Neuschwanstein Castle. Nestled in the foothills of the Alps above the Bavarian plains, a fantastic creation by alleged madman Ludwig II, never finished and hardly lived in, inspiration for Disney's castle, and one of Germany's most visited attractions.
This courtyard was to have held the chapel and keep for the castle. Before it could be finished, Ludwig II was arrested and diagnosed as being insane. Some days later, after going out walking close to the lake with his psychiatrist, both were found drowned in mysterious and never explained circumstances...
Work on the castle stopped immediately, and it was opened up to tourists soon after to help pay off Ludwig's enormous debts...
The views were amazing. Even more incredible was the interior - unfortunately off limits for photography. The bed canopy alone took a team of woodcarvers years to create, and every room was painted with scenes from Wagner's operas. There was even a (fairly convincing) fake grotto.
Schloss Hohenschwangau sits next to Schloss Neuschwanstein, built by Ludwig's parents and far more modest, it was Ludwig II's childhood home and clearly helped inspire his romantic ideas.
And some amusing department store displays - the whole shop was selling Bavarian national dress!
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