Open left menu Schwangau. Sights of Schwangau: photos and impressions Bavaria Schwangau

Fairytale castle, hidden in the forests of the Bavarian Alps, is a real masterpiece that has earned incredible popularity among tourists and brings fabulous profits to Germany. Neuschwanstein became the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Paris, Tchaikovsky's inspiration for the ballet Swan Lake, and the embodiment of Ludwig II's love of Wagner's music.

From a distance, Neuschwanstein Castle looks like a toy. The ivory-colored towers of this magical castle seem to float against a backdrop of dark green fir trees. Up close, it is fabulously beautiful and still a little unreal among the romantic alpine slopes.

The halls of Neuschwanstein are decorated truly luxuriously. The woodwork alone to decorate the royal bedroom, designed in the late Gothic style, took 4.5 years. The castle gives the impression of a theatrical set, and in part it is one, since it was created under the active leadership of the Munich theater artist Christian Jank.

Despite its apparent toy appearance, the castle has very impressive dimensions, and it took seventeen years to build. Eyewitnesses and contemporaries claimed that fifteen master carvers worked on the manufacture of a carved wooden bed for Ludwig for four and a half years.

The interior of the castle is a mixture of various architectural and artistic styles, a combination of Moorish, Gothic and Baroque elements: there are stalactite columns, a throne room in a decadent Byzantine spirit, and a singing hall with exquisite lighting, intended for the production of Wagner's operas. Moreover, the entire building was equipped with the most advanced heating system for that time, and the kitchen had a running water supply with cold and hot water.

Hohenschwangau Castle

The village of Hohenschwangau is home to the world famous castles of Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein, which are visited annually by more than 300 thousand tourists from all over the world.

Hohenschwangau Castle was built in the neo-Gothic style by the Bavarian king Maximilian II in the 19th century according to the design of the architect Domenico Quaglio. The building was used as a summer residence for the royal family.

The future king Ludwig II spent his youth in this castle, where he met the composer Wagner.

In the castle courtyard there is a fountain in the shape of a swan. On the ground floor of the building there is the bedroom of Queen Mary of Prussia, made in oriental style. On the second floor there is the hall of the swan knight, decorated with frescoes and paintings on the theme of the swan knight Lohengrin. The third floor houses the largest rooms - the king's chambers and the reception hall (the hall of heroes and knights), decorated on the theme of German legends.

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Lake Alps

Alp is a lake of crystal clearness, comfortably located between the castles of Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein in Bavaria. It is located approximately 4 kilometers southeast of Fussen. Its length is only 5 kilometers, and maximum depth- 62 meters. The lake amazes with the bright turquoise color of its water. In addition, you can see wild swans not far from the shore.

By renting a boat, you can take a boat trip, or you can walk around the lake in just two to three hours. There are tourist centers and holiday homes on the coast. This place is perfect for a quiet family holiday.

Lake Schwansee is one of the lakes surrounding the famous Bavarian castles of Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein. Schwansee is the smallest of them in area, but the most famous. It was this place that gave its name to the famous ballet by P.I. Tchaikovsky “Swan Lake”.

Pyotr Ilyich visited these places in 1876. In Moscow, he was commissioned to perform a romantic ballet to symphonic music. Tchaikovsky remembered Richard Wagner's opera "Lohengrin", written on the plot of the Knight of the Swan. The composer went to Bavaria for inspiration. Moreover, rumors have already reached Russia about the mysterious Bavarian monarch Ludwig II, who was so keen on this plot.

The beauty of the lake, extraordinary landscapes, fairy-tale castles - all this inspired the composer so much that amazing music was created and the famous ballet was born.

By the way, on the shore of Schwansee there is a small theater, the stage of which on the side of the lake has a glass backdrop, so the water surface of the lake, illuminated by spotlights, is used as a decoration in the evening. Of course, they don’t stage a ballet here - they play only one musical dedicated to Louis II.

Mary's Bridge

Tourists visiting Bavaria do not ignore Neuschwanstein Castle. The excursion should definitely start from Mary's Bridge - a place from which a unique, fantastically beautiful view of the fairytale palace King Louis II.

