Germany's Fairy Tale Castles - Beyond Neuschwanstein

German fairy-tale castles will help you forget your worries and drift off into dreamland. King Ludwig II of Bavaria built these wonders of history as dream palaces for his court.

Shy Ludwig took inspiration from Wartburg Castle and Wagner's opera 'Parsifal' to design his dream castles: Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein are must-visits!

Neuschwanstein

Neuschwanstein Castle stands as Germany's most renowned castle, renowned for its elegant spires and breathtaking setting - an inspiration to Disney's Sleeping Beauty castle. Additionally, Neuschwanstein is often photographed - its image appears on souvenir trinkets and postcards sold throughout Germany.

Ludwig II of Bavaria constructed this romantic castle as both his personal retreat and tribute to Richard Wagner. He paid for it with personal wealth and extensive borrowing, not from public funds in Bavaria. Unfortunately, Ludwig never lived to witness its completion before his untimely demise.

While its design may suggest medieval construction, this castle boasted cutting-edge technology for its time. Kitchen innovations included battery-powered bell systems for servants and running hot water. There was even an automatic flushing toilet system that utilized air from nearby evaporators to flush its contents away.

Neuschwanstein boasts more than just technological advancements; it is also home to an amazing art collection. The Singers Hall contains murals inspired by Wagner opera scenes; Ludwig was an avid admirer of this composer, so many rooms in his palace contain characters from Wagner's works.

Neuschwanstein Castle can only be visited through guided tours, which run at specific times throughout the day and typically sell out well in advance. Tours must also adhere to certain restrictions; photography is not allowed inside to protect its rooms and prevent it from becoming an eyesore for other visitors.

Hohenschwangau

Neuschwanstein stands out as an iconic fairytale castle, often called "Sleeping Beauty Castle or Cinderella Castle", that stands as an icon in Germany and is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

King Ludwig II of Bavaria designed his magnificent castle after being inspired by composer Richard Wagner's works; its design shows this influence. Additionally, its style was affected by visits made to Wartburg Castle and Chateau de Pierrefonds in France by Ludwig himself.

Construction on Ludwig's castle began in 1869 and was finished 16 years later, taking 16 years for completion despite his estimate that it would only take three. Ludwig spent all his own money building it, hoping that its presence would awe visitors to his town.

After years of creating stunning castles like this one and many others, Ludwig's debt grew too great for him to afford them alone; furthermore, his mental state declined so rapidly that the government declared him insane and ordered that all castles be closed down so that their debt could be paid.

Even with its sad backstory, this castle remains an unforgettable sight. One of Europe's most stunning structures, it is also an extremely popular tourist attraction.

If you're traveling through Germany, make it a priority to stop by this castle! Just make sure that you plan your train times, etc. accordingly - arrive at least 1.5 hours early so that you have enough time to walk around and take in the stunning sights without feeling rushed. Don't forget your camera for taking a picture of Marienbrucke Bridge (Mary's Bridge).

Eltz

Burg Eltz Castle (Eltz Castle) is like Neuschwanstein in that it exudes an air of mystery when you visit. A medieval castle that looks straight out of a fairytale and feels eerily spiritual is part of what draws visitors here; perhaps its isolated location deep within a forest gives it this aura, or maybe its survival through wars has kept it under family ownership even to this day?

Eltz Castle is truly a wonderful experience to visit; one that will remain unforgettable from the moment it appears out of nowhere. As one of only two German castles with access to hiking trails, seeing trees give way suddenly and suddenly the castle comes into view can only add to this memorable journey.

Burg Eltz stands on a dramatic cliff above Eltzbach Valley and looks like something out of a fantasy book. With eight towers and turrets that rise from the ground like something out of a fairy tale castle. But its real purpose was not just aesthetic: for centuries it served as the home to three different branches of Eltz family that needed buildings designed exclusively for themselves - each branch having different buildings built. When touring this majestic castle you will experience all kinds of architectural styles!

The guided tour is highly engaging, taking you through rooms spanning eight centuries of history at the castle. Furnishings inside include authentic pieces like priceless murals and ancient furniture; other highlights include an armory featuring historical and oriental weapons as well as hunting trophies; as well as a kitchen that shows you how people cooked and stored food back then.

Hohenzollern

Hohenzollern Castle stands out as an essential stop when visiting Germany castles, thanks to its decadent interior with gilded coffered ceilings, exquisite marquetry flooring and mural-lined library - not forgetting its own brewery - but that is just the tip of the iceberg: Hohenzollern has its own captivating Gothic history that makes for an equally engaging visit.

Story has it that Wartburg Castle was constructed during the 19th century by an individual looking to emulate medieval living conditions. He decided to construct one grander than all others nearby and even copied some ornamentation and detailing from Wartburg Castle for decoration purposes. Unfortunately he died before completion occurred and therefore never saw its full potential use during long periods.

So it was mostly used as a showpiece and had an entirely different feel from most of the others we visited. Personally, this wasn't my favorite among them as its crowds were too overwhelming and its magic wasn't as present.

However, the castle remains impressive, providing visitors with an opportunity to glimpse what German nobility and royalty once meant - as well as providing a reminder that things can quickly change, even for those with good intentions.

Wernigerode

Wernigerode sits high atop the Harz Mountains, and its centerpiece is its 500-year-old castle, built as a medieval fortress in 12th-century. After significant modifications were made during 15th and 16th century by Count Ernst zu Stolberg-Wernigerode during 17th-century, baroque flair was added by Count Ernst zu Stolberg-Wernigerode to give this impressive structure baroque flair, becoming an impressive place of visitation and viewing from its large terrace you can view all its stunning city surroundings including colourful half-timbered houses that line Heideviertel streets like Hinterstrasse 48 with old but meticulously renovated half-timbered homes with restored half-timbered houses that feature lavish restoration work; from this large terrace you can admire all this impressive castle's grandiose towering presence it stands guarding the town below the Harz Mountains with intricate streetscapes featuring picturesque half-timbered houses lined along Hinterstrasse 48; including its oldest house of all located here on Hinterstrasse 48!

At the center of Wernigerode castle sits an elegant baroque church worth viewing, and in front of it stands The Eagle War Memorial (Das Adler-Denkmal). This monument commemorates fallen soldiers from both World Wars, while Wernigerode's old city centre with colourful half-timbered buildings is delightful to discover on foot, following one of several newer paths that wind along castle walls to reach half-shelled tower, offering great panoramic views across its historic heart.

Wernigerode Castle can easily be reached from Leipzig/Halle via train, bus and car. As one of the popular stops along Germany's Romantic Road it's recommended that tickets are purchased online prior to visiting to save time and avoid crowds; its opening times run from May until October and costs EUR 6 for adults while children aged six or younger enter free.