Dan had one free day, so we took a guided day trip from the lodge out to see Neuschwanstein Castle.
As part of the trip, we stopped at a "buy all the wooden German things" store.
We found a leaning tree spirit.
And a knight with his lantern.
Our next stop was the Pilgrimage Church of Wies.
It was built in the mid 1700's to replace the small chapel on the right.
It was built in the mid 1700's to replace the small chapel on the right.
It is said that in 1738 a dilapidated figure of the scourged Christ was witnessed to be weeping. This statue had been cobbled together from other old religious figures and previously left in a barn.
The miracle resulted in a multitude of pilgrims coming to see it.
So a small chapel was constructed in 1740.
It was quickly determined that this chapel was not big enough to serve the number of pilgrims coming to see the miraculous sculpture and the larger church was constructed.
I don't actually know what's going on here.
Maybe Adam and Eve and a wine/blood fountain?
The altar in the chapel. There was a service going on in the church and so no photos were allowed at the time we were visiting, however, you can see the Rococo interior here.
I love all their flower boxes.
Hear those bells? They're attached to sheep!
This is the field behind the church.
Horses!
Drive by scenery!
Pumpkins?
I see it! I see Neuschwanstein in the mist!
The village of Hohenschwangau.
Cinderella / Sleeping Beauty's castles are modeled after Neuschwanstein castle.
It's easy to see why.
This is Hohenschwangau Castle where Ludwig II spent his childhood.
We had a lovely lunch here. Schnitzel and knodel and delicious things. And beer!
Okay, so...Ludwig II built his castle here because he loved his time at Hohenschwangau Castle as a boy. He also never intended for anyone to visit it. It was suppose to be his private place.
We opted to walk up the hill. It was a long steep hill. I did not approve.
A stream going down the mountain.
We started out above the castle, so we could get some fantastic views.
But first, the river coming down the mountain.
From this angle it looks like the river is coming off the bridge!
Oh right, the castle!
It's right in between the mountains.
Good choice of location Ludwig II. It took from 1868 to 1892.
We were there!
A different view of Hohenschwangau.
So, what you need to know about Ludwig II is that his family claimed he was mad.
We walked down from the bridge and around the base of the castle.
Might get a little vertigo looking up the tower.
I was there! It was raining.
Dan was there!
We were both there! Together!
It was wet. Also, the main gate area was under construction. Apparently the castle is under constant construction/renovation. Some part of it is being fixed at any given time.
What's a castle without a little bird house?
What is that?
It's...an angry rooster gargoyle?
Hey! That's the bridge we were on.
A lion!
Okay, so Ludwig's family thought he was mad. He may have been; it's unclear. What is clear is that the family was pissed that he was spending all the family fortune on building this castle. Especially when they had a perfectly good castle already in this area.
No photos were allowed while touring the castle, but you can go on your own tour here.
What you also need to know is that Ludwig was a HUGE fan of Wagner and his operas. Like HUUUUUGE fan. So Neuschwanstein castle is essentially one giant fan-boy tribute to Wagner. It's hilarious. It'd be like if someone did their entire mansion in Star Wars themes. This is the "New Hope" room, and this is the "Clone Wars" room, and this is the Saarlacc pit...
Ludwig died under suspicious circumstances in 1886 along with the physician who declared him insane. Dun dun duuuuuuun.......
Ludwig never intended anyone to visit the castle unless he invited them. So naturally, about two months after he died, the family started charging admission to the castle. Mostly to help recoup the lost family fortune. People have been visiting ever since. Oddly enough, despite Ludwig being out of the picture in 1886, and the family wanting their money back, construction continued until 1892.
He really picked a lovely view.
We got down from the mountain just before the rain really started to come down. We piled into our bus and passed out on the drive back to the lodge.
This concludes our adventures for today.
This concludes our adventures for today.