The bridge is named after Marie Frederica, Princess of Prussia, mother of Louis. A thin openwork structure connects two rocks that form the Pellat Gorge. A small mountain river Pellatbakh flows at the bottom of the gorge. If you look down from the bridge, two feelings will begin to fight in your soul: fear of heights (after all, there is a 92-meter abyss below you!) and indescribable delight from the surrounding nature. On one side you can see a 45-meter waterfall, and on the other - a panorama of the castle, surrounded by greenery against the backdrop of rocky mountains.

The bridge was built long before the construction of the famous castle, and it was originally made of wood. Metal structures in their current form appeared in 1866.

Of course, when Ludwig II walked in these places as a child, there was no trace of Neuschwanstein, but from the bridge there was a beautiful view of the plateau where the snow-white castle was later located. Most likely, the view from this bridge predetermined the location of its future construction.

The most popular attractions in Schwangau with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose the best places to visit famous places Schwangau on our website.

Last update - 01/13/2009

Schwangau: castles, mountains and lakes

You may not know what it is called or where it is located, but you are almost certainly familiar with the appearance of this castle - from puzzles or from the Disney cartoon "Sleeping Beauty". It was impossible to be in Munich and not visit Schwangau and we could not ignore this place. Ludwig II of Bavaria (see biography), an unusual, creative man who lived in his own world and was completely unsuitable for the role of ruler, left several castles in Bavaria of varying degrees of completion. The Bavarian government (which, of course, it will never admit to) put its king to death for this inconsistency with the throne (for whatever reason he died, it is clear that his death was not natural). But over the past hundred years, Bavaria has returned a hundredfold all the funds spent by the king on creating the scenery for his imaginary world. By the way, he spent from his own wallet. The number of tourists exceeds all limits. To avoid this endless stream and not spoil all the fun, it is better to spend at least one night here and go to the castle in the morning.

Road

From the main station (or, as we do, Munich Airport - S-bahn to Pasing station) - the train to Fuessen is direct or with a change in Buchloe. Next take bus 73 (78, 9651 or 9606) to Hohenschwangau (for those who want to go to the castle) or Schwangau Rathaus (Schwangau center, if you are staying there). The Bavarian ticket is valid for the entire route (including buses). If you go to the castle for one day in the morning from Munich until 9 am, then it is cheaper to buy a Bavarian ticket + a ticket to the station where you are scheduled to be at 9 am. To do this, click on the train number in the online schedule (for example, RB 57344) and get detailed route(RB 57344 will be at Biessenhofen station at 9 o'clock). This combination will save you 8 euros compared to a regular return ticket and will allow you to travel in Munich for the rest of the day for free.

Neuschwanstein Castle

The ticket can only be bought at the ticket office in Hohenschwangau (that is, downstairs, not upstairs, by the castle). It is located a short distance up the road from the bus stop. Flocks tourist buses They begin to fly in around 10.30-11 o'clock. In summer, the ticket office opens from 8 o'clock, the castle - from 9. Until 9 o'clock there are, in general, very few people and you can buy a ticket almost without a queue. The excursion number and time are printed large on the ticket. When you go up to the castle, you will see a board in several places indicating the time and queue number. The castle can be reached by cart, small bus, or best on foot (about 30 minutes). Guided tours are in German and English, but it is better to tell the ticket office that you need an audio guide (available in Russian).

The best thing about the castle is, of course, its appearance. He looks exactly as we usually imagine knight's castles and perhaps they didn’t look like real knight’s castles. It is built on a rather steep hill and rises above the most beautiful lake Alpsee. The backdrop of this scene is also magnificent - the mountains Tegelberg and Säuling are very close, and beyond the lake there are other alpine peaks. I have often had suspicions that many of the images of the castle are embellished and corrected, they are so fabulous, but the reality is quite consistent with the images. At night, the castle is illuminated, and in the morning, like a mirage, it emerges from the fog, which seems to be a common thing here.
Few rooms inside the castle were completed at the time of Ludwig's death, so the tour is short (30 minutes). Individuals are combined into a German or English group and taken with a guide; they cannot go separately. You need to take the audio guide yourself; it is given free of charge upon entry. It seemed to me that it was worth visiting inside, although every tourist has his own opinion on this matter and some think that there is nothing to see there. An idea of the interiors can be found at www.neuschwanstein.de.

