Better than Neuschwanstein? The Best German Castle Ruins You've Never Heard of. Bavaria, Germany 

We finally had the chance to go to Eisenberg and Hohenfryberg castles on this past Thursday. They were WONDERFUL! It was a day with some rain showers which ended up being a blessing in disguise since we were mostly alone at both castles except for short periods of time. Hohenfryberg was defiinitely the more impressive, but I really enjoyed being able to go all around the inner part of the outer wall of Eisenberg castle. Thanks again for pointing out an adventure in Bavaria that I would have probably never heard of otherwise. Here's a little tip though... (We were staying overnight in Fussen, not doing it as a day trip from Munich.) If you're coming from Fussen, there is a bus that leaves from the train station that will drop you off much closer to the base of the castle trails than the train.

I have to subscribe you to know bavaria. Such a beautiful presentation that you make!

I can personally attest that you are absolutely right about Neuswantsein. I lived in the Black Forest for 5 years and I went everywhere. I miss it so much, but the castle ruins are so amazing. I'd go back in a heartbeat if I could!

The story around Neuschwanstein and the Swan King is worth a visit but way too touristy , Ruins of older castle are more interesting.

Can you tell us the name of the train stop where you got off? Also, is there a trail we can walk to Neuschwanstein? Thanks!

Awesome video! I'm taking my girlfriend here this weekend. You mentioned an app for train tickets, what app was this?

I think calling Neuschwanstein a castle is about as questionable as calling the Royal Palace in Brighton am Indian Palace. What is interesting about Neuschwanstein is that it is the romantic reaction of a king, who had lost his political power to Prussia. Like the romantics some decades before him he fled into a phantasy-world of heroes and chivallary where he could live in dignity and also follow his homosexual tendencies. This fateful event of loosing against Prussia while becomming a puppet state is still influencing Bavarian culture and politics today, most visibly in the name "Freistaat Bayern" or the slogan " Mia san mia". Bavarians still like nothing better than getting one up on Prussians, as the Bavarian inferiority complex sits deeply embeded in the Bavarian soul. So in other words, understanding Neuschwanstein goes a long way to understanding the Bavarians of today. Most casual tourists will however not enter into all of that deeply, for them it will only be the extraveganca of a mad homosexual king. This is fair enough and there is nothing wrong with it. However, you won't get enough out of Neuschwanstein to fully understand its significance and will not just see it as an older version of the Disney one.

Time to get baby archietects, apprentice stonemasons, and other energetic interested young people to spend some time reconstructing these treasures funded by money stuffed CEO's.