Neuschwanstein Castle
 

We are traveling with my 85 year old father at Christmas this year. We will be in Schwangau and would like to see Neuschwanstein Castle. The official web site says the carriage will take you within 1000 feet of the castle leaving the person with a 5 minute walk. Is this true? Do you think an 85 year old in good condition could make this walk or is it too much?

I haven't ever been 85. Not many of us have!!
In terms of walking, what can your father do at home?
How much ground can he cover in 5 minutes?
Can he climb stairs? That is a more important question than the walk from the carriage stop to the castle itself because you do go up and down flights of stairs.

Also, you don't go in immediately unless you understand several languages. If you must have English, you will need to wait for the start of an English language tour, unless you want to go along with some other group.
But then you would not understand any of the descriptions by the guide.

When we were there, our tour had a number and we waited until our number was called. Then we were moved through on a tight schedule. It was almost like we were on a production assembly line.

I did it last year. Walked all the way up, and it was steep. If a carriage takes you to within 1000ft, that's still 330 metres of steep walking. Might be challenging for an 85-yr-old. Frankly, apart from the views from the windows, it was a bit of a yawn too compared with Burg Eltz and others. If you want to see a Mad King Ludwig castle that is truly impressive both inside and out, go a little south-east of Schwangau to Linderhof. It has opulent over-the-top interiors, grand gardens, terraces and pathways, a cool grotto, and it's all an easy flat walk through shaded woods from the carpark.

Yes it is true... but that 1000 feet is walking up a steep walk up the hill.

Neuschwanstein is very impressive from the outside; Linderhof is much more impressive INSIDE.

Neuschwanstein can be seen and understood to some smaller extent without waiting for an English language tour and how long you'll have to wait for one at THAT time of year is open to question (we waited an hour for one in the Summer once).

As to the abilities of an 85-year-old...almost impossible to predict given your paucity of details other than "in good condition."

The walk is fairly steep if you go ALL the way up...I am assuming he is in good enough condition to hoist himself INTO that horse-drawn wagon (calling it a "carriage" is a slight romantic stretch).

I think if he takes things slow and easy that last 1000 feet will be manageable but if I had a choice of N-schwanstein vs. Linderhof I'd go for the latter.

Kathy
You may have a problem.
I walked up to the castle from the village last October on a snow covered road without problem and I was 75.
However,you are going in December and there will be snow on the road.
The horse drawn carriage may not be able to make the grade. and even if it does he would have to walk up and back
on an icy road from the drop off point. If the carriage is running he could take it that far and wait at the coffee shop while you walk on up to the castle. I personally would do it again but it could be risky. My spouse age 72 fell on ice,fortunately without injury, just an hour before at Linderhof Castle.

Don



There was light snow on the road when we visited and it was slippery especially coming back down.
It would be worth it to take the trip as he can view the castle from the village below while you make the climb.
The best view of the castle will be from above but the path was closed due to the light snow in October 2003.
Don

We were there in 2002 and took the bus up and walked down. A walk around the back of the castle to the Marienbrücke for view and pictures is a "must," although I couldn't convince my wife to walk out on the suspension bridge. ((a))

Here are a couple of excerpts from the official web site you might want to consider if you decide to bring your father to the Castle:

"During the tour you will have to climb 165 steps and descend 181."

"Every Wednesday we offer special guided tours for wheelchair and walker users."

"The bus goes to the Jugend lookout point (Marienbrücke) from where it is about 600m or a 10-minute walk on a steep downhill path to the entrance of the castle." The bus costs a couple of Euro. ((b))

I'm going yet again for the umpteenth time tomorrow (sister-in-law in town), so I'll pay particuar attention to those last 1000 feet and get back to you'asap!

We have been to Neuschwanstein in late November and late February.

Firstly, the bus does not go up the back road to the castle (near Marienbrucke) during the winter months. The only transport up in December will be the carriage.

You should expect ice and/or snow on the roadway between where the carriage drops you off on up to the castle.

