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| Munich, Germany | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Third Day | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| We parked the car then walked across the icy parking lot to the ticket office and purchased tickets for the tour. Fortunately, they offered it in English. The next decision was whether or not we wanted to walk the steep hill up to the castle or find alternate transportation. The guide book said there was both bus and horse drawn carriage rides to the top. We opted for the buggy ride and waited for the next one to arrive. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| While waiting for the carriage, we took in the scenery. As seen above, this building was painted with murals in bright colors. On a hill opposite of Neuschwanstein was Hohenschwangau. The name "Royal Castles" is limited to Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Hohenschwangau was built in the 12th century and was destroyed during the Napoleonic Wars. Crown Prince Maximillian purchased and later restored it (1832-1837) in the romanesque style. King Ludwig II lived in this castle for his first 17 years. Unfortunately, we didn't get to visit this castle due to time constraints. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| The ride up was mostly silent, occasionally punctuated by passengers engaging in quiet conversation. Horses hooves provided a rhythmic beat as they clip-clopped against the pavement. The horses worked hard and their breathing sounded labored during the ride. The driver walked beside the horses as we slowly ascended. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| We arrived here, a little more than midway to the top. This restaurant was situated a short distance away to the top as we continued up the steep and winding path to the castle entrance. The restaurant contained a small gift shop combination restaurant and gift shop. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| The history of Neuschwanstein is pretty interesting. A few years after Ludwig II became King, he turned away from his residence at Munich and took refuge in the mountains. At Hohenschwangau, he felt uncomfortable and unappreciated by his mother who didn't understand him and his ideals and so he contemplated constructing a dwelling in an environment that was familiar to him since the days of his childhood. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| His father, Maximilian II, whose throne Ludwig ascended when he was 18, had previously purchased the ruined castle of Schwanstein in 1832. This castle was formerly the ancestral seat of the Knights of Schwangau. The plan was to restore the castle to its original medieval style, but those plans were eventually scrapped. The castle took on the style of the late romanesque period of the early 13th century. Renovation began in 1869 and was completed in 1886, after the unusual and unexpected death of King Ludwig II at the young age of 41. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Return to The Travel Journals < Page 1 Page 3 > |
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| Updated April 2, 2002 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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