Don't forget to climb to the Marienbrücke (Maria's Bridge, named after Ludwig's mother who ordered its construction) through a deep gorge. From there you have a beautiful view of the castle. True, by 11 o’clock there are already 2-3 bus groups milling around there, which causes unpleasant thoughts about rotten supports, metal fatigue, etc.
The area itself in which the castle is located is worth spending a few days there. Schwangau is the best place to stay: the village is located in the very center - on average 30 minutes on foot to Hohenschwangau, to the cable car to Tegelberg, to Lake Schwansee, to Lake Forggensee. From Fussen you will have to travel by bus or bicycle. You can reach Füssen on foot (5 km), but not after a long day spent in the castle and surrounding area. From Fussen station to the Hohenschwangau stop - 10 minutes by bus (1.3 euros or Bavarian ticket) or about 1 hour on foot. It’s not difficult to find out the right stop - almost everyone gets off there. Some Chinese tourists, however, despite the knowledge German language, managed to pass by, only realized it half an hour later and as a result ended up in Linderhof instead of Neuschwanstein - the driver later told this joke to all his friends from oncoming routes.
When choosing a hotel, you must not forget that the general name of Schwangau includes several villages that are not located nearby for a pedestrian. It is most convenient to live in Schwangau proper, in Schwangau Horn or in Schwangau Alterschrofen. Schwangau Waltenhofen is further from Füssen, castles and cable cars, near Lake Forggensee, and Schangau Brunnen is even further away. The best remedy travel between villages - bicycle. It can be rented at your hotel or in the center of Schwangau.
/ history and description of the halls

Neighborhood

If you have time, you can spend it in different ways.
Firstly, you can cross Marienbrücke and go up the path along which Ludwig and his father Maximilian walked, which is why it was called royal. This path leads to the top Tegelberg and goes steeply up the serpentine road. The sign says that the journey will take 2 and a half hours (2.5 Std), but do not think that what is written applies to pensioners, and you will reach it in an hour and a half. The times indicated on the signs in both Germany and Austria are designed for fairly athletic people (in fact, European 70-year-old pensioners are quite athletic people - gray-haired old women jump over the rocks like mountain goats). The trail is equipped: steps and bridges have been made, and in some places cables have been strung along the rock. If you wish, you can walk only the first part of the trail - in several places there are beautiful views of the castle - and go back down to the bridge. Then the path goes to the other side of the mountain and the castle is not visible. At the very end of the trail, the test is not for the faint of heart - a steep staircase without a hint of any shadow, turning into a steep climb without steps. The elevation difference from Hohenschwangau to Tegelberg is 1000 meters. On Tegelberg you will find a cable car down, a small cafe and a hang gliding launch pad. Then you can go down, or you can go up to the next peak or down another way: short along the road to the lower cable car station or long - through, which will take 3 and a half hours.

You can get to the beginning of the Poellat gorge, above which the castle rises and across which Marienbrücke is thrown, from the castle ticket office if you walk through the village towards the cable car (the castle will be above you on the right) and then turn right. You can walk through a gorge with steep walls and a mountain river on special walkways built directly into the rock. At the end is a waterfall, the highest point of which is located directly under the Marienbrücke bridge. At the lower station of the cable car to Tegelberg there is a fairly common entertainment in the Alps - summer sledding "toboggan". Anyone can ride for 2.5 euros. You sit on a plastic sled and they take you all the way to the top. Control is carried out using the handle: down - the brakes are released, towards ourselves - we brake. It is best to ride with the handle down as far as possible and brake only at the very end (unless, of course, you have too much weight, otherwise it is better to slow down so as not to fly off the track). You feel like you are conquering a bobsleigh track, and the sled is quite safe.
about the cable car to Tegelberg

Secondly, do not forget to at least approach Alpsee. This lake in a hollow between steep hills changes its color from emerald milky to black with a metallic tint. It is best to get around the lake on foot; it will take at least an hour and a half. The lake only seems small. We unknowingly decided to ride our bikes around it clockwise. The asphalt disappeared (the asphalt road to Austria passes to the right of the lake), the road became steeper and steeper, the lake and the footpath became further and further... As a result, we walked most of the road on the footpath with bicycles in our hands. Footpath for the most part goes near the shore. Where there are steep cliffs and it is impossible to walk near water, walkways are built into the rock. Only near Hohenschwangau Castle the road rises steeply and then descends back to the lake.

