Another early start to be on the tour bus at 8:30am. Today we are going to Neuschwanstein and Linderhof castles built by Ludwig the second.
Our tour guide was quite a lively old fellow who liked to repeat himself and recap our trip 'so far' as we went about the day.
First stop Linderhof castle. Built by the king Ludwig who hated crowds and like to be a loner, so therefore he had the castle built in the hilly region where no one would be likely to find him.
We quickly walked past a lake on the way to the castle, as it was home to a bunch of swans. Although Chris kept saying that we should,I was not too keen to go and visit.
Arriving at the steps of Linderhof, we were just in time to see the natural spring of alpine water spout from the main fountain. It was quite an impressive sight as its all caused by the pressure of the water rather than electronics.
We were taken on a guided tour of the castle, a rather small castle but huge inside. Two music and tapestry rooms, massive bedroom, dining room(complete with lowering dining table so the servants could set it without seeing the king or vice versa) and a massive study full of mirrors. Interesting taste in ornaments(they were mostly porcelain swans).
Outside again and it was time to discover the grounds which were very beautiful including natural waterfall. This king knew where to place a castle!
Back on the bus and off to oberammergau, a tiny town that gets over a million tourists every 10 years with the passion play (a reenactment and story of christ's life).
Onto the most exciting part of the day, Neuschwanstein castle! Dropped off at the bottom of the mountain we had to make the ascent by mini bus to the top, take our pictures at Mary's bridge(beautiful and so scary at the same time!) The bridge was semi see through, long way down to the waterfall and lake below and it kept wobbling because of the amount of people on it.
Walking down the hill through beautiful woodlands we then arrived at the castle. Our tour guide took us through the castle, of which has only 6 rooms completed as the king was declared mentally insane and therefore no longer fit to rule so all construction stopped. That and the country treasury was bankrupt from the king building so many castles. The 6 rooms were amazing! Ornate and finely decorated with carvings, tapestries and, of course, porcelain swans.
Outside again and down the hill, we took the hikers trail which lead deeper into the woodlands, very beautiful and nice to be away from the tourists.
Back onto the bus and two hours back to Munich, with a lovely recap of the entire day, again!
Now having a drink in the hotel bar, eating a pretzel and soon off to bed. Tomorrow we head to Innsbruck and then Lucerne(home of a billion swans....wish me luck. Chris has already got the bag of bread ready).
Night xx