Neuschwanstein announces itself above the Bavarian treeline like a hallucination â King Ludwig II's white-towered romantic fantasy, begun in 1869, and the direct inspiration for the Disney castle.
What to see
- The Throne Room â a Byzantine-inspired hall of gold mosaics and a ceiling of stars, never completed in Ludwig's lifetime
- The Singer's Hall â a vast room built for Wagnerian opera that was never used for performances
- The view from MarienbrĂźcke â the iron bridge above the PĂśllat Gorge gives the definitive full-castle view
What to do
- Book timed-entry tickets in advance at the Ticket Center Hohenschwangau â same-day availability is extremely limited in peak season
What to eat
- Käsespätzle (Bavarian cheese noodles) and WeiĂwurst (white veal sausage with sweet mustard) at one of the restaurants in Hohenschwangau village before the walk up