Hohenschwangau Castle- this is a knight's castle, restored from ruins by Ludwig's father, where Ludwig spent his childhood. The castle is located on a hill above the bus stop. A ticket for an excursion inside is sold at the same box office; there is also an audio guide in Russian. The inside is less interesting than Neuschwanstein, in my opinion.
Brief description of the attractions/history Another lake in the area is the famous Swan, or Schwansee. The swan is a symbol of Schwangau, and it is not difficult to find information on the Internet that Ludwig associated himself with the swan knight Lohengrin. As far as I can understand from conflicting information on the Internet, Tchaikovsky first heard about Swan Lake and wrote the ballet, and only then visited Bavaria. Schwansee, unlike Alpsee, lies a little to the side. You must carefully look at the signs on the road from Hohenschwangau to Fussen and turn left at the right time.
They swim in both Schwansee and Alpsee. We swam in Schwansee - it is smaller, there are bridges and even a small medical center. They go there too local residents. On the Alpsee there is an equipped swimming pool (most likely for a fee) - a 15-20 minute walk along the left bank. In any weather, an alternative to lakes will be the Royal Baths - thermal pool in Schwangau.

Another type of entertainment is a trip on a steamboat along Forggensee. Forggensee is a reservoir, and under Ludwig it certainly did not yet exist. The Lech, which feeds the Forggensee, is a turbulent and deep river, and the reservoir prevents flooding, although sometimes the river does flood nearby lands. The last such trouble was, if I'm not mistaken, in 2005. The river's energy is used to generate electricity, and a new power plant is currently being built there. In the fall the reservoir is drained and filled again in the spring.

Fussen

Füssen is an old town (historical information) with houses from the 14th and 15th centuries, lined up and brightly painted. Here you can see:

Reichenstrasse - pedestrianized street, consisting of historical houses of aristocrats. Previously, the Roman road of Claudius Augustus passed here, but now it is a shopping street. At the end of the street near the castle there is a city fountain depicting St. Magnus, the patron saint of the city.
High Palace(Hohen Schloss) - the former residence of the Augsburg prince-archbishop, one of the most important late Gothic castle complexes in Germany. It is now the city's art gallery and part of the Bavarian State Collection, which features late Gothic and Renaissance works of art.
St. Mungo's Monastery and Basilica- former Benedictine monastery, dates back to the 9th century. The modern building is an example of Baroque. Now the city authorities and the city museum are located here. The museum contains archaeological finds, works of art and a treasury, as well as one of the finest European collections of ancient musical instruments. The basilica contains the oldest Bavarian frescoes (c. 980).
On the right, as seen from the bridge, - Hospital Church of the Holy Spirit rococo. Dedicated to St. Florian, to protect the city from fires, and to St. Christopher, the patron saint of raftsmen.
Franciscan monastery(17th-18th centuries) is located on a small hill near the Lech River, closer to Forggensee. From here you have a wonderful view of the medieval city center. Nearby is the old cemetery of St. Sebastian.

Schwangau is not even a city, but a very cozy village located in the Alps. She simply captivates at first sight. As soon as I got to Schwangau, I immediately realized that I wanted to stay here longer.

A simple measured life flows here. Everything would be fine if not great amount tourists. What are they doing here, you ask? The main goal of all travelers is the magnificent castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau. I was no exception. For me, castles were also the main thing in the program. But the relaxed atmosphere of the village is addictive. I absolutely did not want to return to the city.

Today Schwangau is truly a tourist place. There are a large number of guest houses, boarding houses and hotels. Restaurants, cafes and souvenir shops are located at every step. Everything is provided for a comfortable life and leisure of tourists.

