Neuschwanstein Castle atop the Bavarian Alps

Perched majestically above the lush valleys of southwest Bavaria, Neuschwanstein Castle stands as an iconic symbol of German Romanticism architecture. This fairytale-like palace was built by King Ludwig II in memory of his idolized composer Richard Wagner during its construction between 1869 to 1886. Its rugged cliffside location overlooks the valley where the Alpsee lake nestles among rolling hills, creating a picturesque scene that blends human ingenuity within nature's grandeur.