Neuschwanstein Castle, Royal palace in Schwangau, Germany
This white limestone palace rises from a rocky outcrop 200 meters (650 feet) above the Pöllat Gorge, featuring towers reaching heights of 213 feet (65 meters) with Romanesque Revival stonework and numerous turrets across its facade.
Construction commenced in 1869 under King Ludwig II, who died in 1886 before completion, leaving several planned rooms unfinished including the main keep and various decorative elements throughout the structure.
Interior chambers feature painted scenes from Germanic mythology and Wagner's operatic works, embodying Bavaria's 19th-century medieval revival movement and representing the king's artistic vision.
Visitors must reserve timed entry tickets in advance, available online or at the ticket center in Hohenschwangau village below, with tours running from 9:00 to 18:00 during summer and 10:00 to 16:00 in winter.
Despite appearing medieval, the palace incorporated modern technologies including central heating, running water on all floors, and electric call bells for servants, innovations rarely found in European residences of that era.
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