- No fixed dates The bridge closes day by day in ice and snow
- Dec–Feb When a closure is most likely
- Free No ticket needed when it's open
- ~90 m Height above the Pöllat gorge
- 10–15 min Walk up from the castle on clear paths
Often closed in winter, but not always
Mary's Bridge is often closed in winter, but not always. The official Ticket Centre says access to the bridge is temporarily not possible "depending on the weather conditions" whenever ice and snow make it unsafe. There are no fixed closure dates. It can be open on a dry, clear day in December and shut the morning after a snowfall. Check the "Current information" box on hohenschwangau.de on the morning you visit. A closed bridge doesn't affect your castle tour: the official site says Neuschwanstein "can be visited in all weathers".
If you've seen one photo of Neuschwanstein, it was probably taken from Marienbrücke. It's the slender iron footbridge strung across the Pöllat gorge, with the castle rising from the forest behind it and the flat Bavarian plain beyond. In winter the view is at its most magical, with snow on the turrets and ice on the waterfall below. Winter is also when you're most likely to find the gate locked.
Below you'll find how to check before you travel, how likely a closure is in each month, and where to go instead, because the castle still looks extraordinary from several other spots. The calendar above is for the castle-only Neuschwanstein Castle Full-Day Trip from Munich. For the rest of a winter visit, see our complete Neuschwanstein winter guide.
Mary's Bridge in winter: the key facts
| Winter status | Closed temporarily whenever ice or snow make it unsafe |
|---|---|
| Fixed closure dates? | No. Closures depend on the weather, day by day |
| Where to check | "Current information" box on the hohenschwangau.de homepage |
| Effect on castle tours | None. Tours run as normal |
| Height and length | About 90 m above the Pöllat gorge, spanning about 35 m |
| Cost | Free to visit (no ticket needed) |
| Getting there in winter | On foot from the castle (the shuttle bus towards the bridge stops in snow and ice) |
How do I check if Mary's Bridge is open today?
Go to hohenschwangau.de and look for the "Current information" panel on the homepage. The official Ticket Centre posts the daily status of Mary's Bridge, the shuttle bus and the horse carriages there.
Three tips:
- Check on the morning you travel, not the night before. Overnight snow can change everything.
- Don't treat "open" as a guarantee. At least one winter visitor found the bridge listed online as open, then fenced off on arrival after fresh snow that morning.
- Check the webcams too. The official site links to webcams, which show whether there's fresh snow and whether fog will hide the view anyway.
Other experiences you might enjoy
A closed bridge leaves time for the rest of the valley. Hohenschwangau Castle sits across from Neuschwanstein above the Alpsee, and Füssen has its old town and Christmas market. From Munich, winter day trips also run to Linderhof Palace, Oberammergau and the Zugspitze.
How likely is Mary's Bridge to be closed?
The official sources don't publish closure statistics. Some guides say the bridge is "closed November to March", which oversimplifies it. From the official guidance and dated visitor reports, this is a realistic picture:
| Month | Likelihood of closure | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Late October | Low | Usually dry; first frosts only |
| November | Low to moderate | Fog and drizzle more common than lying snow, but early snowfalls happen |
| December | Moderate to high | Open on dry, snow-free days; closed after snowfall |
| January | High | The coldest, snowiest stretch |
| February | High | Often the snowiest month; icy mornings |
| March | Moderate, falling | Reopens more often as the snow melts |
Our advice: from December to February, plan as if the bridge will be closed, and treat an open bridge on your day as a bonus. If the bridge photo is the one thing you must have, visit in late October, early November or late March, and keep your date flexible. Our month-by-month guide to the best time to visit covers the rest of the year.
Why does Mary's Bridge close in winter?
For safety. The bridge is a narrow iron footbridge about 90 metres above a rocky gorge, and the paths leading to it are steep and shaded. Once ice forms on the deck and the approach paths, the crossing turns dangerous, especially with the crowds the bridge draws.
Never climb over or around the barrier. The closures are there because the ice and the drop are real.
A bit of history: the first crossing of the gorge was a wooden bridge built for King Maximilian II in the mid-19th century. Sources differ on whether it dates from the 1840s or the 1850s. In 1866 it was replaced by an iron bridge, named after Queen Marie of Bavaria, Ludwig II's mother. Ludwig is said to have liked crossing it at night. According to the Bavarian Palace Administration, the historic bridge was replaced by a new structure in 1978 that reused only the historic railings. More recently, a fault in one of its rock anchors kept it shut after February 2021, until new anchors were fitted in July 2022.
Where to see Neuschwanstein when Mary's Bridge is closed
You still get great views, and some of them are arguably better in snow. Here are the alternatives, starting with the closest.
1. The viewing platform below the castle (closest, and recommended officially)
The official Ticket Centre recommends the viewing platform over the Pöllat gorge, just below the castle. It gives a dramatic close-up of the walls and towers from below, and it's the best winter close-up you'll get. You pass close to it on the walk up.
2. Hohenschwangau village and the Alpsee shore
From the village and the edge of the Alpsee, Neuschwanstein rises above the trees with the mountains behind. The view is gentler and wider, and you can walk to it easily from the Ticket Centre. On still winter days, look for reflections or ice patterns on the lake. Don't walk on the lake ice unless the authorities have declared it safe.
