Visit the Neo-Gothic Schloss Hohenschwangau to see the childhood home of King Ludwig II of Bavaria which inspired the construction of the Disney-like Neuschwanstein Castle near Munich in Germany.
Schwangau near Füssen in Southern Germany is mostly visited to see the Disney-like, fairy-tale Schloss Neuschwanstein Castle. Less famous is the nearby Neo-Gothic Schloss Hohenschwangau where Mad King Ludwig spent happy childhood summers and probably dreamed up plans for his own more elaborate fantasy castles. Schloss Hohenschwangau was erected during the 1830s by Bavarian King Maximilian II in a Neo-Gothic style and remains under the control of the royal Wittelsbach family.
Schwangau and the Allgäu Became Part of Bavaria
Following the Napoleonic wars, Bavaria increased its territory and acquired amongst others the beautiful Allgäu area. In these new territories, Bavarian Crown Prince Maximilian discovered the ruins of Schloss Hohenschwangau.
Maximilian loved the natural beauty of the Allgäu region. The Alps formed a natural border with Austria and the future king enjoyed hunting here as well as the marvelous views from the mountains of the now Bavarian Lech Valley. The ruins of Hohenschwangau near the small Alpsee Lake offered a perfect location for Maximilian’s fantasy castle.
Schloss Hohenschwangau Castle near Füssen
In the 1830s, Maximilian II built the new Neo-Gothic castle on the ruins of the historic Schloss Hohenschwangau. Domenico Quaglio used his skill as both an architect and a theater designer to create a theatrical fantasy in a fully functional building. (Ludwig II’s Neuschwanstein, in contrast, remained a rather unusable fantasy castle.)
Romantic wall paintings of German sagas dominate the interior of Schloss Hohenschwangau. Schwan is German for swan and swans are often used in decorations to link the new castle to the heraldic symbols of the medieval county of Schwangau.
Several paintings are dedicated to the Swan Order. Its most illustrious knight, Lohengrin, was later to inspire one of the best-known operas by Richard Wagner, who met Mad King Ludwig II for the first time in Hohenschwangau.
King Maximilian of Bavaria at Schloss Hohenschwangau
Bavarian King Maximilian II and his wife, Princess Marie of Prussia, used Schloss Hohenschwangau mostly as a summer residence. They basically initiated the era of mass tourism for the Schwangau region. Just as day-trippers now provide work for locals, the court following the monarch provided a major economic stimulus during the nineteenth century.
Maximilian and Marie loved to entertain and frequently had receptions in the massive Knights’ Hall in Schloss Hohenschwangau. Their son, the later “Mad” King Ludwig II, in contrast, was more asocial. The large Singers’ Hall, with impressive acoustics, in his fantasy Neuschwanstein Castle was used for concerts for the first time only sixty years after his death.
Mad King Ludwig II at Schloss Hohenschwangau
The future Bavarian King Ludwig II spent many, and by all accounts happy, childhood summers at Schloss Hohenschwangau. Ludwig’s romantic disposition was no doubt greatly influenced by the paintings he saw on the walls of Schloss Hohenschwangau.
The most obvious consequence is the very popular, Disney-like fantasy castle Schloss Neuschwanstein that Ludwig erected within easy walking distance from Schloss Hohenschwangau.
Visit Schloss Hohenschwangau Castle
Schloss Hohenschwangau is far less popular with visitors than the nearby Schloss Neuschwanstein Castles. As a result, Hohenschwangau may often be seen without advanced ticket reservations but on busy days it is €2.50 well spent to book a time slot in advance.
Tickets, including the compulsory guided tour, are €21. As Hohenschwangau is not a state property, it is not part of the Bavarian sightseeing savings ticket deals.
→ See Tickets for Schloss Neuschwanstein and Schloss Hohenschwangau for more visitor information, opening hours, and tickets.
Both Schloss Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein Castle are in Schwangau near Füssen, an easy and popular day-trip destination by public transportation from Munich. Many day-trip tours are also available from Munich.
More on King Ludwig’s Castles and Palaces
The three fantasy castles of King Ludwig are all near Munich and are popular day trips whether on bus tours, driving, or using public transportation. Schloss Neuschwanstein and Schloss Linderhof are to the southwest and may be seen on the same day when driving or on tours. Schloss Herrencheimsee is to the southeast and also a good stopover en route to Salzburg.
Sightseeing Savings Deals in Bavaria:
- Visit Mad King Ludwig’s Fantasy Castles Near Munich in Germany
- Save on Top Sightseeing Site Tickets in Bavaria, Germany
- Save with the Bayern Ticket on Public Transportation — Buy the Bayern Ticket Online from Deutsche Bahn, or consider the €49 Deutschland-Ticket.
- Book Day-Trip Tours from Munich
Schloss Neuschwanstein and Schloss Hohenschwangau:
- Buy Tickets for Schloss Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles
- Transportation to Schloss Neuschwanstein
- See Romantic Disney-Like Schloss Neuschwanstein Castle
- Visit Schloss Hohenschwangau in Bavaria, Germany
- Top Sightseeing Sites in Füssen and Schwangau
- Book Day-Trip Tours from Munich to Schloss Neuschwanstein
Linderhof Palace and Park:
- See Schloss and Park Linderhof in Bavaria, Germany
- Visiting Schloss Linderhof: Opening Hours, Tickets, and Transportation
- Book Day-Trip Tours from Munich to Linderhof
Schloss Herrenchiemsee:
- Visit Schloss Herrenchiemsee Castle near Munich
- See Schloss Herrenchiemsee Castle in Bavaria
- Transportation to Schloss Herrenchiemsee Castle
- Book Day-Trip Tours from Munich to Herrenchiemsee
