- Neuschwanstein castle is a fairy tale-like castle in the German Alps that inspired Walt Disney to create Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland.
- The castle's interior — which includes a salon, music hall, and study — is adorned with the original owner's favorite music and poetry.
- Neuschwanstein Castle is open to the public and a great tourist destination all year long.
Tucked away in the German Alps sits Neuschwanstein castle— a palace that is as much a piece of art as the murals that line its walls.
It's this artistry and attention to detail that inspired Walt Disney to model his Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland after it. Like Disney, the castle's original owner was a dreamer and a creative. He built the castle as a tribute to his favorite pieces of art and poetry. Every wall of the castle tells a story of love, heartbreak, triumph, and failure — much like Disney's movies do.
Take a look inside the castle to see more of what inspired Walt Disney himself.
The castle was originally built for King Ludwig II of Bavaria, who was known as the "Fairy Tale King."
King Ludwig II built the castle as a hideout to pull away from social life after losing the Austro-Prussian war. Construction began in 1869, and it would be a decade until Ludwig was finally able to move in.
Despite being 65,000 square feet, the castle was built for only one person: King Ludwig II.
"The location is one of the most beautiful to be found, holy and unapproachable, a worthy temple …" Ludwig wrote to a friend at the time.
King Ludwig II died just a few weeks after moving into the castle, allowing for the palace to be opened to the public.
In 1886, just a few short weeks after moving in, King Ludwig II was found dead in a nearby lake. People speculated that it was suicide but others thought it was an assassination. Weeks later the castle was opened to the public, and it has become one of the most visited sites in Germany.
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