Neuschwanstein Castle
Visit the fairy tale castle that inspired Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle high in the German mountains!
Neuschwanstein Castle perched dramatically on a rocky hill surrounded by snow-capped Alpine mountains and dense green forests
Neuschwanstein Castle looks exactly like a fairy tale castle from a storybook, perched high on a rocky hill in the German mountains! This magical white castle with its tall towers and pointed turrets was built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria, who loved fairy tales, operas, and medieval legends. Walt Disney was so inspired by this castle that he used it as the model for Sleeping Beauty's castle in Disneyland!
King Ludwig II was called the "Mad King" because he spent all his money building this incredible castle as his personal retreat from the modern world. Construction began in 1869, but the castle was never finished - Ludwig died mysteriously in 1886 when only 15 rooms were completed. He only got to sleep in his dream castle for 172 nights! The castle has 200 rooms planned, including a artificial grotto, a conservatory, and even a Byzantine throne room.
Inside, the castle is filled with paintings of medieval knights, fairy tale scenes, and opera stories that King Ludwig loved. The Throne Hall has no throne because Ludwig died before it could be installed, but the room is decorated with beautiful murals and golden details. The castle has modern conveniences that were amazing for the 1800s, including hot running water, flush toilets, and a telephone system.
Interior view of the ornate Throne Hall with beautiful murals, golden decorations, and medieval knight paintings. Image Credit: Verlag Franz Hanfstaengl, 1900, Wikimedia Commons
Neuschwanstein Castle proves that sometimes the most beautiful creations come from people who dare to build their wildest dreams, even if they never get to finish them!
