Neuschwanstein Castle

Visiting Neuschwanstein Castle is a dramatic if seemingly unreal experience and for this reason it is one of my favourite historical sites. The castle is situated on the slopes of the Alps in Bavaria, close to the village of Hohenschwangau, overlooking low-lying plains to the north. The ornate turrets, Romanesque windows and white walls, which you see as you progress up the road to the castle, reflect a scene from a Walt Disney cartoon. There is some dispute how far Disney specifically used Neuschwanstein as opposed to a range of European castles, as an inspiration for Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella castles. However, a comparison between them shows close similarities between Neuschwanstein Castle with those in Disneyworld. The castle has also had a minor appearance in a range of films including The Great Escape (1963) and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)...