A common theme of the two castles is swans which are the emblem of the family and feature throughout both.
This shows the two castles together.
The weather forecast was good, but the evidence told a different story, so we went prepared for anything.
We arrived at the car park at the appointed hour for our guide to collect the tickets. After a while he returned to tell us that the computer had 'broken down' and tickets could not be issued. Disaster? Well it sounded like it, but we set out to walk up the the Schloss. By the time that we arrived, hand written tickets had done so as well and we entered the Schloss.
The Schloss Hohenschwangau has origins in the 12th century, but the current building was rebuilt by King Maximilian II of Bavaria and is now owned by the Duke of Bavaria.
This is a King Maximillian
Naturally, one cannot take photos inside the castle.
The candelabra is made up of silver swans - the swan being the emblem of the royal family and of the Wagnerian Lohengrin legend.
This is a view over the lake from a window
As you can see, the weather was improving by the hour.
Having seen inside the castle, our next stop was lunch which was booked for 12.30 and was up a hill, close by the Schloss Neuschwanstein. We could either go to the restaurant by horse drawn carriages or walk. The queue for the carriages was long and the walk up the hill should only take 20 minutes, we were told by our guide. Meals in Germany are served promptly, so we couldn't be late and there was no time to call into the facilities. Our group is a club of the third age and we are very much at the young end, however, most people are pretty fit and the majority elected to walk leaving just a small group to queue for a carriage.
We set forth up the hill. Everyone made it to the restaurant, but some were struggling at the end. We were all ready for our lunch when we entered only to find that our guide had made a mistake and we were not booked into the restaurant at the top of the hill, but the one at the bottom that we had passed 30 minutes earlier. There was nothing for it, but to go back down the hill. Most people chose to walk even those who should not have. As we were walking down, we met our fellow travelers of very reduced mobility who were ascending in a horse drawn carriage. "Demontez", demontez" we all called. The driver, looking puzzled, stopped the carriage and they all got off. John explained the situation to the driver in his best german and all was well.
Now 30 minutes late, we reached the correct restaurant and sat down to soup followed by dumplings, red cabbage and beef, then apple strudel.
Now it was time to go up the hill again (this is sounding and feeling like "the grand old Duke of York") but this time we took the bus up a very windy road, not the one that the horses or pedestrians use thankfully as the busses go at break neck speed. Once at the top, we still had a 15 minute uphill walk to reach the Schloss
Neuschwanstein.
One of the advantages of visiting castles etc in a group is that entry is usually easy - one just hangs around taking photos whilst the guide negotiates entry, both castles batch process. This was no exception and we were soon inside waiting for our batches turn.
The Schloss was built by Ludwig II of Bavaria and is a homage to Wagner.
This is the singers' room.
We then left the Schloss, through the kitchens and the shops, to assemble outside ready for the descent.
This is the kitchen
Outside, we stood in the sun at the appointed spot, waiting for everyone to arrive. After some time and various searches both inside and outside the castle, we were missing two people. What to do? It was decided that the main part of the group should head down the hill along the road leading to the horse carriages terminus as planned, while our driver and we headed in the direction of the bus stop, just in case. Sure enough, that was where they were found, anxiously waiting for the rest of the group, having mistaken the meeting point. We all arrived at the bottom of the hill together.
We were now all ready for a little free time and a beer in a local cafe, before boarding the bus for the drive home.
A regular event on these trips is the apero stop. The bus pulls in to the side of the road, a table, nibbles and cool box containing ice is produced and everyone gathers round for a amicable half hour over an aperatif.
The weather was now at its best and after the apero, we drove through stunning Austrian countryside. When we got to the hotel, we went straight out to take photos around the village.
This is the view from our balcony
Views from around the village:
Pat and John on tour
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