I will tell you in detail about my trip to Schwangau.

How to get there

Most tourists travel to Schwangau from Munich. The distance is about 130 kilometers. Therefore, I will write how to get there from this city.

There are several ways to get to the town, which I will tell you about. At first glance, the road may seem difficult, but it is not, and there is no need to be afraid. It’s just not possible to get to Schwangau without transfers. But changing transport is easy. It is almost impossible to get confused, since there are signs and signs with directions everywhere.

By plane

By train

Option 1: transfer in Fussen

After breakfast, don’t waste time and get ready for the road. From Munich Central Station a train departs at 9:47 am for Füssen.

It’s better to arrive early to buy a ticket without haste. Which ticket should I take? Of course, the Bavarian travel card. It will allow you to travel on all types of transport in Bavaria (including second class trains) all day long.

Fare:

for one person - 22 EUR,

for two people - 26 EUR,

for five people - 38 EUR,

You can buy tickets at special terminals at the station. They are red in color and can be seen from afar. You can pay both in cash and by bank cards. You must write your first and last name on the ticket (as in your passport). Controllers verify documents.

So, let's take the train to Fussen. Travel time is about 2 hours. The scenery outside is beautiful, so relax and enjoy the journey.

In Füssen, exit the station building and you will immediately see a bus stop. You need No. 73 or No. 78. They both go to Schwangau. Show your ticket, 10 minutes, and you're there. The driver usually announces a stop in the city center so that tourists “don’t oversleep.” That's it, around 12 noon you will be in place (that is, the entire journey will take no more than 2.5 hours).

Option 2: transfers in Buchlohe and Füssen

This option is more difficult, but it is suitable for those who want to arrive in Schwangau early. I'll tell you about him too.

Having bought your tickets, get on the train, which goes to a town called Buchloe. The first train leaves at 5:50 am. There, at the station, find a train going to Fussen. Get off in Fussen, and continue as in the first route: bus No. 73 or No. 78 to Schwangau.

Thus, the earliest option is to arrive in Schwangau at 8:30 (the journey is the same 2.5 hours, including transfers.

By bus

You can also take a bus from Munich to Fussen. Theoretically, you should spend approximately 2 hours 40 minutes on the road. But keep in mind that congestion and traffic jams are possible. Therefore, no one will give you a guarantee that exactly after this amount of time you will find yourself in Fussen. A ticket can be purchased online on the Flixbus website for 7.90 EUR one way.

Schedule:

from Thursday to Saturday departure from Munich train station at 9:15,

Arrival in Fussen around 12:00.

In Füssen, leave the station building and take bus number 73 or number 78. They both go to Schwangau. Usually the driver announces a station in the city center into the microphone and most of the passengers get out. So it will be difficult to get through.

By car

As I said above, the distance from Munich to Schwangau is 120–130 kilometers.

The road is very picturesque and driving along it is a real pleasure. I traveled in May, so the alpine nature appeared before me in all its glory.

In Germany, the autobahns are of excellent quality and they are all free. You only have to pay for fuel. Prices change throughout the day as they depend on many factors. On average, a liter of 95 gasoline costs 1.40 EUR.

Summer is mine favorite time year, so I planned the trip exactly at the beginning of the season.

Literally an hour and forty later I was in Schwangau. Remember that the road often has sharp turns, descents and ascents. We're going to the Alps!

Clue:

Schwangau - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow 1

Kazan 1

Samara 2

Ekaterinburg 3

Novosibirsk 5

Vladivostok 8

When is the season? When is the best time to go

Choose the season based on your preferences. If you prefer winter nature, come here between November and March. At this time, the mountains are covered with snow-white cover. You get the feeling that you are in a fairy tale place.

In spring, summer and autumn, temperatures in Schwangau are very comfortable. You can walk for a long time, breathe clean air and just enjoy life.

Schwangau in summer

From May to the end of August, Schwangau is extremely crowded with tourists. Despite the fact that there are many hotels here, they are small and there simply aren’t enough places. Basically, only the most expensive options remain.

