Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the most visited and iconic castles in the world, attracting approximately 1.5 million visitors annually. Built on a rugged hill above the village of Hohenschwangau in southwest Bavaria, the palace was commissioned by King Ludwig II of Bavaria as a retreat and as homage to the composer Richard Wagner, whom he greatly admired. Construction began in 1869 but was never fully completed due to the king's mysterious death in 1886. This fairytale castle served as inspiration for Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle and exemplifies Romanesque Revival architecture with its soaring towers, elaborately decorated interiors, and stunning alpine setting. The castle's interiors are a testament to King Ludwig II's eccentric personality and fascination with medieval legends, featuring rooms adorned with murals depicting scenes from Wagner's operas, especially those based on Germanic mythology. The most impressive rooms include the Singers' Hall, designed after the medieval halls where singing contests were held; the Throne Room, with its magnificent Byzantine-style dome and mosaics; and the king's bedroom, decorated with intricate wood carvings that took fourteen carpenters four years to complete. The castle's location offers breathtaking views of the surrounding Bavarian Alps, the Alpsee lake, and the Hohenschwangau Valley. Traditionally, visitors approach the castle via a steep uphill path, horse-drawn carriage, or shuttle bus, adding to the sense of journeying to a magical, remote sanctuary. The castle represents both the height of 19th-century Romanticism and the swan song of Bavarian monarchy, standing as a monument to one king's imagination and the timeless appeal of fairytale architecture in a spectacular natural setting.