Captivating Castles – Neuschwanstein, Eltz and Hohenschwangau

During Easter weekend with my parents, we visited some of Germany’s most famous castles. We went to Schloss Hohenschwangau, Neuschwanstein castle and Eltz castle. It felt like going back in time. The castles all had distinct architectural styles. Some had more medieval, romantic, and whimsical elements. I appreciated how the castles were placed within their surroundings. Neuschwanstein was placed atop a hill overlooking flat lowlands with tall mountains framing the sky behind it with a lake off to the side. Eltz castle was in a more secluded valley, out on an outcrop, with taller rolling hills on all sides. All of them were placed in relatively remote areas with only small towns close-by. 

Eltz Castle

The first place we went was to Eltz castle. Containing “… more than 500 exhibits from nine centuries…”, it has an impressive collection of artifacts within the main building and the underground treasury (Cranach, n.d.). This site was exactly what I expected from a German medieval castle, looking like something which could be found in the Princess Bride. It contained many swords and unique medieval weapons along with suits of armor and many family crests. I also loved the detailed paint adorning the walls in bright floral patterns.

Neuschwanstein

Next we ventured to Neuschwanstein, one of the most iconic castles, having inspired Disney’s Cinderella castle. The outside had a much more polished look complete with smooth white stone. We first viewed the castle from Marienbrüke (Mary’s bridge) which offered an amazing vantage point. The castle has quite an interesting history. Built by an unstable king, Ludwig ll, its construction put them so heavily in debt that he was declared insane to stop his spending (Bavarian Palace Administration | Palaces | Neuschwanstein Castle, n.d.). I really enjoyed the murals in the castle. They were full of life and whimsy, depicting myths and legends important to the area. The castle also had incredible views of the alps. Though it was quite a trek to get out there I think it was well worth it. We also went up one of the nearby peaks with a cable car, which I highly recommend. It offered more views of the castle as well as the surrounding mountains. 

Hohenschwangau

The last castle we visited was Hohenschwangau, it is very close to Neuschwanstein and was built first. It was built by a beloved king of Bavaria, Maximilian, and housed Ludwig ll as a child (who went on to build Neuschwanstein). It has a more classic medieval architectural style with romantic themes in its murals and interior decoration. From the inside there are great views of the alps and nearby lake. There is also a very old salt-preserved piece of bread prominently displayed inside as well as other fun artifacts. Though it is not as touristy as Neuschwanstein, it is a very cool castle to visit.

References

Bavarian Palace Administration | Palaces | Neuschwanstein Castle. (n.d.). Bayerische Schlösserverwaltung. Retrieved April 24, 2025, from https://www.schloesser.bayern.de/englisch/palace/objects/neuschw.htm

Cranach, L. (n.d.). The Castle – Eltz Castle – One of the most beautiful castles in Germany. Burg Eltz. Retrieved April 24, 2025, from https://burg-eltz.de/en/the-castle

Schloss Hohenschwangau, castle near Neuschwanstein. (n.d.). Neuschwanstein Castle. Retrieved April 24, 2025, from https://neuschwansteintickets.com/schloss-hohenschwangau.html