Royal Castles in the Allgäu & Cultural Vacations in Bavaria

Join us as we follow in the footsteps of King Ludwig II and experience the most famous Bavarian royal castles in the Allgäu up close:

From our centrally located Old Town hotel, “Zum Hechten”, you can reach the cultural highlights and royal castles of the Allgäu in no time:

• Neuschwanstein Castle (Schwangau): The world-famous fairy-tale castle of the Bavarian “Fairy-Tale King” sits picturesquely above Hohenschwangau.
  • Distance: approx. 4 km (a few minutes by car or bus, or a lovely walk)
    
    

• Hohenschwangau Castle (Schwangau): King Ludwig II’s historic summer residence, offering deep insights into the royal family’s history with vibrant murals.
  • Distance: approx. 4 km (right next to the ticket center / below Neuschwanstein)

• Museum of the Bavarian Kings (Alpseestr. 27, Hohenschwangau): The history of the Wittelsbach dynasty from its beginnings to Ludwig II, located directly on Lake Alpsee (with audio guides in 8 languages).
  • Distance: approx. 4 km

• Linderhof Palace (Graswang Valley / Ettal): The magnificent Rococo palace in the Graswang Valley, surrounded by an ornate park featuring a Moorish kiosk and the Venus Grotto.
  • Distance: approx. 45 km (scenic drive through the Allgäu / Ammer Mountains)

Experience an unforgettable, fairy-tale journey through Bavaria’s royal palaces and, after an eventful day of culture, enjoy the comfortable retreat at our Old Town hotel “Zum Hechten.”

Neuschwanstein Castle: Experience the World-Famous Original Up Close

There are still people who claim that the original Neuschwanstein Castle is located at Disneyland! Once and for all: That’s a misconception. The real, world-famous castle is located less than 4 kilometers from Füssen and can be reached quickly and easily from our Old Town hotel, “Zum Hechten.”

Of course, it wasn’t illusionists from Disneyland or Las Vegas, but rather the Bavarian “Fairy-Tale King,” Ludwig II, who began bringing his dream of an idealized, medieval knight’s castle to life in 1868. Ever since, Neuschwanstein Castle has stood majestically 200 meters above the valley on a rugged cliff, heralding a fairy-tale world even from afar.

After an unforgettable excursion to this architectural masterpiece and a journey in the king’s footsteps, you’ll return to the cozy atmosphere of our centrally located hotel in Füssen—the perfect way to round out your cultural vacation in the Allgäu.

King Ludwig II – The “Fairy-Tale King” and His World-Famous Castle

The myth surrounding King Ludwig II began to take shape even during the Bavarian monarch’s lifetime. “I want to remain an eternal mystery to myself and to others,” Ludwig once wrote to his governess—and this aura of mystery continues to fascinate people to this day. His magnificent structures, which were once intended as private retreats and never meant for the eyes of outsiders, are regarded as stone testimonies to an idealized alternative world. Ludwig II ultimately failed in his radical attempt at self-realization through historicism, poetry, and idealism; he apparently preferred death to a return to reality. Since the king’s death, his castles have been visited by more than 50 million people.

Neuschwanstein Castle: One of Europe’s Most Visited Castles

Just seven weeks after the death of King Ludwig II, Neuschwanstein Castle was opened to the public in 1886. The reclusive king had originally commissioned the building to retreat from the public eye—today, his private refuge is one of the world’s absolute top tourist attractions.

As the most famous of the Bavarian royal castles, Neuschwanstein is one of the most visited castles in Europe. Thanks to its fairy-tale architecture, picturesquely nestled in the natural landscape near Schwangau, close to Füssen, the castle is an absolute must-see for any cultural traveler. Inside the opulent interiors, visitors marvel at a magnificent décor deeply inspired by medieval legends and the operas of Richard Wagner.

Each year, around 1.3 million people visit “the Fairy-Tale King’s Castle.” In the summer, an average of more than 6,000 guests a day crowd through rooms that were once intended for a single resident.

Tip for your stay at the “Zum Hechten” downtown hotel: Tickets for the castle are available at the official ticket center in Hohenschwangau. You can find detailed information on prices, opening hours, and helpful tips for your trip directly from us or in our digital visitor guide. After an eventful day at the royal castles, our centrally located Old Town hotel in Füssen welcomes you with authentic Bavarian comfort.

