Füssen's Fantasy Castles

After a peaceful but somewhat uncomfortable nights sleep we caught an early (8:50am) train down to Füssen. The regional train was not as nice as the high-speed ones we had become accustomed to but after two hours and numerous stops we were eventually in hilly, snow covered Füssen. The small town has the feel of an alpine tourist mecca with lots of hotels, shops and amusements designed to sapp you of as many Euros as possible.

The unfinished castle in Füssen

After a pizza lunch we caught the local bus up to Fussen's main attractions, a pair of amazing castles nestled in the hills. The two castles were built by King Ludwig II in the late 19th Century. Ludwig was the equivalent of an L.A. socialite hairdresser, rich, imaginative and gayer than the Village People. Consequently these two castles he had built are very lavish and were influenced more by fantasy artists than architects or contemporary styles of the time. The most impressive castle was never completed, Ludwig mysteriously died shortly after being diagnosed mentally unstable and unable to fulfill his role as King. Only a handful of the 200 odd rooms envisaged were completed but what was completed is fairly staggering.

The view from the King's room (photos  of the interior were not allowed)

The castle was designed using the musical inspiration of Wagner, one of Ludwig's 'friends'. The interiors are just as lavish as the outside with secret doors, a fake cave and hundreds of swans in various guises. It was quite a sight and each room had an amazing view of Füssen and its surrounding landscape. Overall the excursion was well worth the train ride and rather hefty entrance fee to the castle's interior.

More photographs from Fussen...