Call me Mrs. Highway Vagabond! Day trips are what I live for and there is never a dull weekend while living abroad! You gotta take advantage of every day as if it was your last and there is so much to see, yet sooo little time! I want to go where nobody knows and where no body goes!
As little children we all grow up watching Disney’s fairy tale movies and then have high expectations of finding prince charming and living happily ever after in a castle. Then we’re told to grow up, get our heads out of the clouds and have more realistic expectations of life. I would have done that had […]
Germany certainly has no shortage of castles perched upon hills overlooking many scenic rivers and valleys. Castle spotting is definitely a favorite past time while driving through the country on a road trip. Some castles are as romantic as any homeless romantic could possibly imagine and even inspired Walt Disney, some are unique and no less impressive while others lie in ruins but still hold a special charm.
Some are called a ‘Burg’ and others are called a ‘Schloss’. So, what’s the difference, you might ask?
Of all the times I had ever been to Munich, I had never much been interested in visiting the Munich Residenz. From the outside, it looked like a boring, plain building in the city center, no different from the other buildings. And then I was on Pinterest one day, you could call me a Pinaholic and I stumbled upon a picture that was so beautiful of the a room inside the Residenz. I pinned it for later and it soon got buried in my list of things to see and do in Germany.
Until one rainy day…
Tourists flock to visit this magical castle, perched on a rocky cliff in the Alpine mountains which overlooks the small village of Schwangau. Upon arrival, many are amazed to find that just across the village is another castle. Schloss Hohenschwangau is easily over shadowed by the glory of Schloss Neuschwanstein and few make the time to visit both castles.
When you think of Germany, you undoubtedly imagine castles like Schloss Neuschwanstein or half-timbered towns like Rothenburg ob der Tauber. But what if I were to tell you, that there is more to Germany beyond the most touristy places of other romantic castles and historic towns offering a glimpse into the past? Would you believe me?
Chances are, unless you live in Germany or are addicted to Pinterest, you have probably never heard of Schloss Lichtenstein. Located in the Schwäbish Alb (the Swabian Jura mountains) not far from Ulm or Tübingen, making it a great day trip from either town.
Known informally as “The Little Brother” to Schloss Neuschwanstein, it can be easily overlooked, but it has just as many charms and romance as any other castle, just without the hordes of tourists!
Schloss Linderhof was the only palace that “Mad” King Ludwig II lived to see to be completed and had the chance to live in for eight years! Again, this palace was inspired by the Palace of Versailles in Paris and you can see the stunning artwork in honor of the French monarchy. While it might lack in size, as it is the smallest palace built by King Ludwig II, it packs a punch and it well worth the visit!
Castles & Palaces…. what dreams are made of! As a little girl, I always dreamed of living the fairy tale life as a princess in a beautiful castle perched upon a hill, with my long locks of brown wavy hair flowing over the castle window waiting for my prince charming to come and sweep me off my feet. Oh wait…that’s Rapunzel. While we may not have many “castles” in the United States, Europe has more than enough to make up for it. But how can we tell the difference between a ‘burg’ and a ‘schloss’?
If you’re looking for a romantic castle in Germany, you don’t have to look very far. The country is covered in a plethora of charming castles, filled with romantic stories and myths. Some might not look as romantic as others, as they were built inside for defensive purposes, but what’s to stop a girl from daydreaming? Even though Burg Hohenzollern isn’t as luxurious as a palace, it’s still one of the prettiest castles in Germany!