Neuschwanstein Castle , Germany Set atop a forest-covered hill in Bavaria , Germany , Neuschwanstein Castle is the most quintessential fairytale castle you could imagine … so much so that it served as the inspiration for Disney ’ s ever-iconic Cinderella Castle . It ’ s a masterpiece of 19th-century Romanesque Revival architecture , with the works of Albert Wagner serving as the muse , though only 14 of the 65 rooms are finished and furnished — such as the king ’ s bedroom , the Singer ’ s Hall and the cave-like grotto . As stunning as the ornate interiors are , as gorgeous as the silhouette is cutting across the backdrop of the Bavarian Alps , the context of history adds a delicious pinch of appreciation . Picture it : It ’ s the late 1860s — the Industrial Revolution has been happening for over 100 years . The time of castles and knights is well in the past . Prussia has just won the Austro-Prussian War , forcing Bavaria to accept an alliance with the new empire . Now , imagine the King of Bavaria : Ludwig II , often described at best as “ eccentric ” and “ reclusive .” His subjects referred to him as “ The Fairytale King .” What is a monarch to do in these precarious times ? If you guessed “ spend your entire fortune on lavish palaces and go into deep personal debt to the point of being deposed by your cabinet ,” you ’ re correct ! This refuge of opulence and serenity is the pet project of an obscenely wealthy man ; the 19th-century equivalent of a private space exploration company . Ludwig II passed away before his vision could be completed , but you can still stroll the grounds and appreciate his vision today .
Neuschwanstein Castle , Germany
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