Bavarian castles: review, description, photos, excursions

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

Bavaria is one of the most picturesque regions of Europe and the most developed region of Germany. There are many ancient castles imbued with the atmosphere of the Middle Ages. Their majesty and historical spirit attract tourists from all over the world. A list of the most popular Bavarian castles, their description and photos in the article below.

Hohenschwangau

Opens the list of castles in Bavaria - Hohenschwangau. The history of its name, which means "high swan land", dates back to the reign of King Ludwig. Since childhood, the ruler loved swans, so the interior design of the castle is full of various images of these birds: both the fountain and the tiny candlestick have taken the form of a swan.

The stories and legends of the German heroes that young Ludwig was told about permeate everything in this castle. One of the most valuable rooms in it is the hall of the swan knight, the picturesque ceilings of which are a real work of art. In the medieval building you can see the piano, which was played by Wagner himself, as well as Russian icons,donated by Emperor Alexander I.

You can visit the castle only as part of an excursion, which, it should be noted, is not conducted in Russian. You can use the audio guide service. The duration of the tour of the castle is 35 minutes. Taking pictures and videos is prohibited. Ticket price - 1000 rubles, children under 18 years of age are free.

Linderhof

Linderhof Castle in Bavaria is the residence of King Ludwig II. The magnificent palace is one of the best buildings of the German ruler. There is a version that this is the only architectural object, the construction of which was completed during the life of the monarch. The structure is relatively young - it was built at the end of the 19th century.

The architectural solution took into account elements of the Baroque style. Luxury and we alth literally permeated the interior halls of this castle. Linderhof's rooms and corridors are decorated with magnificent porcelain, antique tapestries of the finest workmanship, huge mirrors and statues.

The structure is located in the middle of a beautiful park with a pond and a fountain. The royal grounds can be viewed during a walk. A ticket with full access to the castle and nearby territories costs a little more than 600 rubles. Students and pensioners can enjoy scenic views with a discount of one hundred rubles.

Neuschwanstein

A photo of the castle can be seen on the W alt Disney studio logo. Represented by the company even wanted to buy the facility and transfer it to the territory of their entertainment in the US.

CastleNeuschwanstein in Bavaria was not built as a defensive structure and not for royal events. The building is a realized romantic fantasy of King Ludwig II, erected in 1869. All rooms of the castle have an interior imbued with tales of valiant knights and other German folklore.

The Monarch spent a record amount of six million gold marks on the knight's project. After the death of the king, the structure began to be used as an excursion object to pay for the construction.

A ticket with a full tour costs almost a thousand rubles, children under 18 are free to enter. Tourists are given an audio guide in the required language. Taking photos is not allowed in Neuschwanstein.

You can also visit the picturesque surroundings of the castle absolutely free of charge. A walk near Neuschwanstein includes steep rocky paths, a bridge with stunning views of the castle, and the Alpsee and Schwansee lakes, which some call the cleanest in Germany.

Herrenchiemsee

Herrenchiemsee is a castle built as a country residence of King Ludwig II. A kind of "Bavarian Versailles" is a symbolic ode to the French monarch Louis XIV, built in the likeness of a favorite building of a foreign colleague. The similarity can be seen in the architectural component, layout and in the interior of the halls and corridors. In some elements, the German monarch surpassed the first person of France of that time. For example, the Hall of Mirrors on Herrenchiemsee is much larger than in the Versailles building.

Also in the German palace there were elevators, heating and plumbing with hot water. On the territory of the residence there is a museum dedicated to Ludwig II.

You can get to the island on which Herrenchiemsee is located by boat, which departs every half hour from the Prien am Chiemsee pier. In summer, the palace can be reached from the tourist pier by horse-drawn carriage. The journey takes approximately 15 minutes.

The cost of a ticket for a full tour, which includes a visit to the palace, museum and monastery, is less than seven hundred rubles. Visitors under the age of 18 can see all the beauty for free.

Trausnitz

The famous architectural landmark of Bavaria is Trausnitz Castle. It is located near the town of Loundshut. The construction was erected in 1204 by order of Duke Otto I, representing the Wittelsbach dynasty. The building had a defensive purpose for the conquered territories.

Trausnitz has a monumental fort structure, designed in the Gothic style. Watchtowers and buildings for the locals, protected by strong walls, quickly attracted residents, and over time, an entire city formed around the building.

