Visiting Neuschwanstein Castle, in Germany is on many people's bucket lists since it is one of the greatest castles in Europe.
It is the place where you can feel like a true prince or princess just by looking at it.
( one of our ceramic beer stein featuring Neuschwanstein Castle )
Is commonly referred to as the Disney castle because the iconic Cinderella Castle was inspired by it.
Neuschwanstein means “New Swan Stone” and do not panic with this fourteen-letter word. Since English is a Germanic language, you will know how to pronounce it without too much trouble.
Let us try it out – neu, is the German word for new. Schwan means swan but try to say 'shvan'. Stein means 'stone' in English, and once you break down the word into these 3 parts everything comes to place, something like neu-shvan-stein.
The castle was commissioned by Ludwig II in 1868, on a breathtaking rugged hill above the village of Hohenschwangau near Füssen in southwest Bavaria, two years after Austria and Bavaria were conquered by Prussia during the Austro-Prussian War and consequently Ludwig II lose all his powers.
( our ceramic German beer stein featuring Ludwig II )
Ludwig II quickly retreated into his own fantasy world, surrounding himself with this great castle where he could live out his dreams of being a true, loved and sovereign king.
The Castle construction lasted for 25 years, and during that period , King Ludwig II was declared insane and died in mysterious circumstances and he was not able to see it finished.
Its incredible luxury and complex construction techniques captured the attention of the public until our days.
If you plan to visit the castle in the fall, plan to go between September and October, and you will be able to wear a wool hat, lederhosen or a dirndl and enjoy Oktoberfest - a celebration that you cannot miss!
Until you make it to Germany, you can be a King or a Queen in your own home, enjoying your favorite beer in one of our Neuschwanstein Castle themed beer steins.
( one of our ceramic German beer steins with lid featuring Neuschwanstein Castle)