10. Neuschwanstein didn’t get its name until after Ludwig II’s death. Hohenschwangau castle. Photo: DPA. During his lifetime, King Ludwig II called the palace the 'Neue Burg Hohenschwangau ...

Neuschwanstein castle stands on a craggy rock 200 meters above the valley. It was styled like the monumental Romanesque knight's castle, with the swan as a recurring symbol of the decor.

For all its grandeur, Neuschwanstein was a wild indulgence, and Ludwig ignored matters of state to pursue his Romantic dreams, to the detriment of Bavaria in particular and Germany as a whole.

Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany: The castle that bewitched Walt Disney. By Steve McKenna. ... Ludwig closely identified with the Swan Knight, a tragic lonely character in a Wagnerian opera; ...

Ludwig II of Bavaria, more commonly known by his nicknames the Swan King or the Dream King, is a legendary figure ... Neuschwanstein. Duration: 01:20 The Venus Grotto. Duration: 02:45 ...