Bavarian Castles
Travel Tips for Seniors: Bavarian Castles
What trip to Germany is complete without a stop in Bavaria for a visit to one of Mad King Ludwig’s mighty castles?
Having backpacked through this area in the 90’s and enjoyed it immensely, I was very much looking forward to introducing Mom to this unique and beautiful part of the world. Mom and I signed on to a small group, twelve-day tour through Germany. However, the tour through Bavaria was on our free day and was not part of the tour.
The Black Forest conjures many thoughts of wicked witches and wild animals, none of which are anything to worry about these days! The great pine forest makes for a lovely drive away from the bustle of the city and an even better setting for the castles of King Ludwig.
We booked a day tour to visit Neuschwanstein and also Linderhof, Ludwig’s hunting chateau.
Neuschwanstein hadn’t changed much since I last visited, the only change was the timed entry system which allowed a specific number of visitors in at a specific time. While no one likes waiting in line, it was nice not to be pushed and shoved once inside this very popular attraction.
The castle is located near the small, picturesque village of Hohenschwangau, which also is home to Hohenschwangau Castle, Ludwig’s childhood home. I had toured it in the 90’s and found it to be plain compared to Ludwig’s other castles, but with exquisite views.
King Ludwig II, built Neuschwanstein castle as a retreat from public life. He used elements of his beloved Wagner operas and medieval legends in the design of the castle. The castle has many rooms, only a few of which are open for viewing. Don’t miss the Kings’ bedroom, the grotto and conservatory. Also, save time for a walk to the Marionsbrucke, for beautiful views of the castle and the town below.
A word on Neuschwanstein…It is a pretty steep hike up the hill to arrive at the castle, but there is a horse and carriage option. Also, you may have to wait a bit to get inside.
After a quick stop in the lovely town of Oberammergau with its frescoed buildings and home of the famous once-every-ten-year passion play, we were on to Linderhof.
Linderhof was King Ludwig’s hunting villa. He built three palaces, and this is the smallest of them and the only one completed and the one he most frequented. It is unique in that it has much of the original decoration and furniture and it is a fascinating window into Germany in the late 1800’s. Similar in styling to Neuschwanstein, it is most interesting for its completeness.
After a wonderful sunny day trip, we were ready for a beer and some pretzels on the daytrip tour bus drive back to Munich. Mad King Ludwig’s castles are a must-see as part of any trip to Germany, so do make time to fit them into your travels!
Where we stayed: Day trip from Munich.
How we got there: Bus tour. This was part of a ten-day small group tour through Germany with a side trip to Czech Republic.
General Accessibility Information: Major tourist sights, newer hotels, transportation in most major cities are accessible. Call in advance to verify and make specialty arrangements. See our sections on specialty apps and accessible travel for more on accessibility assistance.
