I will be in that area, but after hearing from some people who have been there (and seen some comments online), I have gotten the impression that the inside of the castle is somewhat of a disappointment.
So my question is whether it is worth the time and cost involved in going inside on a guided tour (especially since we won't have a lot of time to spare), or whether it would suffice to just look at the outside.
If you pre-arm yourself with some knowledge of King Ludwig's life, German Romanticism, and the operas of Richard Wagner, the interior of Neuschwanstein is a fascinating and somewhat disturbing peak into the fantasy world of the king. Without a little preparation, the elaborate decorations may not mean anything.
I've seen the inside twice, and I was not disappointed. I don't know what people expect. I might not do it again unless I was showing it to someone who had never been there, but then I would.
This was the building Ludwig had designed as his personal living quarters, and it says a lot about him. The carved wooden bed in his bedroom is awesome. The whole place is a tribute to Wagner. His study make you wonder about the rumors that he was gay. The throne room is also impressive.
The cost of a tour is only €9. If you can find the time, do it.
The castle is in a great scenic location and looks great on pictures, but the inside was never completely finished so that may be a disappointment if your expecting it to be. I enjoyed the interiors of Hohenschwangau or Linderhof or even Herrenchiemsee much more. Having gone there often enough with student groups, I didn't always go inside. The last time, however, was with a student choir and I asked if they could do an impromptu performance in the Saengersaal which had great acoustics and they sounded great. To each his own, however.
I think the people with negative comments about it simply can't get past the fact that it was a fantasy castle and not a "real" castle. If you approach it with the right frame of mind, it is fascinating and memorable. What more could you ask of a tourist attraction?
The fact is, very few castles were used in the way we imagine castle life to be, though this particular one was the extreme example.
My aplogies if my post sounded negative. It certainly was not meant to be.
Thanks, this is what I was looking for. And Rudy, I certainly didn't think your post sounded negative - I was looking for opinions of those who have been there, so I appreciate everyone's input. It sounds to me like it is worth it, so I will definitely make a stop there.
We enjoyed it and do not regret seeing it. I loved the different colors of marble there and in all the castles we visited.
The inside was okay by me If I had to choose between going inside or taking a walk by Alpsee & Schwansee to looking at external views of the castle, I would take the walk.
Regards, Gary
It was for the lady with an extremely strong New Jersey accent who yelled, "how exquisite" every time we walked into a new room. No but seriously, it was a cool experience that I would only have to do once.
Definitely worth it. Ludwig was a fascinating person, and the castle will be even more exciting if you know a bit of his history. Nothing major, just read an article on Wiki or something. You won't regret the visit.
I actually was pleasantly surprised by the interior. I am not that big on mansions and manor houses and that sort of thing, but I thought Newschwantstein was beautiful and interesting.
Good posts from everyone, and if I could recommend a second read of Tom's post (the 1st post on this thread). To help you decide, suggest you view some online pics of the interior--find pics of the third floor rooms: the Throne Room, Living Room, King's Bedroom. And the Venus Grotto. The wall paneling, ceilings, furnishings--they're something. I think you'll see why most on this topic are recommending the tour of the interior. Now, the interior is not Versailles or Buckingham Palace...again, if you look at some pics of the interior you'll get an idea of what is there and this may help you decide.
See it. It is not a very long tour but still worth it. Just make sure to book your tickets online first or you will be waiting in line for a long time.
I've toured both castles without reservations. Both times we arrived at the ticket kiosk around 11:30, bought our tickets and had lunch at Hotel Müller before the tour.
I was there Aug 31, 2009, around 11:30. I didn't go to a castles (already seen both); just took pictures for my website. This was the line for Neuschwanstein Castle tours. The line didn't fill the serpentine and seemed to be moving.
OTOH, this was the line for picking up reserved tickets.
Lee,
Where do you reserve tickets? Do you do it online and pay with credit card?
"Do you do it online"
Yes, here.
The tours go through part of the castle that is furnished. The highlight seemed to be the grotto. Much of the castle isn't furnished and was never lived in.
I think it's something to do once, not necessarily something to return to.
For me a similar (fairytake looking and turreted)but far more impressive and less well known (and therefore less crowded) castle is Burg Elz near Cochem on the Mosel river. A must if you are in the area. It is one of the very few surviving castles along the rivers Mosel and Rhein that was not destroyed by Napoleon or the French at some point in the turbulent history between the two countries. It is breathtakingly beautiful and can only be reached by foot or horse drawn cart, (available at the carpark for the castle for a small charge) The queues at Neuschwannstein are a bit off putting so my suggestion is go out of high season or at the very least book online beforehand. We queued for 1 and half hours for a ticket!
Berg Eltz sounds (and looks) really lovely, but unfortunately, I won't be anywhere near that area. It will have to wait for another trip.
