwig became King Ludwig II, he began the construction of his famous fairytale castles but left Hohenschwangau largely as it was during his youth.

Today, Hohenschwangau is still privately owned. The owner: Wittelsbacher Ausgleichsfonds. Although it is open to the public as a museum. The interior of the castle features paintings of Bavarian knights and folk heroes.

It is considered that this castle was originally built in the 12th century.
In 1523 the castle was already described as not useful for defense purposes but with thin walls. The repair by the Italian architect Licio de Spari 1538 - 41 for the building owner, the Augsburg patrician Paumgarten, was nearly a rebuilding.

Hohenschwangau was destroyed by Napoleon.
Crown Prince Maximilian of Bavaria discovered the ruins of Burg Schwanstein while out walking in the Bavarian countryside one day and vowed to restore the castle into a romantic royal residence.
In 1829 his interest grew and he began negotiations to purchase the ruin and begin the restoration.
In 1832 he finally acquired the ruin for 7,000 guilders.
Maximilian put Domenico Quaglio in charge of the restoration of the castle in a Gothic style.
Quaglio was also a painter of architectural and theatrical scenes. And so the construction of the first Bavarian fairytale castle was underway.

When decided to go there and visit the famous castles of King Ludvig of Bavaria, you will reach Schwangau, which is the little village where you accomodate for the next day to visit the two royal castles.
Here is one picture I took the night I've reached Hochenschwangau, coming from Innsbruck.