Incantato Tour Sight: Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle (German: Schloss Neuschwanstein) is a 19th-century Gothic Revival palace on a rugged hill above the village of Hohenschwangau near Füssen in southwest Bavaria, Germany. The palace was commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria as a retreat and as an homage to Richard Wagner. The palace was intended as a personal refuge for the reclusive king, but it was opened to the paying public immediately after his death in 1886. Since then over 60 million people have visited Neuschwanstein Castle. More than 1.3 million people visit annually, with up to 6,000 per day in the summer. The palace has appeared prominently in several movies and was the inspiration for Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle. And here are more interesting and fun facts about Neuschwanstein:

• Neuschwanstein means "New Swan Stone". The name of the castle derives from one of Wagner's opera's character, the Swan Knight.
• The Neuschwanstein castle was built for only one person – the King Ludwig II. Neuschwanstein is so immense though, that in some days it is visited by up to 6000 tourists.
• Ludiwg slept only 11 nights in the castle
• Ludiwg was Richard Wagner's patron, and many rooms of the castle were inspired by Wagner's operas. Despite of this, Wagner never visited the castle, as he died before its completion.
• The castle is one of the most photographed buildings in the world, even if photography is not permitted inside of the castle.
• There is no throne in the castle, as the Throne Hall was not completed before Ludwig's death.
• The Sleeping Beauty Castle’s design in Disneyland was inspired by Neuschwanstein Castle.
• Fourteen carpenters worked for more than four years to make the woodwork in the bedroom.
• Despite its medieval look, it was built in the 19th century, and it served no defensive purposes.
• The original name of the castle was New Hohenschwangau Castle. It was renamed as Neuschwanstein castle just after Ludwig II's death
• The designer of the castle was Christian Jank. He was not even an architect but a theatrical designer.
• In 2012, the Neuschwanstein Castle will appear on a €2 commemorative coin.