Try walking up to the castle with a pair of 2 year olds (we have twins) strapped in backpacks. Whew... and when we got up there, the kids were making so much noise, we did not even go inside. Hope it was lovely. Missed touring the inside of the other castle with the beautiful fountain as the kids were having fun with the echo once inside so ... travelling with kids... again, whew! <BR>(p. s. I am an American and had no trouble with the Great Wall of China ... now that is a climb!!!)

it IS the incline that kills you! I did not know you could take a horse drawn carriage until I got to the top or I would have done it. HOWEVER, after visiting Neuschwanstein, the hardest climb was going on up to the Queens Bridge! But what a beautiful view once we made it!

I did this walk about ten years ago. I DO remember the hill, but don't recall it was all that bad (I bike, hike, and used to run - and there is a BIG hill near where I used to live... so I was used to it).<BR><BR>I do remember it was GORGEOUS, and what a treat to see the castle. Imagine how tough it must have been to BUILD that darn thing way up there 100+ years ago!<BR><BR>and to think within less than 3 weeks of completing it, they found poor old Mad King Ludwig face down in his own lake. ugh.<BR><BR>I did see cars parked up there btw - the caretakers live there. (likely longer than the original owner!!)<BR><BR>Beth

Neuschwanstein was so worth the climb. I read somewhere, maybe this forum, that some people thought it was overrated. I thought it was great with amazing views.<BR><BR>For me it was the walk down that was harder. It went on and on and my toes hurt by the time I got down!<BR><BR>Loved your story Tina!

If the walk doesn't give you a heart attack then the crazy bus drive we had, will. When going down hill he would gun the engine and as the bus gained speed he would slam on the brakes to slow it down before we rolled down the mountain as we went around the curves. Once we got off the bus at the main stop in town I went looking for a policeman to complain of the bus driver's<BR>recklessness. The way he keep stomping on the gas and then the brakes I just wonder how much longer it will be before there is a mechanical failure and someone killed in a crash.<BR><BR>

Had to laugh at this post! In 1983 we were with a group visiting Neuschwanstein. Our group ranged in age from about 20 to 85. Our biggest complainer was the 20 year old. Of course, she was wearing little wooden candies shoes with 3 inch wooden heels and just a little strap across the toes - nothing around the heel. No wonder she couldn't take the walk. Wear comfortable shoes and enjoy the beautiful walk and scenery with the 85 year olds that make the trip just fine!!!!!

We were traveling in Germany in 1987 with our German hosts. The walk up is not as difficult as we thought it would be (we were in our late 50's). Our hosts (as do most Germans) walk more slowly than Americans do. They seem to take their time and "smell the roses". We wouldn't have missed the walk, but the trip down is much harder than going up. It was SO worth it and we truly did enjoy our entire 4 week stay in Germany. Sure would like to return one day while we can still enjoy it. (We are now 71)

I'm wondering if there are two ways to walk to the castle. One, up the road that the buses go, and two, up the pedestrian walk. I took the latter last year, and despite being in decent shape, had a terrible time. It was quite steep in places. I concluded that it was the altitude, though, because later in the week I climbed the hill from Burg Eltz (which is in a valley, back up to the parking area, and had no problem.

Have you ever worn "Candies" shoes?!? Ouch! <BR>I walked up and back down in '73 and found it tiring, especially if you wanted to continue up to the bridge.<BR>Then again in 1994, but we took the horse carriage up and walked back down. My then 67 year old mother could have made it up, but I had my then 5 year old to deal with (he'd say "WALK?!?" like Maynard G. Krebs used to say "WORK?!?"). Figured taking the horse up was a lot easier than ending up BEING the horse.