This winter, I had the privilege of visiting the twin castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau in Bavaria. Germany is estimated to have over 20,000 castles but Schloss Neuschwanstein is arguably the most famous of them all. King Ludwig II’s castles seem to be something out of a fairytale. True enough, the castle in Walt Disney’s, Sleeping Beauty is largely inspired by the Neuschwanstein Castle.

The castles are located in Schwangau, just 2 hours away from Munich by car. The museums were closed due to the coronavirus but I was able to tour the grounds of the castle freely. People from all over Germany come to Bavaria to witness the majesty of the castles in person so be sure to plan your visit ahead of time. I encountered many German people on my hike to the castle despite it being in the middle of winter.

Hohenschwangau Castle

Schloss Hohenschwangau sits at the bottom of the hill, right next to the parking lot. I stepped out onto the royal lot and was immediately confronted with the view of this bright yellow castle. It seemed odd to me that the car park sat so close to this grand castle. The quaint little village surrounding the castle was just delightful. The roofs of the old houses were covered with snow and smoke gently billowed from the chimneys.

Due to the pandemic, the castle itself was closed for visits but I still got to explore its surroundings. I would have loved to see Hohenschwangau from within but I am grateful that I, at least, got the opportunity to admire it from the outside, despite the coronavirus. The views of the castle were not the best from this angle but I was blessed with an amazing view of the lake, Alpsee. The lake looked very calm in the winter, frosty at its edges.

The castle’s exterior is a bright yellow, a stark contrast to the snow covered hills surrounding it. Hohenschwangau is the old castle, where King Ludwig II spent his childhood. I imagine it must have been quite splendid, growing up in a castle. Hohenschwangau almost looks cute, in comparison to Neuschwanstein, King Ludwig II’s dream castle. It is remarkable, how the two castles sit in plain view of one another, the new gazing fondly upon the old.

Most people prefer to visit places like this in the summer, when the grass is green and the air is warm. Personally, I enjoy travelling much more during the winter. There are significantly less tourists in the area so you really get the time to enjoy each destination. Winter also brings a certain tranquility to most settings. All you need is a good jacket and a spirit of adventure and you are all set. I also do not get cold very easily so it seems like winter travel suits me best.

Neuschwanstein Castle

I do not get to see castles very often. Growing up in Singapore, I was surrounded by modern skyscrapers. Getting the opportunity to see this beautiful stone fortress felt like a dream. Fairytales brought me much joy as a child. I liked the idea of a prince and a princess living happily ever after in a castle. I marvelled at the majesty and grandeur of Schloss Neuschwanstein. You would not believe the lengths I went to in order to capture this photo.

The Neuschwanstein Castle is perched atop a hill, overlooking the entire valley. Anna and I enjoyed a leisurely hike to the top. I smiled as I passed people on my way to the castle. It was heartening to see so many people outside, embracing nature. The museum within the castle was closed but that did not stop me nor anyone else from exploring the surroundings. The air up there was crisp and extremely fresh. Winter provided an atmosphere of calm unlike any other season.

• 

• 

• 

• 

I am constantly asked why I choose to travel in the midst of a pandemic and my answer is simple: beauty. Life is so beautiful and it goes on with or without a virus. It simply does not make sense to me, being stuck in a room. The whole world is still out there and I intend to see it.

We hiked from the castle to Marienbrücke to get the best view. Unfortunately, we found out that the bridge was closed due to coronavirus. That was not going to stop us. We found another, much more dangerous viewing point. We climbed through a hole in the barbed wire fence and carefully made our way up an icy slope to the edge of a cliff.

I am not recommending that you do the same but I must say that it was totally worth it. There I was, sitting at the edge of a cliff, looking at the most beautiful castle I had ever laid eyes on. In that moment, it stopped being cold, I was just fully immersed, taking in the scene laid out in front of me.

As I laid at the edge of the cliff, I thought to myself, there is nothing else I would rather be doing. I find that people are always trying to tell you what you can and cannot do. Here’s what I think; just ignore them and do it anyway. What is the point of life if you do not do the things you really want to do.

Here it is, my experience in Bavaria with the two most handsome castles. I hope you enjoyed reading this and definitely subscribe for more content. It would make me very very happy. Read more about my trip here.