Castles In Europe

From childhood, I've had a fantasy and slight obsession with castles - all those fairytales with grandiose castles being in the backdrop. Even adult literature like Shakespear and Dracula. My parents used to keep a stack of cardboard boxes for me so and I would cut them up and color them in to create my own little castle hideaways. I loved it!

When I think of Europe I think of castles, if I were to visit Europe, I would map my trip around locations with castles. So far, these are on my castle-tour wish list:

1) Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
This is my favorite and I love that it's on a hill. It looks like something out of a fairytale - it was the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty's Castle at Disneyland Park and the Cinderella Castles at the Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland. Neuschwanstein was built in 1869-1892 by King Ludwig II of Bavaria. The name Neuschwanstein means 'New Swan Stone'.

2) Burg Hohenzollern, Germany
Another castle in Germany that's built on a mountain (Mount Hohenzollern at an elevation of 855 meters (2,805 ft) above sea level, I think it's higher than Neuschwanstein's hill). This castle is interesting because it's older, it was build in the Medieval times and it was rebuilt three times. The first castle that was built at this location in the 11th century was destroyed - 'On 15 May 1423 the castle was finally taken and totally destroyed. Of the first castle only written records still exist.' Then in 1454 building of a new castle began, but by 1798 the castle began to crumble and turned into ruins by the beginning of the 19th century. Finally in 1850, reconstruction of the castle began under Crown-Prince Frederick William IV of Prussia's command.

Neuschwanstein is actually more like a palace then a castle.

Technically, Neuschwanstein is a 'neo-romantic castle'. Castles are usually fortified but the Neuschwanstein was built during a time where castle's were being built for aesthetic purposes more than for fortification.

I've actually been to Neuschwanstein. The interior is spectacular. You're not allowed to take pictures inside though. Lower down on the same hill there is also another castle, and I think it may be older than Neuschwanstein and alot less glamorous.

The interior of Neuschwanstein castle is spectacular - perhaps moreso that the outside if you can imagine it. The story behind it's founder (King Ludwig II of Bavaria) is pretty interesting - I have the impression that he became obsessed with perfecting the castle and ornate embellishes - he was a big fan of the opera and was apparently had a swan obsession. If you can imagine a very fine piece of classical art, then the interior of Neuschwanstein is like wall to ceiling of art. The bedroom was really impressive to me and sort of a sign of this guy's obsession - "Fourteen carvers worked more than four years on the bed canopy with its numerous pinnacles and on the oaken panelings." It's a spectacular piece of carving.