This is what Neuschwanstein Castle looked like upon the death of King Ludwig. In 1885, the article recalls, his creditors, mainly foreign banks, threatened to seize all his properties, including his new jewel of a castle. He spent far more than his position warranted-or his treasury could support-and the project began to bankrupt the kingdom. Not worrying about the costs of such a venture, he commissioned the building of Neuschwanstein and construction began in 1869.īut things did not go well for the young king. Indeed, it was this sense of nobility and separation from his subjects that led Ludwig to envision a new, grander home, a better Hohenschwangau with roots in Versailles and the grand castles of medieval Germany. From 1875 on he lived at night and slept during the day.' For this reason he built a fantasy world around him in which-far removed from reality-he could feel he was a real king. 'In reality he was a constitutional monarch, a head of state with rights and duties and little freedom of action. 'Ludwig II was possessed by the idea of a holy kingdom by the grace of God,' reads the article. He was enthralled by royalty and nobility and the trappings that went along with it. Still, Ludwig, having grown up in grand castles with ties to the French Kings of the House of Bourbon, had an idealized vision of the monarchy and what it meant. Ludwig died at 41 before the castle was completed, but today it is among the most popular attractions in Europe. And just two years into his monarch, he was further marginalized when Prussia conquered both Bavaria and Austria in what was called the 'German War.' 'From then on,' reads an article about him on the official Neuschwanstein Web site, 'Bavaria's foreign policy was dictated by Prussia and was only a 'vassal' of his Prussian uncle.' This is Neuschwanstein, 'Mad' King Ludwig's famous storybook castle set in the foothills of the Alps, in Bavaria. In fact, though, by the time he ascended to the throne, the role of King of Bavaria was largely a ceremonial one, and the decisions were really being made by others, far away in Munich. He was hardly prepared for the job, having been brought up without an education in politics or statesmanship. And after growing up largely in Hohenschwangau Castle, which is located just below where Neuschwanstein eventually was built, he became king of Bavaria in 1864 on his 18th birthday. He was the oldest son of King Maximilian II of Bavaria and Queen Marie of Prussia. King Ludwig II was born in 1845 in another one of his family's castles, Nymphenburg. In short, this is a building with a big impact on a lot of people. And it's said that it was one of the inspirations for Disneyland's Cinderella Castle.

With 1.3 million annual visitors, Neuschwanstein is one of the most famous castles in the world, despite its inconvenient location deep in Bavaria, away from most other attractions. I visited earlier this month as part of Road Trip 2011, and you may well have been there too.

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