An excursion into Germany’s History

What’s the most impressive historic monument in Bavaria one can show to visitors from near or far away? Yes, very likely the fairy tale castle Neuschwanstein, just an hour’s drive away from the EC.

Ludwig II is sometimes called the Swan King, Mad King Ludwig or the ‘Fairy Tale King’. Seven weeks after his death in 1886, Neuschwanstein was opened to the public. The shy king had built the castle in order to withdraw from public life – now vast numbers of people came to view his private refuge – including high Tibetan Lamas like Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche!

Today Neuschwanstein is world famous, also thanks to the Disney logo design, which had Neuschwanstein as the inspiration behind. It is one of the most popular of all the palaces and castles in Europe. Every year 1.4 million people visit “the castle of the fairy-tale king”. In the summer around 6,000 visitors a day stream through rooms that were intended for a single inhabitant. The setting of Neuschwanstein could not be more idyllic surrounded by the beautiful Allgäu mountains.