Neuschwanstein Castle: The Fairytale That Was Never Finished

Neuschwanstein Castle: The Fairytale That Was Never Finished

In the south of Germany, where the Alps 
majestically rise from the landscape, lies a place that seems to come 
straight out of a fairy tale. A place where a king once built a dream but, 
tragically, was never able to complete it. In this video, I will take you to one of 
the most beautiful buildings in Europe, which may well hide one of the 
continent’s greatest secrets. Welcome to Neuschwanstein I begin my journey at the nearby 
old castle Hohenschwangau, originally built in the 12th century. After falling into disrepair, it was completely 
rebuilt by the Bavarian King Maximilian II. Although filming and photography are 
unfortunately not allowed inside either castle, the interior of this building is richly decorated, featuring many murals depicting scenes from 
German legends and medieval knightly tales. It offers a fascinating glimpse into 
the life of the Bavarian royal family. The yellow-colored castle towering 
above the village was also the childhood residence of King Ludwig II, 
who succeeded his father as king in 1864. He went on to build many palaces and castles, 
including Herrenchiemsee and Linderhof Palace. But first, in 1869, he began construction 
of a new medieval-style knight’s castle at a location not far from the one where he grew up. After a short walk, I arrive at 
the imposing Neuschwanstein Castle. It is truly breathtaking to see it up close, it really makes you feel as if 
you’ve stepped into a fairy tale. Its builder was therefore aptly 
nicknamed “the fairytale king.” Initially, it was thought 
that construction would take around three years, but that estimate 
turned out to be far from accurate. After more than three years, 
only the gatehouse was completed, the upper floor of which served as the 
king’s residence for several years. Construction of the main castle didn’t begin until 1872, and more than 200 workers 
were involved on a daily basis. In total, 39 people reportedly 
died during the construction. Although this may seem like a lot, it was actually very few considering 
the working conditions of the time. In 1886, the Bavarian government declared 
the king insane and removed him from power. Just one day after his deposition, 
the bodies of the king and his psychiatrist were found under mysterious 
circumstances in a lake south of Munich. The official cause of death was drowning, but no water was found in his lungs, 
contradicting that conclusion. To this day, it remains unclear how the king 
died, making it a truly remarkable story. The castle was never completed after his 
death, several sections were canceled, and of the planned 200 rooms, 
only 15 were ever finished. The exterior, however, was 
completed in its entirety. The king lived in the castle for only 186 days, at a time when it still resembled more of 
a construction site than a royal residence. The grand halls and rooms that were completed 
are absolutely breathtaking to behold. I highly recommend visiting 
the interior for yourself. It is a castle built by a remarkable man, 
full of dreams, solitude, and grandeur. But his death remains the greatest enigma of all. Was it suicide? An accident? Or a 
political assassination? It is a mystery that still lingers like 
a shadow around this fairytale. Hidden behind the castle lies the Marienbrücke, from where you have one of 
the best views of the castle. This bridge was originally built in 1845 by the 
father of Ludwig II, who named it after his wife. The bridge was originally made of wood but was 
eventually replaced by a solid steel version, something you’ll be grateful for, considering 
how many people cross it every day. It’s such a popular spot that you 
might even find yourself waiting in line for an hour just to step onto the bridge. But once you see the view that unfolds as you 
step onto it, the wait is more than worth it. On the far side of the bridge, the surrounding nature reserve also 
offers stunning views of the castle. After a walk back to the village of 
Hohenschwangau, I leave this popular tourist destination, which is visited 
by over two million people each year. I head a few kilometers north 
to the historic town of Füssen. Situated at an altitude of 800 meters, 
it is the highest town in the state of Bavaria and was originally founded 
on the site of a Roman military camp. It’s a strategic point along 
the route crossing the Alps. One of the town’s most impressive landmarks 
is the former Benedictine monastery, where I first visit the Church of St. Mang. The church is named after Saint Magnus 
of Füssen, an 8th-century missionary who, according to legend, lived and preached here. A monastic community formed around his grave, eventually growing into an 
important religious center. The current church was rebuilt in the 
17th century in full Baroque style, and its interior is nothing short of breathtaking. With its intricate sculptures, 
stucco decorations, gilded altars, and ceiling frescoes, there’s so much to 
see that you won’t know where to look first. It’s a place you should definitely step inside 
while you’re here, even if you’re not religious. The former monastery is also open to visitors, 
as it now houses the Füssen City Museum. It tells the story of the 
town through the centuries. The current complex dates back to the 
early 18th century but was built on the foundations of a medieval monastery that 
goes all the way back to the year 750. This is still clearly visible in 
certain corridors, where parts of the original structures have been excavated. It offers a fascinating insight into how the building was expanded and 
altered over the centuries. The building still contains several 
beautiful halls from its monastic past, one of the most impressive being 
the Kaisersaal, or Emperor’s Hall. Completed around 1722, it was 
designed as a ceremonial hall to reflect the monastery’s political 
aspirations and representational power. Its towering columns, gilded detailing, and elaborate frescoes make it one of the 
most stunning rooms in the entire complex. Today, it still serves as a 
venue for concerts and weddings. Another breathtaking space is the oval library, 
often referred to as the “Place of Wisdom.” From the dining hall on the floor below, you can look through an oval opening 
straight into this sacred room. That opening symbolizes the powerful 
unity between body and mind: nourishment for the soul and 
for the body are not opposites, but parts of the same journey through life. This is not just a room full of books, but a magnificent domed hall adorned 
with paintings and sculptures. On the balustrades, angels dance, each 
representing one of the seven liberal arts. Though most of the books have long since 
vanished and the monks have departed, the space still serves as a quiet reminder that 
some places are not meant to be understood, but simply to remind us of 
what it means to be human: curious, questioning, and never quite complete. The museum has much more to offer, 
including an exhibition on violin making and the beautifully preserved 
Anna Chapel from the former monastery. It’s well worth a visit. The town itself is located along the River Lech, which carries alpine water from Austria down 
to the Forggensee, just north of Füssen. Near the large dam, the view 
from the river is stunning, framed by the monastery and the 
castle rising above the town. And of course, the charming squares 
and ornately decorated buildings of the old town center make Füssen a 
true gem in the south of Germany. Whether you’re here for the imposing 
castles or the charming streets of Füssen, this region is definitely worth a visit, whether as a day trip, a relaxing weekend getaway, 
or a stop along the famous Deutsche Alpenstraße: an iconic Alpine route that ends 
in the Berchtesgadener Land, a region that might just offer the most 
stunning natural beauty in all of Germany. I’ll be exploring that area in my next video. Did you enjoy this video? Then 
don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you won’t 
miss any episodes of this travel series. Thanks for watching, and see you soon!

