When a fairy-tale comes alive

The most famous castle of the Allgau in the German Schwang area is the very well visited German attraction – the castle Neuschwanstein. Some even call it, as it fairy-tale like charms take your breath away, the fairy castle. It was built by Ludwig II in September 1869, who got inspired to build it after visiting the gothic castle Wartburg in Turing. For the location he chose the ruins of the old guard tower Schwanstein, thus the castle’s name Neuschwanstein (new Schwanstein). Ludwig II. Spent 153 days at the castle, until his death. The European book of attractions 2002 says that Ludwig never wanted to show the interior of the castle to the public, but it was opened to visits already 6 weeks after his death. The rooms are decorated with charming and artistic taste. Ludwig was guided by his love towards Wagner’s work while decorating, so it’s not surprising we find many motives from his operas. In the lower lobby we are greeted by Sigrid, connected to the Wagner’s Nibelung and the bedroom is decorated with the story of Tristian and Isolde. The main theme repeated thorough the castle is the swan. You can see swans as paintings, craft, parts of door or textile and as statues. The most important room of the castle was the Singer’s rom, telling the story of the tournament of troubadours. Ludwig made the castle in the style of medieval castles so it features elements of neo-roman and neo-gothic styles. 

During summer the castle is open every day between 9am and 6pm and you need to pay 12€ to gain entry. 

4,5 kilometres from the castle there’s a welcoming hostel Fussen, with the railroad station a kilometre away from it. If you arrive by car along the motorway A7 there’s 3.5 kilometre’s to reach the hostel. The hostel features a large private parking and you can get your laundry done for free. Free is also the wi-fi connection. The price includes self-serving breakfast and dinner.

The Czech castle Hluboka stands on a high rocky terrace above the Rive Vltava. It’s got to be one of the most beautiful and most fairy like buildings in the world. It originates from 13th century, but was rebuilt in English style six centuries later. This was done so well it reminds you of the Windsor castle in England. It’s the second most visited castle in Czech Republic (right after the Hradčany in Prague). With pointy gothic windows and square towers it tells its white marble tale. In the spring and summer months there’s a blooming and fragrant park in front of the castle and the newly made garden next to it. The true fairy tale, however, begins when you enter the rich interior, where many luxurious rooms are to be seen, full of museum collection with highly interesting exhibits made of glass, china, not to mention weapons, tapestries and paintings. The interior is beautiful, but you don’t need to pay to get in, the castle will take your breath away by the exterior already. You can visit the castle each day between 9am and noon and from 12:30pm until five (in July and August – and every day except Mondays in September). Students younger than 26 year can also get a discount buying the ticket, which depends upon what you’d like to see (you can visit the tower for 1,5€ or the castle rooms for 5,5€).

10 km from Hluboka, in the centre of Češke Budejovice, you can find the hostel Cuba. Hostel is located in a historical building from 1878 in the very centre, just a stone’s throw away from the main square. The train and bus station are about 10 minutes’ walk away. The first bus stop is just 150m away and if you arrive with your own car, you can leave it in the free parking in front of the hostel. The price includes linen, towels and internet access.

The fairy image of a castle in the sand brown colour with the castle walls like building blocks and blue towers becomes reality in Slovakian Bojnice. The image we got while listening to fairy tales when we were young, comes to life here. The castle of Bojnice is among the most attractive and most visited castles in central Europe. It’s located in the idyllic tow of the same name. You enter the castle by crossing the stone bridge, as there’s a ditch around the castle, where many animals and plants live. The interior features furniture made to the smallest of details and decorative ornaments, a marble staircase twisting to the attic and wooden chandeliers. In the cellar you smell the moist and there’s water drops in the distance to be heard. The castle is first mentioned in 1311 and the written sources say it was first only a wooden structure, but later stones stared replacing wood. The ownership exchanged hands several times and in the 15th century the castle was even owned by Matias Korvin. Today the castle is part of the Slovakian national museum.

During summer (until end of September) the castle is opened daily between 9am and 3pm. The entrance is 7€. You can visit the surroundings of the castle any day throughout the year, with many events taking place. For this year they are planning a great event – the celebration of lif: a super night at the castle between August 6th and 9th between 6pm and 10pm.