Built in 1869, Schloss Neuschwanstein is in the town of Schwangau and is the quintessential fairy tale castle.  Schloss is simply the German word for castle.

This iconic asymmetrical cylinder turreted structure is the basis for the Disney logo.   The palace was commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria as a retreat and in honour of Richard Wagner. It was open to the public shortly after his death in 1886.  Over 1.3 million people visit this jewel of southern Bavaria each year.

Yes, it looks lovely in the snow, but construction and scaffolding in progress aren’t quite so desirable for photos.    There was no snow in Munich where I was staying, although this is a two hour train ride away.

You have to get your ticket in advance, and get a tour in English or German.   You have to be outside the entrance of the castle itself at the right time for your tour.    When you are waiting for your slot, you can just wander around the other attractions.   You can walk up a zigzag path up the hill to Neuschwanstein, or you can take some other type of transport like this.

There are a number of other interesting buildings in the complex including two other smaller castles close by.

Photography and phones are verboten during the tour which is a real shame, as the insides are just as exquisite as the outside.   There are Jesus and the apostles and other scenes painted on to the ceilings.

Once the tour is done, which was probably about 45 minutes, and you exit out of a little door in the side.    The overwhelming number of the visitors I saw at this place are from China, when I got back on the train to head back to Munich, I sat on the nearest empty seat and surprised to hear the people next to me are Israeli and are speaking in Hebrew, seeing as the basis of my blog on travel and faith, started in Jerusalem.