Schloss Neuschwanstein

[Old Crank]

We got the earlier time frame for the castle tour. I skipped it and walked around instead.

This is the first good view on the path to the castle from the shuttle bus stop.


This view is from the foot bridge over the creek.


The waterfall under the bridge


The trail away from the bridge


The bridge. Quiet now. Gets packed later in the day and year.


From the higher lookout. About a 75 mm equivalent focal length


Two closer looks.

[Diamond_Dog]

1. Your photos are beautiful.

Is this in Germany?

[Old Crank]

6. Yes

South Bayern, Bavaria, next to the Austrian border.
Built by Mad King Ludwig. Ludwig II.
Disney used it for his enchanted castle idea.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Must have exploited and killed a lot of labor in its building

Wondering how they did it I came across this modern effort.
https://www.guedelon.fr/en/
In the heart of Guédelon forest, in an abandoned quarry, a team of master-builders is building a 13th-century castle from scratch. Quarrymen, stonemasons, carpenter-joiners, woodcutters, blacksmiths, tilers, carters and rope makers…are working together to revive heritage craft skills and to shed light on the world of medieval construction.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gu%C3%A9delon_Castle
Old tall castles—like the colossal keeps of Coucy in France (180 feet) or the White Tower in London (90 feet)—were built without electricity or modern machinery. Builders used thousands of laborers, human-powered cranes, lime mortar, and specialized scaffolding to conquer these heights.

Human powered cranes must have been interesting. Specialized scaffolding?

As always nice pics - you get to explore the world!

[Old Crank]

8. No doubt.

Thanks for the compliment.

We were on a bike trip in France and there was a historic cliff dwelling, inhabited for 2,000 years. At some time they used human powered windlasses to bring stuff up the rock face. With the right gearing and leverage you can move a lot of weight.

I'll have to look at those links. Sounds really interesting.

[angrycaveman]

3. Never made it past the bridge

Lived in Germany mid 80s and returned twice over the decades with visits to Fussen being mandatory, and I've never made it past the bridge to get that higher lookout shot. Granted, most visits are in winter and bridge is closed...but nevertheless, glad you got it.

[Old Crank]

9. The trail is a bit sketchy

for an old codger. The one in the picture is past the look out.
I seem to remember floating over those things when I was younger.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. These are just wonderful, and thank you for sharing them, my dear Old Crank!

These are so much better than I could ever get! You saved me the effort, big time.

[Old Crank]

10. Don't sell yourself short

You do great work.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

14. Aw, thank you!

[brer cat]

5. Wonderful photos, Old Crank.

[Old Crank]

11. Thanks

[surfered]

7. Been there. Your photos are better.

[Old Crank]

12. Thanks

But you don't see the all the zeroes and ones on the cutting room floor.

[surfered]

36. 😁

[FakeNoose]

13. I have been to Neuschwanstein, and your photos are amazing

I didn't get the long-distance views that you have here. The castle interior is also incredible, but I was only able to tour the lower floors. They're still rehabbing much of the castle interiors. The rooms on the upper floors were never finished before the King died and Bavaria ran out of money. Of course Bavaria has made more from the tourists in the last 150 years, than it ever cost to build the castle.

Thanks for sharing these really nice photos!

[Old Crank]

17. It is quite the edifice.

He helped give full employment for Sculptors and the like.

[AZ8theist]

15. That structure is incredible!!

Last edited Sat May 23, 2026, 07:37 PM - Edit history (1)

Fantastic pictures!

Well done!

[Old Crank]

23. Thanks.

It helps to have some good light and a good subject.

[AZ8theist]

35. True.

So you definetly don't want to take any picture of ME, no matter what the lighting is!!!

[Old Crank]

37. I'm in the same boat );

[Phoenix61]

16. Beautiful! Nt

[Old Crank]

24. Thanks

[OGBuzz]

18. Just WOW!

[Old Crank]

25. I was impressed in 1977 when I first saw it.

[OGBuzz]

30. Amazing what they were capable of constructing before modern tools and machines.

[PatSeg]

19. What a great photographic opportunity

The images are amazing!

[Old Crank]

26. Yes it is a pretty castle

Thanks

[MLAA]

20. I was there about 60 years ago as a young child.

My dad was stationed in Germany and my parents took us on many road trips. This brings back lovely memories. Thank you!

[Old Crank]

27. You are welcome

[orangecrush]

21. Why am I hearing pipe organ music in my head?

Beautiful photos, thank you!

[Old Crank]

28. Ludwig II was a fan of Wagner's music

That may be why

[orangecrush]

34. Nailed it!

[tavernier]

22. I was born not very far from there.

I was four years old when we left, so I don’t remember seeing it at all, but my father said that from the distance that we were, oddlyyou could see it fairly clearly when it was raining or foggy, but could not see it on a clear day. I’ve always wondered about that.

[Old Crank]

29. Keine Ahnung

We could see it from a distance when we drove to it.
Might have been some weird lighting effect. Like the cases when you can see over the horizon at times

[aggiesal]

31. I believe Disney modeled Cinderella's castle after Neuschwanstein castle. ...

The time I went there, it was really foggy so it had a spooky feel to it.

[Old Crank]

32. Yes he did

[George McGovern]

33. Excellent angles all Old Crank. Especially "The waterfall under the bridge" - that's a great shot!