I know in the past years I have seen posts here about how incrediably arduous the walk up to the castle of Neuschwanstein in Bavaia is and now for the past month literally 2 dozen or more people have been posting the same thing on the AOL travel Germany boards.<BR>I *don't get it!* Why do people think this walk is so impossibly difficult? They even go on and on complaining about the walk from the bus that goes to the castle to the entrance. And we are not talking about elderly or handicapped people. Many of them when they post their ages turn out to be young enough to be my adult kids. I'm 52 and only semi-fit. I take walks at home but I'm not an exercise buff and have never backpacked or done strenous stuff but this walk to Neuschwanstein is mild IMO and I don't see why most everyone thinks it's like the Battan Death March or something. It's not very steep and most of it is through woods so it's shady. And it's not all that long either.....a mile or so at most. Do you think this walk up to Neuschwanstein is really difficult and if so *why*? What makes it so?

never been there, but I suppose people are out of shape, never been in shape and are used to their cars taking them everywhere

Didn't bother me at all but my 65 year old Mom complained about it. If people don't like it, they can hire a horse drawn carriage to take them up.

Sally,<BR><BR>I'm with you. Prior to going lst yeat I was almost dreading the trip due to the difficulty of the walk. Believe me, if youo have ever spent a day at Disney World, Sea World, or any theme park in the country you have walked twice as much as required at Neuschwanstein, yet I don't hear anyone complain about that. And your right, it a shady walk at that (something you seldom get at Disney). Bottom line: don't let the walk up/down the hill scare you our of going. And if your not up to it physically (or mentally), take the bus.

Hi,<BR><BR>I have done the climb to Neuschwanstein. It was many years ago, while a college student. I was used to walking miles around campus, so I considered myself "fit." What my body was not accustomed to was the incline. It is just much more strenuous, and unless you have much practice at this, it will be difficult. Just take your time and not get depreseed when people much older than you speed by.

Sally,<BR>My question is what possessed you to post this message??<BR><BR>Wooo hoooo, good for you that you walked it. Why put someone else down that did have a hard time and try to proclaim that you are better than others. Get lost and leave us alone....<BR><BR>By the way, I am sure we are all better than you at something, but do you see us touting it.

To Chill,<BR><BR>You're the one who needs to take your own advice and "chill out". I thought it was an interesting question and one I've had myself. This is a discussion forum. Let people ask the questions that interest them. <BR><BR>Don't like 'em? Then don't read 'em, and don't respond to 'em.<BR><BR>

Bravo Chill. It sounds like complaining about what Sally thinks are complainers. Constructively written too.<BR><BR>The incline is steep for some, not so for others. Maybe everybody should feel exactly like Sally and she will be happy.

I don't know where this place is, but perhaps its the altitude that makes it difficult? I'm in fairly good shape, but the first time I was in Luzerne and we walked up a rather small hill, my heart was pounding and i was out of breath. I thought there was something wrong with me, then realized it was the altitude I wasn't used to. Had come from where I live which is practically sea level just the day before.<BR>

Steve,<BR>Her post was not really a question. It was proclaining that she concquered something others had a hard time with. Battan death March?? No need for all this garbage. Sounds like she has nothing better to do with her time that write long drawn out notes. If I were to guess, Sally is just trying to make herself fell better at anothers expense. <BR><BR>An appropriate post would be something like this. <BR><BR>"Just returned and the walk to the castle was not as bad as I thought it was going to be."<BR><BR>

I thought the walk absolutely sucked! I am a fit 26 year old and my boyfriend and I thought the incline was horrible. The distance is not bad, but after being on my feet for 9 hours a day for the previous week walking around Prague and Munich, I could have done without this little hike. So yes, I "get" why everyone says the hike is so bad.

The incline is a bit steep. It is a beautiful walk. My wife (not a heavy duty walker) and I made it without too much difficulty. We were in our early sixties. If you don't think you are up to the walk up, by all means walk down. It is worth it.

I actually think that the walk from the palace to the grotto at Linderhoff is worse than the walk at Neuschwanstein. Though the incline at both is killer!

Sally, I don't get it either. The complaints are weird, I don't know why the people don't just walk slowly. What crybabies. I bet they are all American, I can't imagine an European complaining about walking.

This is yet another the whole world is evaluated by my standard. I decide what is steep, I decide what is long, I decide what is a difficult to walk, if I can do it, anybody can, etc.<BR><BR>These posts would be good if only annoying, but sometimes these recommendations gets mixed up with objective recommendation to unqualified all and giving grief to those with mobility limitations.

WOW! - we got all the way to Response #13 before someone tried to turn this into an "American vs. European" thing. Looks like international relations are improving around here, and that's a good thing.

Funny thing......the time my husband and I were there in 1991 my husband was driving and I was navigating...(I also speak fluent German)....anyhow, I must have missed the sign that says do not enter, no driving, whatever it would say because I directed him all the way to the top!! Imagine our surprise when we got there and there was no parking lot. Of course my husband goes "now what?" I then directed him to park next to the castle in the only available spot. My husband the whole way up, which was a steep and long drive kept asking why everyone else was walking and I of course told him they were to cheap to pay to park at the top. You can imagine the looks we got unknowingly. My husband of course wanted to drive back down and walk back up (which would have been the right thing to do I suppose). I however nixed that suggestion and hopped out of the car. What did he think they were going to do, tow us? We still laugh about it to this day.....

It's not so much the steep walk as it having to walk through the steaming horse pee and doody!

I went to Neuschwanstein years ago. It was during winter and being from California I didn't really have an idea of what clothes or shoes were good for the snow. Well, I had rain boots really. We decided to take a short cut up a steeper path that joined up with the regular road. It would have been fine--except for my boots. I couldn't get any traction in the snow. Luckily for me and elderly Germany woman took me by the arm and hauled me up that path, lol. I must have been twice her size. <BR><BR>She was so friendly she insisted we take money for afternoon tea and she invited my friends (who were staying in Germany--I was just there for a brief visit) to come see her. I'll never forget that.

To Beenthere<BR><BR>Laughing so hard it hurts. Only those who have been there can truely appreciate how insightfully funny your post was. <BR><BR>Thanks for laugh.