June, July and August are the hottest months. Temperatures can rise to +35 °C.

There are also a lot of people at the castles at this time, queues form. It is unpleasant. If you want to avoid the crowds, come to the attractions early in the morning, when they open. During the day it is no longer crowded here.

Schwangau in autumn

September, October and even November in Schwangau are considered much calmer than the summer months. Find a number in good hotel possible at an adequate price (from 90 EUR). During this period there are few families with children.

A particularly beautiful time is at the end of September, when the foliage changes color from green to bright red.

The temperature is quite pleasant for walking. In September approximately +25 °C. From October it begins to gradually get colder. The air warms up to +18 °C.

Schwangau in spring

It's cold in March; winter still reigns in these places. Only by April it gradually begins to warm up. At this time, it is very pleasant after long walks to sit in a cozy restaurant with a cup of hot chocolate or tea.

The temperature here in March usually does not drop below zero. And gradually it becomes warmer and warmer. By the end of April the air warms up to +15 °C. And in May there are already very hot days (about +28 °C). But the evenings are still cool, you need outerwear.

Schwangau in winter

I advise lovers of winter landscapes to visit Schwangau at this time of year. Dress warmly and don't forget your camera. Beautiful views will be literally at every step!

You can also rent cross-country skiing and spend time on the trails. Fortunately, there are several of them; there are shorter routes for beginners. I don't know how to ride alpine skiing, but on treadmills - with pleasure. The next time I go to Schwangau in the cold season, I will definitely go for a ride.

During the winter months, temperatures are just below freezing during the day. But at night it gets cold down to -6 °C, or even more. Therefore, it is quite cool in the mornings. But if the weather is sunny, then during the day it is very comfortable.

Schwangau - weather by month

Clue:

Schwangau - weather by month

Districts. Where is the best place to live?

If you look at the map below, it becomes clear that Schwangau is quite small. I specifically increased the scale so that it can be seen better.

I cannot single out any areas here. The only thing is that you can choose a hotel closer to the lake if you want to spend more time by the water. Or settle further away from the lake, but closer to the castles.

In principle, it will not be difficult to walk from one end of the town to the other. Although mostly everyone walks along the main street and in the park. There's just no point in walking around the city. You need to go to the mountains, to castles or to the lake. And hotel prices are not particularly different (more about the cost of housing below). Therefore, choose the option that you like best.

You can view and compare hotel offers and book your favorite option on. It is better to look for apartments on.

What are the prices for holidays?

Housing

As I already said, Schwangau is a super tourist place. You need to book a hotel at least one to two months in advance. Most cheap option can be found for 80 EUR. But these offers will not be available if you look for accommodation right before the trip. Such hotels are mainly small guest houses with simple homely furnishings.

The average price for good 4-star hotels is about 110–170 EUR. The price includes breakfast and excellent service.

The most expensive hotels offer outdoor and indoor swimming pools, spa centers with saunas and steam rooms, bicycle rentals and other pleasant moments. Room rates start from 200 EUR. If you don’t search for a room in advance, then only these options will remain available.

Food

Prices here are not particularly different from other cities in southern Germany. A portion of a hearty second course will cost 15–20 EUR. This is usually meat with side dishes and vegetables. The cost of drinks (wine, beer) is from 4–5 EUR per glass.

All restaurants serve delicious food. You shouldn’t order a lot at once; usually one dish is enough to fill you up. But it all depends on your appetite.

Taxi

Taxis in Schwangau can be found at special stops or simply on the streets of the town.

I will give approximate prices:

landing is paid separately, about 2.8 EUR,

first 5 kilometers - 1.8 EUR each,

from 5 kilometers - 1.6–1.7 EUR,

if you call a car by phone, for example, from a hotel, you will have to pay approximately 1.4 EUR.

Main attractions. What to see

The main goal of all those who come to Schwangau is the fabulous castles of Ludwig II of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau. Many people think that there is nothing else to see or do in the town. This is not true at all. Yes, Schwangau is small, and there really are no large museums, galleries, or theaters here. I will tell you about how you can have an interesting time in this beautiful city.