Duke William V the Pious made a special contribution to the prosperity of the castle. He ruled here from 1545-1579. Thanks to the monarch, a beautiful landscape park with exotic plants, amazing fountains and sculptures was built near the fortress. The interior of Trausnitz is a luxurious halls,furnished with period furniture, paintings, porcelain kitchen utensils and collectible weapons. It is worth noting that every tourist should see the legendary spiral staircase, decorated with images of Italian comedy heroes.

Ticket for the tour costs 300 rubles.

Altenburg

Castles of Bavaria completes Altenburg. The end of its construction dates back to 1109. The construction was used by residents of nearby settlements as a temporary shelter in the event of an enemy attack. In 1553, Altenburg was burned down, but the surviving parts of the castle continued to be used as a prison.

It is worth noting that a real brown bear lived in one of the premises of the fortress. Currently, a scarecrow kept there keeps his memory.

Unfortunately, little remains of the medieval castle in Altenburg, but the spirit of history and temporary dust have not gone away.

Falkenstein

The name of the Bavarian castle Falkenstein is translated as "Falcon Stone". This is the highest building in Germany, the entrance to which is absolutely free, but you still have to pay about 250 rubles per car to enter the territory.

Fallenstein was built in the middle of the 13th century, but after 400 years it was almost completely destroyed. The legendary king Ludwig II planned to restore the castle on this picturesque place. The workers started work, but the monarch suddenly died, and the construction site was frozen.

The structure is practically not preserved. From the remaining elements of the building, you can see pieces of the walls, the foundation and part of the first floor. The only thing that attracts tourists is a wooden observation deck, equipped next to the ruins.

Hohenfreyberg

The ruins of the Bavarian castle still look extremely impressive. This fortress is one of the few that can boast of a rich military past. Partial preservation of the medieval defensive structure attracts inquisitive tourists from all over the world.

The construction of Hohenfreyberg began in 1418 by a certain local baron. Having started the business, he did not finish it. The project passed from hand to hand, which contributed to its gradual expansion and transformation into a full-fledged castle. The fortress was regularly in demand until it was destroyed during the Thirty Years' War. Despite the deplorable ending of Hohenfreiberg, some remnants can still be viewed. For example, the gate and the outer courtyard are preserved, and these elements were built by the very first founder. The system of double walls has also survived; you can see the remains of bastions and loopholes. The church tower suffered the least changes, although nothing remained inside.

Entrance to the observation deck is free for everyone.

Nymphenburg

The Bavarian Nymphenburg Castle is a palace complex full of luxury and craftsmanship. It was founded in 1664 and is considered one of the most beautiful architectural ensembles in Europe. On the territory there are many man-made lakes, a chapel, a hunting palace. Regular fit-outcontinued for a long time, so it is almost impossible to determine the exact date of completion of the work.

In front of the entrance to Nymphenburg there is a semicircular square, the sides of which are decorated with arches with the entrance to the park. There is a beautiful pond with a fountain, as well as statues of ancient gods.

One of the main elements of the architectural ensemble is a canal stretching across the entire park. A huge number of swans live here.

The cost of a passing ticket is approximately 750 rubles.

Hohe Schless

One of the most surviving castles is Hohe Schless. It was built in the thirteenth century. They tried to capture it many times, but the walls of the fortress withstood the attacks of enemies. Today, museums are open here, as well as some of the paintings of the Bavarian National Gallery.

The building is built in the shape of the letter "p", and additional structures are attached to it from different sides, such as a church, a prison tower and other residential and auxiliary structures. Everything is stylized in the late Gothic style: the windows are decorated with arches, the corners are covered with towers with a spire.

The walls of the castle and the central tower are painted with frescoes that have a five-century lifespan. Paintings can be seen in our time. Many architectural elements of the interior have been preserved simply unbelievably. The design of the ceilings, the carvings, and the wooden panels have also survived. Surprisingly, the Knights' Hall looks like medieval warriors and courtiers were here yesterday.

Particularly impressive is the exposition of Gothic painting,presented in one of the halls. Also there you can see the sculpture of the same time.

A tour of the Bavarian castle will cost a tourist 450 rubles.

Harburg

Completing the list of popular castles in Bavaria - Harburg, considered one of the best preserved. The appearance of the fortress and its interior have not changed much. Surprisingly, this is one of the most ancient fortresses - the first documented mention dates back to the tenth century.

The structure was erected strictly according to military rules, because it was of great strategic importance, consisting in protecting the imperial road. You can't just go into the courtyard - you need to overcome several protective structures.