Neuschwanstein Castle

On Friday, we took a train ride to see Neuschwanstein Castle. When we arrived, we had a choice to take a bus ride up or walk through the gorge. We chose to walk in the gorge. It was so beautiful. The walk way had beams braced to the mountain that didn't seem strong enough to hold a line of people, but amazingly they were fine. After a short walk on the walk way, there are stone steps, that really enhances the beauty of the gorge. We saw a cascading waterfall, and in the beginning of the walk, a water line that had once been used by a mill that use to be at the foot of the gorge. The walk took about 45 minutes to an hour. It was not very strenuous, however, I would not recommend walking the gorge if you have problems walking up hill.

Once we were to the top, we could go left to the bridge, Marienbrucke, or right to the castle. Going on the bridge to view the castle is a must!!! You see the sights of the gorge below, and to look at the castle on the hilltop at the same level is breath taking. The bridge did creek some when we were on it, which did freak us out a little. After the bridge, we went to the Castle. The tour was really organized and enjoyable. They did not allow picture taking in the castle, but the books they sold has everything in it that you would have wanted a picture of. The castle is fascinating. It is only a little over a hundred years old, and it is unfinished. There is some neat history behind it. King Ludwig II was unable to finish it because for one, he was declared insane, and while he was held, he was found dead along with one of the doctors that declared his insanity.

It was ruled has a suicide and never really looked into. Also, there were other events that took place during the construction that makes its' history fascinating, such as one of the site managers shot himself on location, and several carpenters died in freak accidents. The interior is really beautiful. The king was huge into art. In every room there is painted scenes from various stories, in his bedroom he had the saga of Tristan and Isolde. Because construction of the castle had been stopped, one floor is completely unfinished and various other locations were not completed. The throne room, for example, does not even have throwns. It is extremely beautiful, I could only imagine how even more so it would be if it could have been finished.