Hohenschwangau: The Childhood Castle of King Ludwig II 🏰👦

On 4th day our trip we enjoyed some beautiful, spring day early march in the vicinity of Füssen near the King Ludwig II castles: Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau, which were also the childhood home of Princes Ludwig and Otto.

A predecessor castle, ‘Schwanstein’ (fortress Schwangau, literally translated as the Swan District), was first mentioned in a document in 1397.

Over the centuries, the castle has been badly damaged.

In 1832, Crown Prince Maximilian acquired the castle and had it converted into the castle that stands today.

After Maximilian’s death, his son, King Ludwig II, inherited the property and decorated it according to his preferences.

The castle is located directly opposite Neuschwanstein Castle, built for Ludwig II, in the Hohenschwangau district near Füssen.

Hohenschwangau Castle, as it stands today, was constructed between 1537 and 1547 using the partially preserved outer walls of Schwanstein Castle from the 14th century.

The four story complex of the main building, which was remodeled in 1833–1837 in neo-Gothic style with yellow façade paint, has three round towers with polygonal superstructures.

The castle served as a summer residence for the royal family and was the childhood home of the two sons, the future kings Ludwig II and Otto.

Their mother, Marie of Bavaria (1825–1889), often went on mountain hikes with them, including visits to the old castles of Vorder- and Hinterhohenschwangau and Frauenstein. After the death of King Max II in 1864, she spent every summer here.