TRAVEL AND LIFESTYLE DIARIES

Hohenschwangau is a small village in Bavaria that is probably one of the most visited in the country, with more than two million visitors every year it has to be. The reason visitors are drawn here is its resident sleeping beauty-like castle, the Schloss Neuschwanstein . Aerial view of the village. Hohenschwangau Village Website: Hohenschwangau In fact, the village has two beautiful breathtaking castles: Schloss Hohenschwangau and Schloss Neuschwanstein Lovely Hohenschwangau Castle. King Maximilian II of Bavaria lived here in the early 18th century.  The stunning Neuschwanstein Castle was built by King Ludwig II, son of King Maximilian II. Ludwig II lived in the ancestral home Hohenschwangau Castle, only to build his very own dream castle a stone's throw away. Hohenschwangau village map. I went to Hohenschwangau on a road trip from my base in Munich. The best place to park is at the end of the village past the ticketing centre (see P4 in the map), fr...

I have to confess that halfway through the castle tour at Neuschwanstein (my schedule was at 13:30 and it finished an hour later), I was already daydreaming what my lunch is going to be like at Alpenrose Am See  –   Ooh, what am I going to order? Should I take a starter?  –  There was a cafe at the castle but they were serving cafeteria (snack) food and I did not want to spoil my appetite for later. But what I am really excited about is the restaurant itself. Alpenrose Am See has the best location and views in Schwangau, situated on the Alpsee (Alp Lake) beside the Museum of the Bavarian Kings. Alpenrose Am See Restaurant Website: Alpenrose Am See Finally I arrived at Alpenrose at 15:30! Since it was a bit late for lunch, there were very few diners. I did small talk with the friendly attendant who empathised with me about the miserable weather. He said it was sunny yesterday. A nameplate on his chest suggested that he could be Hungarian, so I asked h...

Don’t we all girls ever dreamed of being a princess at some point in our earlier lives? And be swept away by handsome prince charming on a white horse, a Knight in shining armour, and we live happily ever after in a stunning white castle? I have seen so many castles and palaces in my lifetime already and because of this I am now quite picky but the Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria has been on my mind for a long time. I am partly to blame as I have kept procrastinating this trip, until last month when I told myself, it’s now or never. Things to know The drive from Baierbrunn (south of Munich) where I stayed would have been perfect if the weather cooperated. Unfortunately it drizzled the whole day. This area of Bavaria is one of the most scenic places of Germany. Munich to Schwangau is about an hour’s drive. There are bus tours from Munich as well. Do take note that because of the remoteness of the place it is not handy to come here by public transport, so either you do a DIY c...