GERMANY: Fifteen Chinese couples get married near southern Germany's fairytale Neuschwanstein castle

Record ID: 860919

  • Title: GERMANY: Fifteen Chinese couples get married near southern Germany's fairytale Neuschwanstein castle
  • Date: 1st June 2012
  • Summary: ROW OF COUPLES REGISTRY OFFICIAL ON STAGE
  • Embargoed: 16th June 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • City:
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Quirky,Religion,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA5MF7QSYS9BL6MSNU23J86SH0J
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  • Story Text: For Tao Yun, a childhood dream became true when she got married in southern Germany's Bavaria region on Thursday (May 31) as part of a mass wedding with fifteen couples, all from China.
    The young woman and her husband were part of a group of Chinese who came to Germany for only three days to tie the knot near the famous fairytale Neuschwanstein castle in Fuessen on the border with Austria.
    "I have always loved Germany. Germans are very romantic. To celebrate my wedding here is a childhood dream come true," said Tao Yun as her husband stood next to her, smiling.
    Liu Lei also participated in Thursday's wedding celebrations, saying that "the scenery in Germany is simply beautiful. The culture too is very interesting. The atmosphere is fantastic.'
    "My parents have been to Germany twice already. That's what gave us the idea to have our wedding in Germany," Liu Lei said.
    His newly wed wife Xu Yuan added:
    "I feel very comfortable here. It's a great experience, it's like in a fairytale. A great dream has come true."
    According to the Bavaria's state administration which oversees castles, parks and lakes, Neuschwanstein was opened to the public "seven weeks after the death of King Ludwig II in 1886."
    "Today Neuschwanstein is one of the most popular of all the palaces and castles in Europe. Every year 1.3 million people visit the castle of the fairy-tale king. In the summer around 6,000 visitors a day stream through rooms that were intended for a single inhabitant," the administration writes on its Internet site.
    "The setting of Neuschwanstein could not be more idyllic. However, movement in the foundation area has to be continuously monitored, and the sheer rock walls must be repeatedly secured. The harsh climate also has a detrimental effect on the limestone façades, which will have to be renovated section by section over the next few years," the Internet site reads.
    Part of the current restoration work underway was visible on Thursday when the Chinese couples posed for photographs to capture their big day.
    According to Neuschwanstein castle's website "the western and northern façade of Neuschwanstein Castle will be scaffolded until the end of 2012."
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