We plan to travel from Munich to Lindau, with a side trip/short stop to see the castles Neuschwantein/Hohenschwangau. We're debating car vs. train, with the issues of what to do about luggage, limited time between when we arrive and must leave Fussen train station and cost being issues. <BR><BR>In any event, here are our questions:<BR><BR>1. Is there a luggage storage area in the Fussen bahnhof?<BR><BR>2. Is 3.5 hours sufficient to get from Fussen bahnhof by bus to the neuschwanstein area, take the horse drawn cart ride up to the castle, take pix, see some of the area and get back to Fussen for the train to Lindau?<BR><BR>3. Would the relatively high cost of renting a car for one day (90E) be worth the reduction in the hassle of loading/unloading luggage, meeting train deadlines etc? <BR><BR>Thanks for your thoughts

Q1 - yes from memory luggage lockers like lots of town stations, small or large. Should be couple of big ones for luggage -also just in case, you could simply ask a nearby hotel (there is a 4 star one, ask nicely and for a tip probably store it there.<BR>Q2 -rushed, but doable - takes only 15 minutes or so from station to Neuschwanstein by bus, or faster by cab - plenty of horse drawn carts once you get there. So with no rush there and back, you will still have 2.5 hrs. <BR>Q3 - hiring from Munich? What is your train journey to Lindau like - do not think you can do it direct, so are you returning to Munich or perhaps stopping off at intermediary point? If you are not bothered about the rush, I would not spend the money. Also hassle involved in getting out of Munich etc. vs train.

I can't tell you for sure if Fussen has lockers since I wasn't looking for them while I was there, but the station is TINY so I wouldn't be surprised if there weren't any.<BR>You can get a bus infront of the Fussen station that will take you to the castels (takes about ten minutes) for a minimal charge.<BR>When you get to the castles you can buy a combined ticket for both, but they give you set appointment times for entrance, so I hope your 3.5 hours isn't set in stone since you never know what you'll get!<BR>On the other hand since time is an issue, just get the horse drawn cart up to the castles and don't go inside. You can still take in the spectacular scenery and wouldn't be missing out too much.<BR>Hope someone can help you with the luggage/car question!

If you know when you will be visiting the castle(s), you can make advance reservations on the internet--that way you'd be sure of the timing. There is also a bus to Neuschwanstein--faster than the carriages--or you could walk, but it is a very steep hike and would take much longer than the bus. We did walk to Hohenschwangau castle and it was an OK hike.<BR><BR>Personally, if money isn't an issue, I'd drive it--we drove from Munich to the village of Hohenschwangau with stops for some antique browsing, a visit to Linderhof, and a leisurely lunch along the Plansee on the way, and we were still able to see Hohenschwangau castle after we arrived that afternoon. It was a pleasant day.

Thanks for the quick responses and good advice. <BR><BR>We were thinking of doing the Bayern day pass--which, for 21 Euro, would get us to Fussen from Munich in 2 hrs with one change of trains and then from Fussen to Lindau in a couple hours with one change. Accessibility is an issue for my spouse, so the idea of just doing the cart ride up/down is a good option for us--and it sounds like time would permit. So, if there is a place to leave bags (hotel is an idea we hadn't thought about), I'm thinking that a train is it.

The castles are really impressive from the outside. The pension we stayed in was right below Neuschwanstein--it just hovered above us when we were on our balcony. When we were on the tour it was interesting to see what our pension looked like from the castle windows.<BR><BR>Depending on how serious your husband's accessibility issues are, there is a special tour for people using walkers or wheelchairs. Also, even if the castle, with all those steps, is too much, he still might make the walk to Marienbrucke for a spectacular view. We saw a number of older and handicapped people make it to the bridge with canes, slowly, but they made it. http://www.ktb.net/~bewier/Hohensch-wp.html

I was there several years ago and there was a luggage check right next to the train tracks. I don't remember the charge but I think it was minimal. The bus stop is across the street from the station. It seems to me that the bus to the castle doesn't get you to the top of the hill that the castle was on. For some reason, I remember it stopping at the bridge and we had to walk the rest of the way. I seem to recall the carriages going all the way to the castle. The bridge has a beautiful view of the castle, depending on your spouse's disability, it may not be accessible, unfortunately. Have a great time! The castle is so interesting - but I think lots of steps were involved. Not sure if there were elevators or ramps. Again, not sure of the disability so this may not be an issue.

The bus stops about 600 m. from Neuschwanstein, carriages about 300 m.<BR><BR>http://www.hohenschwangau.de/index.php?id=430

RufusTFirefly,<BR>How is the pension you stayed in Fussen? Do you have the name or website?<BR>Thanks.

Great information, folks. Thanks very much. Can't wait to get there!

r shum<BR><BR>The pension was very nice--free parking, breakfast, modern private bath. 64 euros a night double last June.<BR><BR>http://www.albrecht-neuschwanstein.de/index2.html<BR><BR>A good restaurant on the road from Hohenschwangau to Schwangau, just a couple of minutes drive from the pension: <BR><BR>http://www.alpenhotel-allgaeu.de/engl/e-index.htm <BR><BR>It actually would probably be a nice place to stay, too--though it isn't as close to the ticket center and castles.<BR>

The most interesting of the castles near Fussen is not Neuschwanstein. It's Linderhof.<BR><BR>For the record, I did not personally see Hohenschwangau but I heard that after the other two, it is the least interesting.

I found all three interesting. Maybe it's my history and anthropology background.

I agree that the INTERIOR of Linderhof is much more interesting. Also agree that the Fuessen train station is small..was there just last year and do not remember if there are lockers or not but if they're aren't I would try the hotel (the Luitpold)which is directly across the street.

what about Linderhof's interior is more interesting????<BR><BR>Do they allow you to take pictures INSIDE of any of the castles?<BR><BR>We are definitely going to Neuschwanstein but not sure about Linderhof or Hohenschwangau.<BR><BR>

No pictures inside of Linderhof or Neuschwanstein.<BR><BR>The interior of Linderhof is much more highly decorated, while the interior of Neuschwanstein is quite bare. Just my opinion...

Neuschwanstein is bare inside because King Ludwig II died (or was murdered) during the construction of the castle. He was using all of Bavaria's money building castles while the rest of Europe industrialized. So, only a few rooms are accessible and decorated.<BR><BR>Hohenschwangau is fully decorated and you can tour several floor, but not the private family residence floor. It was used as the family hunting residence up until the 1970s. It is filled with gifts given to the King of Bavaria and has some beautiful artwork on the walls an ceilings along with ornate stained glass chapels. Wagner stayed at Hohenschwangau. The guide gives a wonderful tour.<BR>

The most interesting thing about Linderhof, in my opinion, was the man made cave on the grounds where Meshugana Ludwig had Wagnerian opera performed. Do not miss it!