Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
Southwest Bavaria in Germany's Füssen district is home to the historicist Neuschwanstein Castle, a 19th-century building perched atop a rocky slope above the settlement of Hohenschwangau. Its surroundings are distinguished by the transition between an area with mountainous terrain in the north that appears flat in comparison and the southern Alpine foothills (toward the close Austrian border). Although it started in 1869, the construction was never finished.
The King was supposed to use the castle as his personal abode until his death in 1886. The public was allowed access to it not long after his passing. Since then, Neuschwanstein Castle has welcomed more than 61 million visitors. Annual visitor numbers exceed 1.3 million, peaking at 6,000 per day in the summer.
A representation of Germany, this fairytale castle near Munich served as the inspiration for the Disney castle. Most visitors to the castle take guided tours, but if you do some searching online, you might be able to arrange a special private experience. Alternately, choose the numerous spires and turrets of the castle as the setting for an outdoor (and less expensive) proposal. For a day, you can live the life of a prince or princess, but without the depressing hardships of the Middle Ages.
Location: Hohenschwangau, Germany
