The castles of King Ludwig II
6 châteaux listed
6 places linked to the king of Bavaria, from the Allgäu to the Chiemsee, with admission prices and opening seasons.
Ludwig II of Bavaria began Neuschwanstein in 1869, above the Pöllat gorge, and Herrenchiemsee in 1878, on the Herreninsel in the Chiemsee, modelled on Versailles. Neither was finished when he died in 1886. Since 2025 Neuschwanstein has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site devoted to the king’s castles.
He grew up across the valley at Hohenschwangau, a ruin bought in 1832 by Crown Prince Maximilian and rebuilt in the Gothic Revival style. It was the royal family’s summer residence, and its murals tell the legend of the Swan Knight.
Near Ettal, Linderhof grew out of his father Maximilian II’s forester’s lodge, which Ludwig had converted in 1869 and enlarged from 1870. It is the only one of his larger palaces he saw completed, although the bedroom enlarged in 1885 and 1886 was still unfinished when he died.
In 1883 he bought the ruin of Falkenstein near Pfronten, the highest castle site in Germany, to build a second Neuschwanstein; his death ended the plan. At Landshut, Trausnitz Castle had rooms fitted out for him, lost in a fire in 1961.
Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau face each other near Füssen, with Linderhof about fifteen kilometres to the east as the crow flies. Herrenchiemsee lies about 130 km further east as the crow flies, and Landshut north-east of Munich.
The places, one by one
From the best known to the most discreet. Prices are for one adult; the season comes from the opening periods each place publishes.
Neuschwanstein Castle
Schwangau, Bayern
Built on his orders from 1869, still unfinished when he died in 1886.
Adult admission: €21Season not published
Linderhof Palace
Ettal, Bayern
Enlarged from 1870 around his father’s forester’s lodge; the only large palace he saw completed.
Adult admission: €11Season not published
Hours to be confirmed
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Hohenschwangau Castle
Schwangau, Bayern
The royal family’s summer residence, where he spent his childhood.
Season not published
Herrenchiemsee
Chiemsee, Bayern
Begun in 1878 on the model of Versailles and never completed.
Adult admission: €14Season not published
Falkenstein Castle
Pfronten, Bayern
A ruin he bought in 1883 for a second Neuschwanstein, a plan abandoned at his death.
free admissionOpen May to May
Trausnitz Castle
Landshut, Bayern
Rooms were fitted out here for him; they were destroyed by fire in 1961.
Adult admission: €6Season not published
The map
The 6 places on this page. Tap a point to open its page.
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The route
Falkenstein and the two castles at Schwangau are about twelve kilometres apart and fit into one day, with Linderhof the next morning. Herrenchiemsee takes another day east of Munich, with Landshut and Trausnitz on the way back.
| Stop | From the previous stop |
|---|---|
| 1.Falkenstein Castle · Pfronten | |
| 2.Neuschwanstein Castle · Schwangau | 12 km |
| 3.Hohenschwangau Castle · Schwangau | 1 km |
| 4.Linderhof Palace · Ettal | 17 km |
| 5.Herrenchiemsee · Chiemsee | 113 km |
| 6.Trausnitz Castle · Landshut | 77 km |
220 km in a straight line overall
Frequently asked questions
- Was Neuschwanstein ever finished?
- No. Work began in 1869 and was still incomplete when Ludwig II died in 1886. At Herrenchiemsee, too, only part of the rooms were completed.
- Which castle did Ludwig II see finished?
- Linderhof, near Ettal. It is the only one of his larger palaces he saw completed; only the bedroom, enlarged in 1885 and 1886, was unfinished when he died.
- King Ludwig castles: which ones are open all year?
- None is listed as open all year in the opening periods we have collected. Check each page before you go.
- King Ludwig castles: how much is admission?
- Across the 5 places whose prices we know, adult admission ranges from €6 to €21. 1 are free to enter.