Marienbrücke – Neuschwanstein

From Marienbrücke Ludwig II Admired His Neuschwanstein Castle:

Marienbrucke, Neuschwanstein © Travel Signposts

When you come up to Neuschwanstein Castle, make sure you get to the Marienbrücke (Mary’s Bridge), a bridge which spans the Pöllat Gorge. It was from this bridge that King Ludwig II admired his dream castle.

The gorge with its steep rocky walls had already been “discovered” as a place of beauty during Maximillan II’s time –  father of Ludwig II. As a child growing up in Schloss Hohenschwangau, Ludwig II had already grown to love the beautiful scenery of the Schwangau area, including the dramatic waterfall in the Pöllatschlucht (Pöllat Gorge) above Neuschwanstein.

When Ludwig II was rebuilding Neuschwantein Castle, he had the then existing wooden railings of the Marienbrücke replaced by the present elegant cantilever construction made of iron. In an 1881 letter Ludwig II wrote “the view from up above is enchanting, especially the view from the Marienbrücke of the castle, which will far outshine the Wartburg for all its acknowledged merits of location, architectural splendour and magnificent paintings”. Wartburg was the palace upon which he modelled Neuschwanstein.

If you come up to Neuschwanstein Castle by bus, the bus travels via Bleckenaustraße to the “Jugend” lookout point.  At the bus drop-off point, take the path to Marienbrücke (Mary’s bridge) where you will have a nice view of the castle. But if you’re afraid of height, then this bridge is not for you.

Click here to get a free PDF of this post