Neuschwanstein Castle atop the Alps

Perched majestically above the rugged cliffs of southwest Bavaria, Neuschwanstein Castle stands as an iconic symbol of German Romanticism architecture. This fairy-tale palace was built for King Ludwig II in late 19th century by famed architect Richard Wagner. Its steep roofs adorned with intricate wood carvings overlook lush forests that cascade down to rolling hills dotted with quaint villages under a vast blue sky.