This is
Schloss Neuschwanstein, a dream castle built by the famed "mad" King Ludwig II of Bavaria in the seclusion of the mountains and the inspiration behind
Disney's Sleeping Beauty castle. The castle is also famously known the world over as the
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Castle. Now, I wonder where that came from... LOL! Because it is situated in the midst of the German Alps, getting to the castle involves a 25-minute uphill walk.
The castle was never completed due to the King's untimely death at the age of 40. A massive keep surrounded by small towers, a bailey and a small castle garden were never completed. The cause of his tragic death, whether suicide or murder, remains a mystery to this day. According to history, he only lived in the castle for 176 days.
The original design of the castle was done by a painter, not an architect.
Exploring the castle revealed rooms full of vast murals depicting scenes from German legends, intricate woodwork from the servants' down to the King's quarters and symbols of swans everywhere.The influence of Christianity is also evident inside the castle.
The castle in all its grandeur and beauty. It's like entering a fairyland.
The King's four-poster bed was hand-carved in wood and its canopy, carved as the cathedral towers from every tower in Bavaria. The Throne Room was very resplendent with its ceiling and wall paintings, gigantic glass gem-encrusted chandelier and the intricate mosaic on the floor, consisting of 2 million mosaic pieces and depicting the plants and animals of the earth, and considered the most expensive past of the Throne Room. One can also observe the absence of the throne, which was never built. There was also the splendid Singer's Hall, which the king built for Wagner as a venue to write and perform plays. However, the Hall were never used before the king's death.
The Neuschwanstein Castle was opened to the public six weeks after King Ludwig II's death. The Singer's Hall was also used for various performances since then. Below is the Schloss Hohenschwangau, which lies on the foot of the hills, and where King Ludwig spent his childhood.
The equally beautiful Schloss Hohenschwangau.
A guided tour inside Schloss Neuschwanstein costs 9,00€ per adult guest and FREE for guests 18 below.