Neuschwanstein
Places
Mary's Bridge

Neuschwanstein Castle seen from Marienbrücke

Neuschwanstein bridge: Marienbrücke

Marienbrücke is the Neuschwanstein bridge over the Pöllat gorge, 5 minutes on foot from the shuttle bus stop. The walk from Marienbrücke down to Neuschwanstein Castle takes about 15 minutes. The bridge looks across to the castle.

Updated 30 October 2026 Hours and tickets neuschwanstein.de and the Ticket Center Hohenschwangau, last read 29 October 2026; tour listings read 29 October 2026

From the shuttle bus 5 minutes Walk from the Jugend stop to Marienbrücke → Adult shuttle bus fare €3.50 up / €5 return Ride from car park P4 to the Jugend stop → Winter access Closed: ice or snow Daily status and the castle visit →

Your guided castle tour starts at the admission time printed on your ticket. You must reach the castle courtyard before your timed tour starts.

The place

What is Mary's Bridge at Neuschwanstein?

Marienbrücke is the iron bridge of 1866 over the Pöllat gorge. The crossing is also called Mary's Bridge. The bridge takes its name from Queen Marie of Bavaria, Ludwig II's mother.

The Ticket Center's FAQ recommends the bridge as the main photo spot for the castle. You do not need a castle ticket to visit the bridge. The castle courtyard requires a valid ticket.

Your ticket: €21 per adult at the Ticket Center Hohenschwangau for one guided tour of Neuschwanstein Castle lasting about 30 minutes. The official price list adds €2.50 per online ticket, making the adult total €23.50.

Visitors on Marienbrücke above the Pöllat gorge

The view

Where is the best view of Neuschwanstein Castle?

Marienbrücke gives you the classic Neuschwanstein Castle view, 5 minutes on foot from the shuttle bus stop. The Pöllat gorge lies below the bridge.

The viewing platform below the castle extends over the Pöllat gorge. The Tegelberg also has viewpoints towards the castle. The bridge fits a photo stop before your castle tour.

The Pöllat gorge and waterfall below Marienbrücke

Visitors queue on Marienbrücke on a summer day

Neuschwanstein Castle in autumn beneath the snowy Alps

Getting there

How do you get to Marienbrücke?

On foot The free walk from the Ticket Center Hohenschwangau to Neuschwanstein Castle takes about 30 to 40 minutes. Your route is steep and paved.

30 to 40 min

The shuttle bus The shuttle bus from car park P4 costs €3.50 uphill or €5 return per adult. Allow about 15 minutes aboard, then 15 minutes steeply downhill on foot to Neuschwanstein Castle.

15 min +15 min walk down

The horse carriage to Neuschwanstein Castle The horse carriage to Neuschwanstein Castle leaves opposite Hotel Müller: €8 uphill or €4 downhill per person. Allow about 20 minutes aboard, then 10 to 15 minutes uphill on foot to Neuschwanstein Castle.

20 min +10 to 15 min walk up

The horse carriage to Hohenschwangau Castle The horse carriage leaves in front of the Ticket Center Hohenschwangau: €5.50 uphill or €3 downhill per person. Your ride takes about 10 minutes to below Hohenschwangau Castle; walk to the entrance. The Hohenschwangau Castle carriage stops in winter.

10 min

ride or walk, minutes walk from the stop to the gate

The shuttle bus and horse carriages have no timetable or reservations; snow or ice stops the bus, per the Ticket Center's transport page, read 29 October 2026.

Marienbrücke is about 45 minutes uphill on foot from car park P4. Choose the shuttle bus for the bridge when the service runs: the stop is 5 minutes on foot from the bridge.

The shuttle bus from P4 takes about 15 minutes to the Jugend stop. The Ticket Center's transport page gives adult fares of €3.50 uphill and €5 return. The walk from the bridge down to the castle takes about 15 minutes. The descent from the bus stop to the castle is steep.

The castle's directions page gives about 30 to 40 minutes on foot from the Ticket Center Hohenschwangau to Neuschwanstein Castle. The horse carriage from Hotel Müller stops below the castle after about 20 minutes. The horse carriage costs €8 uphill or €4 downhill. From the carriage stop, the walk uphill to the castle takes 10 to 15 minutes.

The shuttle bus and horse carriage run without fixed timetables or reservations. The official ticket page asks you to reach Hohenschwangau at least 1.5 to 2 hours before your castle tour. Buy your castle ticket before you go uphill.

Count back: leave Marienbrücke more than 15 minutes before your castle tour time. Allow extra time at the castle for entry checks. Your bus queue and photo stop need time too.

In winter

Is Marienbrücke open in winter?

Marienbrücke, 5 minutes on foot from the shuttle bus stop, closes temporarily in winter with ice and snow. The Ticket Center posts the bridge's daily status on its home page under Current information, as explained on the Marienbrücke page. Read the daily status before you go uphill.

The shuttle bus stops running when the roads have ice or snow. When the shuttle bus runs, the last ascent is 15:30 and the last descent is 17:00 from 16 October to 27 March. Leave time for your walk back to the bus stop.

Bridge closures do not affect the guided castle tours, as the castle's visitor information page explains. Neuschwanstein Castle is open 10:00–16:00 from 16 October to 27 March. The castle closes on 1 January and 24, 25 and 31 December.

Neuschwanstein Castle in snow below the mountains

Other viewpoints

Viewpoints near Marienbrücke

The Jugend viewpoint is 5 minutes on foot from the shuttle bus stop. Hohenschwangau Castle lies below the Jugend viewpoint. The Alpsee lies to your left. The Schwansee lies to your right.

The Pöllat gorge trail below Neuschwanstein Castle is closed for safety reasons. No reopening date has been announced for the Pöllat gorge trail. Do not use the gorge as your route to the bridge.

The Tegelberg cable car site describes a view of the castle during the ascent. The mountain also has the Königsrunde panorama trail. The Tegelberg suits a separate mountain outing.

Neuschwanstein Castle from the Tegelberg under cloud

History

Marienbrücke history

Marienbrücke began as a wooden crossing built for King Maximilian II in the 1840s. The first bridge was a birthday gift for Queen Marie. Queen Marie enjoyed walks in the mountains.

The iron crossing replaced the wooden bridge in 1866. The castle's building history page dates work on Neuschwanstein Castle's site to summer 1868. The bridge came before the castle.