Schloss Lichtenstein is small and much cozier as castles go. Meant for only one man and used primarily as a hunting house, it is filled with cool artifacts and mixed stories about damage during the wars. I had taken my brother there on a fieldtrip when he was 7 and laughed to see another class group of about the same age there when we arrived. The castle is built off the side of a mountain and the sheer drops from the windows and property are a little disconcerting. The castle is constructed primarily of a white stone found in the south central region of Germany. Because of this, the castle appears very bright and clean ... almost glowing off the side the mountain. The German word for light is "licht" and that is how the castle got its name!
Neuschwanstein on the other hand is enormous and is one of Germany's postcard landscape icons. The castle is massive and stately with balconies, huge stained glass windows, turrets and spires, and flags that wave regally in the wind. Schloss Neuschwanstein was the model upon which the iconic Walt Disney World citadel is based.
Rising up out of the mist in the mountains, it is a majestic sight. The best pics are taken from a suspension bridge over a valley and waterfall. Also beautiful ... but the bridge is made of wood, and although it has steel rails and support beams, it bounces and bows and feels ... well ... unsafe, quite frankly. Although Nichola can explain the scientific reasons and physics behind why such a bridge will not fail, it didn't help the other four of us very much as we steeled ourselves, took some gorgeous pictures and bee lined it for solid ground. I should note that it is likely that there were close to a gazillion people on that bridge at one time. A gazillion. At least.
After an overnight in a hostel in Salzburg, Austria, we are getting ready to head out on our Sound of Music tour for the afternoon! We will overnight here again and head off to Venice, Italy tomorrow.
#thesisterhood
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