Germany | The Best Travel Destinations

Heidelberg Castle – Germany

Heidelberg Castle – Germany

The Heidelberg Castle, located in Germany, is a famous ruin and the signpost for Heidelberg. It was built in the year 1214 in a Gothic and Renaissance style, and was expanded into two new castles. A large part of the castle was destroyed by lighting strikes in the years 1537 and 1764.

Prince Ruprecht III was the first person who made the castle as a royal residence and added several structures to it including the outer walls, ground floors of the castle and the outlines in the upper level that are built with stone. He also added an imperial building known as “Fountain Hall” across from the castle. These two buildings were raised up under the reigns of Frederick IV and Ottheinrich. Today, these two buildings are considered as best buildings in terms of German architecture.

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Neuschwanstein Castle – Germany

Neuschwanstein Castle – Germany

The Neuschwanstein Castle is one most visited castles in Germany and one of the most popular tourist destination in Europe. The castle is located in Bavaria, near the town of Fussen. It was built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria, also known as the “Fairytale King”.

King Ludwig was a great admirer and supporter of Richard Wagner, the world – renowned composer. Neuschwanstein Castle was built in his honor and many rooms in the castle’s interior were inspired by Wagner’s characters. The third floor particularly reflects Ludwig’s admiration of Wagner’s operas. The Singers Hall, which occupies the entire fourth floor of Neuschwanstein also contains characters from Wagner’s operas.

Neuschwanstein literally means “New Swan Castle” referencing of “the Swan Knight” one of the Wagner’s characters.

The Neuschwanstein Castle really looks like a fairytale castle. Neuschwanstein is a castle of the paradox. It was built in the 19th century in Bavaria, in a time when castles no longer had strategical and defensive purposes. While Neuschwanstein’s look is that of a medieval castle, it was equiped inside with state of the art technology at that time.

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Herrenchiemsee Palace

Herrenchiemsee Palace

Herrenchiemsee Palace was King Ludwig’s final and most extravagant project, costing more than his other two castles (Neuschwanstein and Linderhof) combined. Erected in 1878, this regal palace stands on Herrenchiemsee Island in the centre of Bavaria’s largest lake. It is set in French stylized gardens with imposing marble fountains and long winding pathways which lead down to the shores of Lake Chiemsee.

Built in the image of Versailles, the Schloss was a tribute to the Sun King (King Louis XIV of France), whom Ludwig regarded as the epitome of monarchy. Although smaller than Versailles, the opulence and splendour of the palace interior equals, if not surpasses, that of the French original.