Step into a real-life fairytale as I visit Neuschwanstein Castle — the world’s most beautiful castle with a tragic past.

Nestled in the Bavarian Alps of southern Germany, Neuschwanstein isn’t just a breathtaking sight, it’s also the unfinished dream of King Ludwig II and the center of one of Europe’s greatest royal mysteries. In this travel vlog, I explore the story behind the castle’s creation, its spectacular surroundings, and the nearby town of Füssen, one of Bavaria’s hidden gems.

Whether you’re planning a road trip through southern Germany, exploring the Deutsche Alpenstraße, or looking for day trips from Munich, this video will take you deep into the history, beauty, and lingering mystery of this iconic destination.

Highlights in this video:
– Visiting the childhood home of King Ludwig II: Hohenschwangau Castle
– Walking to the world-famous Neuschwanstein Castle
– The tragic and mysterious story behind the “Fairytale King”
– Stunning views from the Marienbrücke bridge
– Exploring the historic town of Füssen and the Baroque St. Mang Church
– Visiting the Kaisersaal and monastic library of the former Benedictine monastery
– Reflections on Ludwig’s legacy and the question that still haunts Germany: what really happened to the king?

Related Travel Topics:
– Germany travel guide
– Castles in Europe worth visiting
– Fairytale destinations in Germany
– Day trips from Munich
– Hidden gems in Bavaria
– Road trip ideas through the Alps
– Unsolved mysteries in European history
– Must-see places on the Deutsche Alpenstraße
– UNESCO World Heritage

🎥 Gear I use: DJI Osmo Pocket 3 & DJI Mavic 4 Pro

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Next stop: Berchtesgadener Land.