Princess's Dreams Really Do Come True

LOCATION:

Fussen, Germany

Just about anyone that knows me well has heard my childhood nickname mentioned at one point or another. I'm not sure when or where it stuck (Mom? Help here?), but I was "princess" probably just a little bit longer than a girl should be known as such. Regardless, every princess dreams of dragon-slaying princes on white horses, tiaras and ball gowns, and - of course - big, opulent castles. A day trip from Munich to Fussen fulfilled my childhood dream with a look inside not one, but two romantic castles.

The first, Hohenschwangu, is where King Ludwig lived as a child. The 19th century Hohenschwangu was actually the royal family's summer home, where he and his older brother Otto grew up playing in the surrounding mountains and lakes.

 

Hohenschwangu, set high on the hill.

 

Erin decides she could see herself living here.

 

At a relatively young age, Otto was declared mentally insane and not fit to rule, so the job was given to Ludwig after the death of their father. Not wanting to move into the family home, upon assuming the crown he immediately began construction on his own masterpiece on the next hill over - Neuschwanstein. Though it was built on ancient ruins Ludwig found on the construction site, the castle was pretty much his vision coming to life - a vision which apparently served as the inspiration for the Disney Princess Castle!! Unfortunately our visit was on a super foggy day and - though the fog provided a cool mysterious vibe - we didn't get to see the castle in its full splendor.

 

The front, all fogged in!

What is is supposed to look like (according to google!)

 

See, so much fog! I promise there is a castle back there!

 

The interiors of each castle were amazing, and well worth the visit. Each room was ornately decorated, and surprisingly often inspired by famous operas and plays or heroic legend rather than religion or other more common motifs of the time. King Ludwig - unmarried and with no children - unfortunately shared the same fate of his brother and was also declared mad (our our guide informed us that now he would just be called "eccentric"). Just days after his diagnosis, however, Ludwig and the doctor that declared him insane mysteriously showed up dead in a lake nearby, with no witnesses as to what happened to the pair. Some say it was murder, some say it was suicide - but regardless, the Neuschwanstein castle to this day remains unfinished. King Ludwig only lived in the castle for a little over 100 days.

 

We also saw the beautiful Marian Bridge, a tribute to Ludwig's mother, a few minutes hike away from Ludwig's masterpiece. I think the fog actually made it more beautiful. The lake where Ludwig and Otto spent their summers was also spectacular, even dressed in fog.

Looking over into the misty waterfall!

 

From a vantage point at the base of the waterfall, see the bridge in the fog?

 

Not a bad backyard!

Our visit to the Fussen castles were inspired by a puzzle Erin had completed as a kid, so seeing them in real life was a treat for her, and we both enjoyed learning about the history behind them. And what can I say - as a princess at heart - any castle feels like home to me! We ended the day by toasting the ill-fated "Mad King Ludwig" with a brew bearing his name.

A toast to the "mad" king!

 

The Fussen blog post would not be complete without a shout out to Munich, where we spent the night. Both Erin and I had been before though and neither of us had a real desire to return, so our only tourist activity (besides the Fussen day trip!) was a beer at the world famous Hofbrauhaus.

More beer! Looking forward to wine in Italy next week!

 

Our familiar European adventures ended with Munich, and we now head into uncharted territory with Croatia and Montenegro. We are excited for the sun, beaches, and relaxation!

 

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