Hohenschwangau Castle: The Birthplace of the “Fairy-Tale King”

If, after visiting Neuschwanstein, you’d like to delve even deeper into the life and history of the Bavarian royal family, we recommend a visit to Hohenschwangau Castle—just a few minutes away from our Old Town hotel, “Zum Hechten,” in Füssen.

In the historic, once-ruined Schwanstein Castle—which Crown Prince Maximilian of Bavaria had rebuilt in the Neo-Gothic style between 1832 and 1836—you’ll learn fascinating background information about the childhood of King Ludwig II and his brother Otto. Hohenschwangau became the loving childhood home of the future kings.

Romantic Architecture & Magnificent Murals

Designed as a romantic residential castle by Maximilian’s art teacher, the architect and theater painter Domenico Quaglio, the castle continues to fascinate visitors today with its richly detailed interior. Large, beautiful murals adorn, among other rooms:

• The Ballroom
• Queen Marie’s Oriental Room
• The Hohenstaufen Room
• The Tasso Room (which served as a bedroom for King Maximilian and Ludwig II)
• Queen Marie’s study (the so-called “Berchtazimmer,” whose paintings tell the legend of Charlemagne’s birth in the rice mill of Gauting in the Ammersee region)

 Practical Information About Visiting the Castle

• Owner: The castle is currently owned by the Wittelsbach Compensation Fund.
• Tour Format: Hohenschwangau Castle can only be visited as part of a guided tour lasting approximately 35 minutes.

 Your ideal starting point: After a history-filled excursion to the “Königswinkel” region of the Allgäu, the cozy atmosphere of our Old Town hotel in Füssen awaits you. Enjoy Bavarian hospitality and relax in a central location before discovering more cultural highlights of the region.

Linderhof Palace: The Perfect Masterpiece in the Graswang Valley

About 45 kilometers from Füssen lies King Ludwig II’s smallest—but arguably most whimsical—palace: Linderhof Palace. Surrounded by a magnificent palace park featuring ornate water features, the mysterious Venus Grotto, and the exotic Moorish kiosk, it forms a unique, fairy-tale-like ensemble.

In addition to Schwangau, a place familiar to him from his childhood, it was above all the idyllic Graswang Valley that Ludwig had come to love during excursions from Hohenschwangau even as a crown prince. His father, King Maximilian II, already owned a hunting lodge there in Linderhof. With the palace, completed in 1878—the only one that King Ludwig II ever finished and lived in for any length of time—the monarch brought the opulent spirit of the Rococo back to life.

Highlights in the Artistic Palace Park

Among the fascinating sights in the expansive landscape garden are:

• The King’s Cottage and the old royal linden tree (on whose raised platform the king would sometimes have breakfast)
• The Moorish kiosk with the magnificent peacock throne
• The Moroccan House and the rustic Hunding’s Hut
• The artificial Venus Grotto: A true engineering marvel of its time. A “Open Sesame” rock leads into the grotto with a lake and waterfall, which could be heated and electrically lit—including artificial waves on the water!

Day Trip Tip from Füssen: Your Stay at Hotel “Zum Hechten”

Take advantage of our centrally located Old Town hotel “Zum Hechten” in Füssen as the perfect, comfortable starting point for your day trip to the Graswang Valley. After cultural discoveries and a journey back in time to the world of King Ludwig II, return to the cozy atmosphere of our Bavarian home.

Linderhof 12
82488 Ettal
Telefon: 08822 92030
schlosslinderhof.de

The Museum of the Bavarian Kings: Experience History Up Close

Set against a stunning natural backdrop right at the foot of the world-famous royal castles, the historic building—once known as the Grandhotel Alpenrose—is now home to the Museum of the Bavarian Kings. The fascinating exhibition sheds light on the eventful history of the House of Wittelsbach, from its beginnings in the 12th century to the present day—with a special focus on the life and legacy of King Maximilian II and his son, the “Fairy-Tale King” Ludwig II.

Visitors can explore the exhibition at their own pace and in a relaxed manner with a modern audio guide available in eight languages.

Your cultural tip from Füssen

The museum can be perfectly combined with a trip to Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles. Just a few minutes’ drive from our “Zum Hechten” Old Town Hotel in Füssen’s historic center, you can immerse yourself in the region’s rich history and perfectly round out your cultural vacation in Bavaria.

Visitor Information & Contact

Alpseestraße 27
87645 Hohenschwangau

Phone: 08362 926464-0
info@museum-hohenschwangau.de
Tickets & Guided Tours: You can find the current event schedule, ticket information, and exact opening hours directly on the museum’s official website.