At the edge of The Alps in the remote Village of Schwangau, Germany lies the storybook Schloss Neuschwanstein of King Ludwig ll. It has amazed over 60 million visitors from around the world since its completion. One of them was Walt Disney. Stunned by what he saw, he modeled the Castles of Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty after it. It also influenced the creation of The Magic Kingdom, all together.
In this video, you will see some awe inspiring views. One is seen from the Queen Mary’s Bridge (Marienbrucke).
Known as The Fairytale King, Ludwig ll of Bavaria began construction on a picturesque hilltop in 1869. It wasn't completed until shortly after his mysterious death in 1886 at age 40. Two years earlier in 1884, before construction was complete, he was able to take residence at the Castle. It was intended to be a Retreat built in honor of Richard Wagner. Then again, it was built right next door to his childhood home Hohenschwangau Castle, so he may have planned to live out his later years at Neuschwanstein. Becoming increasingly reclusive it became his full-time home. It is chronicled that Ludwig ll of Bavaria began to drift into insanity after being stripped of his Power. Giving him his new moniker of the "Mad King." His death remains a mystery. He was found floating in Lake Starnberg on June 13, 1886. The cause of death was ruled Drowning..