Personally, I would not consider taking my 85 year old father "up or down that stretch" of roadway. It is a steep climb. I am in my 50's and had to take multiple "rest breaks" on the way up. Not only because of the incline, but also because of the cold temperatures ( which can cause shortness of breath, particularly in the elderly.)

A "5 minute" walk at that time of year may become a "25 minute walk" for an older person----plus, you would need to be concerned about a possible fall on the ice or snow.

Hopefully, if you get him up to the top safely, you still will need to wait in an "unheated" staging area for an appropriate language tour. (It is indoors, but still unheated.)

Then, as the other poster mentioned, there are still all those steps inside the castle to contend with.

If this will be your only chance to see Neuschwanstein, put him somewhere comfortable and go up without him.

You will definitely want to hike up to the Marianbrucke to take pictures, and he would never make that hike. The roadway is a "picnic" as compared to the snow and ice conditions behind the castle.

In summer, I would not be concerned---in winter, I would let him somewhere warm and cozy and show him your wonderful pictures---and bring him a souvenir.

I've only been there in the Spring/Summer. Based on the above post, I think your father would probably be happier sitting by the fireplace at one of those restaurants at the bottom of the hill sipping on some Gluehwein. ((b))

Neuschwanstein is one of the most horrid tourist traps I have ever visited. It is a huge, empty monstrosity with no cultural or artistic value at all. Why people go to visit it--beyond seeing how daft Ludwig II was--is the great $60,000 question. Neuschwanstein is like a copy of a Van Eyck done with a paint-by-numbers kit.

I would rather take a tour of my neighbour's garage.

So tell us what you REALLY thought. LOL

Actually you're pretty much right, but I think that's its attraction. It is such an over the top monstrosity that shows how mad Ludwig was. Why is it so odd to want to see that? Maybe it's the fascination with how tons of money doesn't necessarily have anything to do with good taste.

I enjoyed seeing Sleeping Beauty's Castle at Disneyland Paris too. Of course I didn't try to compare it to Versailles. But I enjoy such kitschy things for what they are.

Kathy
I agree with ThinGorgus and Patrick,the inside of the castle is so,so.
After seeing the interior of Linderhof
just down the road,there is no comparison. The others are right. Park pops in a warm restaurant at the bottom of the hill while you make the hike.
I feel the castle is best viewed from the bridge above the castle but the trail may be closed due to snow.
Don

WE went so that our children could see Cinderella's castle.Anyone who thinks that is a waste of time just doesn't get it.

I was lucky enough to visit this castle with a Czech speaking colleague and I found the place to be fascinating. The walk up the hill is difficult and the transport as others have said is there to minimise it, but 85 yrs may be difficult without some help. I suggest you try it out it would be a shame to miss it.
We are back in Cz tomorrow and may well go there again with my wife this time.
Will report how it went in a week or so.

Muck

Just back after a super crowded August 'high season' day. Not as magical this time around... perhaps it was the boring tour guide this time, the teeming crowds of people, or simply the fact that I've seen this place more times than I care to remember (relatives in town who had never seen it).

The bus does run up to the castle in the winter, albeit on a limited schedule. From the bus and carriage drop off, you first go down a rather steep grade for 300-400 feet, then eventually climb another 300-400 feet, so both ways you're doing an up and down. For an 85-year old in good condition, I would say it may be a bit of a challenge (if there's not too much ice and snow), but doable. There is a side railing you can hold on to, if necessary.

It is the "in" thing to trash Neuschwanstein. It is a fantastic confection that looks unreal in its natural setting--certainly unique, and well worth a visit.

The story of Mad King Ludwig revolves around this strange creation--and a fascinating story it is, too. Ludwig's life was a precursor to the final collapse of kings and empires beginning with the French Revolution and culminating with WWI. Wretched excess; birth above competence--it is quite a reality show.

Too me (and maybe it's my training as a historian and anthropologist) Neuschwanstein is more interesting because the interior was never finished. And to see it and the more utilitarian Hohenschwangau at the same time is quite a contrast.