MGCC Bavarian Castles

If as a child you saw Walt Disney’s animation of Sleeping Beauty and were awe-inspired by the Fairy Castle then join us on a visit to Bavarian Germany and see the castle that is said to have inspired that image.

This tour in fact will take in no less than 9 castles. Some, helpfully, were built in close groups so that we can for example visit three from one centre reducing the amount of travelling to something manageable as well as pleasurable.

On route to Bavaria we will stop overnight at Spa in Belgium where we will take the opportunity of visiting the famous Spa Circuit. Our first castle visit will be Hohenzollern, built for King Frederick William IV of Prussia. This is followed by a Hohenschwangau, Neuschwanstein and Linderhof, all built, or restored, for King Ludwig II.

From Hohenschwangau we proceed to Trausnitz Castle (Loius I of Bavaria 1204), then the Imperial Castle of Nurnberg (Nuremberg). Archeological investigations indicate that the location was settled around one thousand years ago, although this has not been backed up by any documentary proof. Nuremberg was first recorded in 1050, when Henry III visited the town, but there is no specific mention of the castle. This was first documented in 1105.

In 1140, King Conrad III started building a second castle on this site, to be used as a royal residence. Then in the 13th Century, Nuremberg became an Imperial Free City, and the castle fell into the care of the city. (my thanks to Wikipedia). 

After Nuremberg we proceed to the Hermitage at Bayreuth. This was built for the Margrave Christian Ernst. The title ‘Margrave’ was given to the ruler of an Imperial Principality. Then the final two castles, Altenburg (Bamberg) and Wurzburg. Altenburg is the exception in the collection in that it was largely a defensive castle rather than residential. Wurzburg was built over a very short period of time (for castles) for the Wurzburg Prince-Bishops in the 18th Century.

The detailed locations can be viewed on the Itinerary page.