CASTLES …. NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE, GERMANY

NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE, HOHENSCHWANGAU, GERMANY

Germany's spectacular Neuschwanstein Castle has fairy-tale architecture and a breathtaking location in the Bavarian Alps.
It was built under the aegis of King Ludwig II, an eccentric and exacting man who closely oversaw the construction of his fantasy castle. The ornate woodcarvings in his bedroom alone took four and a half years to complete.
Ludwig was also a great fan of Wagner; the castle's name means "New Swan Stone Castle" and is taken from the Swan Knight, a character in one of Wagner's operas. The king was accused of insanity and removed from the throne in 1886, leaving many of the castle's rooms unfinished.