Neuschwanstein Castle: A Fairytale Come To life

If you remember watching a story of a beautiful princess, the enchantment of sleep and a magical kiss from a handsome prince - then you’ve probably seen Neuschwanstein Castle. The picturesque German building was the inspiration behind Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle and has become a staple of Germany tours for years.

The Romanesque style castle was built throughout the 1870s and was originally commissioned by the famously-reclusive King Ludwig II as a summer retreat. The monarch only lived in the immense building for 172 days before dying in 1886. Soon after Ludwig’s passing, Neuschwanstein became open to the public.

(Left) Tourist at Neuschwanstein Castle enjoying the view to Hohenschwangau Castle.

(Right) Close up up details of the fairy tale castle.

Fitting for any fairytale, the breathtakingly immense palace is remotely located well above the small village of Hohenschwangau in southern Germany. So not only does visiting the castle bring you face to face with an iconic piece of history but the panoramic view from Neuschwanstein, is hard to beat as well. Standing more than 3,000 feet above the ground below, you can revel in a magnificent view of mountains and lakes.

The seclusion of the castle makes getting to it a part of the bewitching experience as well. There are a few options to choose from. Some tourists take the bus to the entrance while others opt to travel by horse drawn carriage. You may prefer to make the trip by foot – a roughly 30 minute journey from Hohenschwangau that brings you through a beautiful natural setting.

Europe is certainly not lacking in centuries-old castles, but it's hard to compete with Neuschwanstein. The castle will surely be among the highlights of your tour of Germany.