Hohenschwangau Castle, whose name poetically translates as "High Swan Land", is located in southern Bavaria, near the city of Fussen and the border with Austria. It is in the shadow of its famous neighbor, the fabulous Neuschwanstein, but it was Hohenschwangau that was the family residence and the place where King Ludwig II spent his childhood. Unlike the pompous and theatrical Neuschwanstein, this castle is distinguished by its comfort and habitable atmosphere, and the presence of its owners is still felt here. The history of this place goes back to the 12th century, when the knights of von Schwangau built the Schwanstein fortress here. In the 16th century, the line of knights was suppressed, and the fortress began to collapse, and the Napoleonic wars of the early 19th century completed this process, turning it into picturesque ruins. The Crown Prince and later King Maximilian II of Bavaria breathed new life into these ruins. Fascinated by the beauty of these places during one of his trips, he acquired the ruins in 1832 and rebuilt the castle. Construction in the Neo-Gothic style under the direction of architect Domenico Quaglio lasted until 1837. So Hohenschwangau became the summer and hunting residence of the Bavarian royal family. The exterior of the castle corresponds to the spirit of romanticism: towers with spires, balconies, fountains with figures of lions and swans. The facade of the castle is painted in a characteristic yellow color. However, the main treasure of Hohenschwangau is hidden inside. The interiors of the castle are decorated in the Biedermeier style, which was the epitome of comfort and home warmth. The walls of almost all the halls are decorated with frescoes based on Germanic myths, legends and history. Visitors to the castle can see several notable rooms: · The Swan Knight Hall: a former dining room, the walls of which are painted with scenes from the Lohengrin saga. · Hall of Heroes: the largest room in the castle with paintings illustrating the epic of Dietrich of Bern. · The Hohenstaufen Room: A maple piano, the so-called "Wagner piano", attracts attention here. Ludwig II, being a good pianist, often played music here, and when the composer Richard Wagner visited him, he asked him to play some of his works. · Queen Mary's Chambers: The Queen's bedroom is decorated in Turkish style, a tribute to Maximilian's journey to the East. There are even preserved canapes presented to the Crown Prince by the Turkish Sultan. · The home Chapel: notable for two valuable Russian icons presented to Ludwig II by Tsar Alexander I.

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Polina

Level 16 Local Expert

Incredibly beautiful old castle! We'll like it even more than Neuschwanstein. It's small and very cozy. Being next to him literally makes you feel his antiquity, his centuries-old history

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Валерий Колесов

Level 20 Local Expert

It was, however, quite a long time ago. The castle is beautiful and, most importantly, very beautifully painted in a hilly landscape. I advise everyone.

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Schloss Hohenschwangau

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