King Ludwig 2's castle Neuschwanstein
Trip Start
Apr 29, 2006
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64
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Trip End
Nov 15, 2007
Obergammergau, Germany
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
King Ludwig 11 von Bayern's castle
Schloss Neuschwanstein
Lynn and I took the new bikes to the tourist office to get information and maps to the local attractions. We photographed many of the beautifully decorated housed and businesses on the way. The style of painting on the buildings is called Lustl painting and is very popular here.
When we got back to camp, we were all packed up and ready to go when we realized the power cord was locked inside the power supply cupboard. No problem we thought, go to the office and ask for the key. As luck would have it, it was siesta time and no one would be back before 3pm. Well, that was out of the question for us, as the castle would be nearly closed by then, so we rang the emergency number and asked the owner of the park to come down and release us. We'll have to allow for this siesta closing in other businesses.
Poor King Ludwig only lived in the fabulous castle he had commissioned for 176 days before he was murdered at the age of 40 years. He was unmarried, had no children, and was the ruler of Bavaria. Apparently he was declared insane, taken away from the castle and drowned together with his physiatrist.
The castle was only one third completed and was never lived in again as it was opened to the public six weeks after King Ludwig passed away. It's a grand fairytale type castle with the trappings of opulence evident everywhere. Pity it was never completed, even after Ludwig's death. There were hundreds and hundreds of tourists to see the castle on the day we went, all making the long, steep, winding walk up the hill. (I don't know what possesses these rulers to put their castles and churches in such inhospitable, inaccessible places. Safe from the marauding enemies, I suppose).