3. The meadows around Schwangau (the postcard long view)
The open fields to the north of the castle, around Schwangau, give the classic long view: Neuschwanstein perched on its ridge, with the Alps rising behind and snow in the foreground. The castle's north and east faces catch the light here from late morning to early afternoon. In winter the mountains to the south put the valley in shadow early, so don't leave this until 15:30.
4. The "Jugend" viewpoint (when reachable)
The Jugend viewpoint, near the upper shuttle-bus stop above the castle, looks down over Hohenschwangau Castle and the Alpsee. With the shuttle bus stopped in snow and ice, reaching it means a walk, and the paths up there can be icy. Only go if they're open and you're well shod.
5. Tegelberg (the view from above, if the cable car is running)
The Tegelberg cable car lifts you about 1,700 m up for a view down on both castles and the lakes. It closes for its autumn inspection from 9 November 2026 until about mid-December, and the reopening depends on snow. Check tegelbergbahn.de before you plan around it.
Viewpoints at a glance
| Viewpoint | Distance from castle | Winter access | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platform over the Pöllat gorge | Just below the castle | Yes, on the walk up | Close-up of the walls and towers |
| Alpsee shore / Hohenschwangau village | Valley floor | Yes, an easy walk | Castle above the forest, lake |
| Schwangau meadows | 1–3 km north | Yes, on village lanes and farm tracks (not necessarily cleared) | The classic long view with the Alps |
| Jugend viewpoint | Above the castle | Walk only; paths can be icy | Hohenschwangau and the Alpsee from above |
| Tegelberg | Mountain above Schwangau | Closed from 9 November to about mid-December 2026, then weather-dependent | Bird's-eye view |
For every viewpoint in every season, including the photo spots inside the castle grounds, see our guide to Neuschwanstein's rooms, photos and viewpoints.
Is the Pöllat Gorge open in winter?
No. The Pöllat Gorge trail (Pöllatschlucht) is closed for safety reasons, and no reopening date has been announced. An earlier rockfall closure ended in May 2019, after the trail's stairs, railings and rock protection were rebuilt. More falling rock closed it again in 2021, and it has stayed shut since.
Don't confuse the closed gorge trail with the viewing platform over the gorge below the castle, which the official site still recommends.
Can I fly a drone at Neuschwanstein instead?
No, don't. The Bavarian Palace Administration's site rules for Neuschwanstein prohibit launching, landing or flying aircraft "such as drones" over the property without permission. German air-traffic rules also restrict drones over nature reserves and crowds, and the castle borders the Ammergebirge nature reserve. Your phone and a long lens from the meadows will do the job.
How to get to Mary's Bridge when it's open
- On foot from Neuschwanstein: the bridge is a short, steep walk uphill from the castle. Allow 10–15 minutes on clear paths, and longer on snow.
- By shuttle bus: the bus from Hohenschwangau stops near the bridge, but in winter it runs only when there's no snow and no ice. When it runs, the first bus up leaves at 09:00 and the last at 15:30. The fare is €3.50 up or €5.00 return, paid at the bus-station cashier or to the driver; you can't pay by card on the bus, and the Deutschland-Ticket and Bayern-Ticket aren't valid.
- Timing: the bridge gets crowded by midday even in winter. If it's open, go before or straight after your castle tour.
For the walk up, the horse carriages and the shuttle bus in snow, see getting up the hill in winter in our winter guide.
Do guided tours go to Mary's Bridge in winter?
Only when it's open. Tour operators usually state that in winter Mary's Bridge depends on the weather and the castle administration. The best ones take you to an alternative viewpoint when it's shut. Before you book, ask: "What do you do if the bridge is closed?"
The castle-only Neuschwanstein Castle Full-Day Trip (from $89, 4.7★ from 4,434 reviews) leaves the most time around Hohenschwangau for a viewpoint. The Neuschwanstein Castle Full-Day Trip by Van (from $146, 4.9★ from 1,380 reviews) takes 8 people at most, so a group can switch plans quickly. If you'd rather add a second palace, the Neuschwanstein & Linderhof Castle Full-Day Trip (from $88, 4.6★ from 17,208 reviews) leaves less time near the castle. A private Neuschwanstein tour in winter lets you pick the viewpoint yourself. For every option side by side, see our winter day tours compared.
Mary's Bridge in winter: FAQ
Is Mary's Bridge open in winter?
Sometimes. Mary's Bridge (Marienbrücke) closes temporarily whenever ice or snow make it unsafe, which is common from December to February. There are no fixed closure dates, so check the official hohenschwangau.de homepage on the morning of your visit.
Is Mary's Bridge open in December?
It can be. On dry, snow-free December days visitors often find it open, but it usually closes after snowfall. Plan as if it may be closed.
Can I still visit Neuschwanstein if Mary's Bridge is closed?
Yes. The castle tours are not affected by a bridge closure, and the official site says Neuschwanstein can be visited in all weathers.
Where is the best view of Neuschwanstein if the bridge is closed?
The viewing platform over the Pöllat gorge just below the castle gives the best close-up. For the classic long view with the Alps behind, head to the meadows around Schwangau or the Alpsee shore.
How high is Mary's Bridge?
About 90 metres above the Pöllat gorge, with a span of about 35 metres.
Who is Mary's Bridge named after?
Queen Marie of Bavaria, the mother of King Ludwig II.
Is the Pöllat Gorge open?
No. The Pöllat Gorge trail has been closed for rockfall since 2021, and no reopening date has been announced.
Can I fly a drone at Neuschwanstein?
No. The Bavarian Palace Administration's site rules prohibit flying drones over the castle property without permission.