Neuschwanstein Castle (from Marienbrücke): when is the facade in the sun?
Short answer: 6 Nov 2026: Sun on the side seen from Marienbrücke 08:45–14:45, most frontal around 10:05.
From Marienbrücke you see the castle's long south-east side. It is lit from mid-morning to mid-afternoon; the mountains behind the bridge block the low winter sun, so from November to January the light comes late and leaves early.
Fri 6 November 2026 · sunrise 07:10, sunset 16:54
Sun on the facade 08:45–14:45
Sun on the side seen from Marienbrücke 08:45–14:45, most frontal around 10:05.
| Direct sun | Golden light | |
|---|---|---|
| Side seen from Marienbrücke faces south-east, towards the bridge | 08:45–14:45 Most frontal 10:05 | — |
Hour by hour
| Time | Side seen from Marienbrücke |
|---|---|
| 07:00 | Dark |
| 07:30 | In shade (cliffs or hills in front) |
| 08:00 | In shade (cliffs or hills in front) |
| 08:30 | In shade (cliffs or hills in front) |
| 09:00 | Full sun on the facade |
| 09:30 | Full sun on the facade |
| 10:00 | Full sun on the facade |
| 10:30 | Full sun on the facade |
| 11:00 | Full sun on the facade |
| 11:30 | Full sun on the facade |
| 12:00 | Full sun on the facade |
| 12:30 | Full sun on the facade |
| 13:00 | Side light: strong relief |
| 13:30 | Side light: strong relief |
| 14:00 | Side light: strong relief |
| 14:30 | Side light: strong relief |
| 15:00 | Grazing light: most of the facade in shade |
| 15:30 | In shade (cliffs or hills in front) |
| 16:00 | In shade (cliffs or hills in front) |
| 16:30 | In shade (sun behind the building) |
| 17:00 | Dark |
Plan it
Marienbrücke is closed in snow and ice. Late morning gives the castle lit with the valley still bright.
Through the year
| 15th of | Side seen from Marienbrücke |
|---|---|
| January | 09:45–15:15 |
| February | 08:55–15:10 |
| March | 07:55–14:40 |
| April | 07:50–15:10 |
| May | 07:35–14:45 |
| June | 08:00–14:40 |
| July | 07:55–14:50 |
| August | 07:35–15:05 |
| September | 08:15–15:20 |
| October | 09:00–15:30 |
| November | 09:00–14:50 |
| December | 09:50–14:40 |
Neuschwanstein Castle light by month
Questions
What time is the sun on the Neuschwanstein Castle (from Marienbrücke) facade?
6 Nov 2026: Sun on the side seen from Marienbrücke 08:45–14:45, most frontal around 10:05. Pick your own date above; the window moves through the year.
Is Neuschwanstein Castle (from Marienbrücke) better in the morning or the afternoon?
The side seen from Marienbrücke faces south-east, towards the bridge. On 15 June 2027 it is lit 08:00–14:40; on 15 December 2026, 09:50–14:40.
When is the golden light on Neuschwanstein Castle (from Marienbrücke)?
On 6 November 2026 the side seen from Marienbrücke gets no low golden sun. Golden light needs the sun low and on the same side as the facade.
How is this calculated?
For every 5 minutes of the day we compute the sun's direction and height and compare it with the way the facade faces. Within 40° of straight on is full front light, 40° to 70° is side light that brings out the carving, and beyond that the facade is mostly in shade. Below 10° above the horizon the light is golden. Where cliffs or mountains stand in front of a facade, the sun also has to clear them.
Calculated from the sun's position and the facade's direction (estimated from maps and photos). Nearby buildings and trees can shade the lower part of a facade earlier than shown; clouds remove direct light altogether. Times are local (Europe/Berlin).