How Do You Visit King Ludwigs Neuschwanstein?
Probably the most-photographed castle in the world is Neuschwanstein in Germany. To most people, it represents the ideal castle from the fairy tales of childhood. In fact, it was not built during the Middle Ages, but rather in the nineteenth century by Bavarian King Ludwig II, better-known as “Mad King Ludwig.” The anti-social, mentally ill Ludwig built the castle as a culmination of his obsessions with German fairy tales and folklore, and most of all, the music of Richard Wagner. Today, millions of tourists poke around the King’s private fantasy land. Start on the main level of the castle. The ground floor footprint here is of an inverted “L.” To the right is a gate house, connecting wing and square tower, which surrounds the lower courtyard on two sides. Stairs then lead to the upper courtyard with the knights’ building to one side and the ladies’ bower on the other. Enter the castle and you’ll see that most of the rooms on this level were devoted to servants and service functions. F
