The Neuschwanstein Castle, located in Germany's Bavarian region, is the ultimate when you are thinking of fantasy castles. It is the quintessential 19th-century romantic palace.
Commissioned by King Ludwig II of Bavaria as a retreat and homage to Richard Wagner, Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the world’s most photographed royal residences. It was built using his personal funds (and through extensive borrowing) and opened to the public shortly after his death in 1886. It is believed to have inspired Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle with its over-the-top Romanesque Revival architecture.
It is located just east of Füssen, with its spires and towers soaring high above the Pollat River gorge. The castle is a result of one of Louis II of Bavaria's flights of fancy. This is just one of the three royal palaces built for 'mad King Ludwig' as Louis II is called, but it is the most beautiful and popular of the three.
King Ludwig II’s vision for the castle was inspired by trips he made to the reconstructed Wartburg Castle near Eisenach and the Château de Pierrefonds, both of which he saw as being a romantic interpretation of the Middle Ages. He wanted a retreat that embodied the musical mythology of his friend, Richard Wagner, with the operas Tannhäuser and Lohengrin had made a particularly strong impression on him. In fact, most of the rooms are adorned by carvings and paintings inspired by his operas. The images feature the themes of love and salvation, kings and knights, lovers and poets. The predominant image of the castle is the swan. The palace also served as a retreat for Ludwig II. He stayed there on and off for six months.
The Hall of the Singers is the largest room in the castle and decorated with themes from Lohengrin and Parzival, while the Throne Hall is adorned in paintings of Jesus, the Twelve Apostles and the six canonized kings. On the fourth floor, it is in this large room, where the king watched performances by playwrights and musicians. This hall is designed like the one in Wartburg, with frescoes showing Parsifal as well as marble columns.
There is also a servants' quarters, a dining room, a study, and hot and cold water in the kitchen. There is even a room that is designed to look like a cavern. Although the castle's design is Medieval, there are modern amenities installed such as running water, automatic flush toilets, and a centralized heat system that warms the rooms. Some parts of the castle remain unfinished.
Schloss Neuschwanstein teeters above the village of Füssen and is located around 30 minutes’ walk uphill. Visitors are welcome to wander around the castle's exterior or explore its lavish rooms and period furnishings. The original plans included more than 200 rooms, but only 15 were ever finished, including the Throne Hall, the king’s staterooms and the servants' quarters. A visit in September would usually offer more performances available for viewing.