Contact The Castles About

castles of germany

The DISNEY CASTLE in GERMANY

The Disney castle in Germany is almost unforgettable in today’s world. The childhood of almost every person born from the 90s downwards is incomplete without at least one story involving the Castle.

The Cinderella story, Rapunzel and the long hair, sleeping beauty, beauty, and the beast, etc., all featured the Disney castle in one form or another.

The Disney castle in Germany is the Neuschwanstein castle located in the village of Hohenschwangau, Allgau, Bavaria.

The Neuschwanstein castle is the closest physical replica of the Disney castle as represented in the fairy tales. It was built by King Ludwig II who was known as the mad king between 1868-1892 (Read more about its beautiful story!).

Picture by MarcHendersonPhotograph on flickr.com

Today, the Castle has multiple relevances as it serves as the logo of the Walt & Disney movie production company, and a symbol of a fairy tale in real life.

Read more to learn all the amazing stuff about the Disney castle in Germany.

Top 6 most asked questions about Disney Castle, Germany.

#1 – Where is the Disney castle in Germany?

Tourists ask this question all the time. If you would like to visit the Disney castle, it is located in the village of Hohenschwangau in the hills of Allgua, Near Fussen, Bavaria.

You can travel by road, or partly by train. The Fussen railway is the closest to the Castle, from where you can join public transport to the Castle. According to King Louis II, the location of the castle is one of the most beautiful to be found, holy and unapproachable, a worthy temple’. 

Do not fret because although it is still holy and beautiful, its owner died a long time ago, and it is now approachable.

#2 – Which castle is Disney castle based on?

As stated earlier, the Disney castle was modeled after the Neuschwanstein castle, in Bavaria. But then comes the next question, what was the Neuschwanstein castle modeled after?

King Louis II AKA Mad King Ludwig grew up in a fancy Hohenschwangau castle, and upon assuming the throne as the prime ruler of Bavaria, he sought to recreate his Hohenschwangau home (a neo-Gothic medieval-styled castle) more grandly and beautifully.

He aimed to make it his resting abode where he could retreat away from the world.

That explains why shortly after the Castle’s construction began, it was nicknamed the New Hohenschwangau castle.

#3 – Where did the idea of the Disney castle come from?

The Neuschwanstein castle was pioneered by King Ludwig’s idea of fantasy, fairy tales, and magnificence.

According to Insider, it was the murals and the amazing decorations and style of the Neuschwanstein castle that prompted the Disney team to model the fairy tale castles after it.

King Louis II was a big dreamer, and Disneyland focused on creating dreamlike fairy tales; so they found a match. 

#4 – How big is the Disney Castle in Real Life?

Although the description of the Castle in each fairy tale may slightly differ, the Neuschwanstein castle that is the real Disney Castle is built on the top of a rock, just above the Pollat Gorge in the Bavarian Alps.

It has Romanesque designs and unique paintings.

The Castle has many rooms and interior structures, (originally planned to have 110 rooms), but only 14 chambers have been completed up until date. It is 65, 000 sq ft large and has five (5) floors. It consists of the following rooms:

  1. The Lower Hall
  2. The singers’ Hall
  3. Throne Hall I
  4. Throne Hall II
  5. The Anteroom
  6. The Upper Hall
  7. The Bedroom,
  8. The dining room
  9. The Oratory,
  10. The Passage
  11. The Dressing room,
  12. The salon
  13. The study
  14. The Grotto

These rooms are open to tourists, and they have incredible wall paintings and neo-classical designs.

From the outside, the Disney Castle is painted white with black-blue turrets and positioned on a hilltop.

It is impossible to tell the tale of Hollywood without mentioning Walt Disney. The company has produced many magical tales and fantasies for about 99 years now starting from cartoon mice to CGIs and real-time animations.

In 1985, Walt Disney adopted a background castle as part of its logo. The background castle had Walt Disney written across it like a rainbow.

Today, the logo is a complete depiction of the Cinderella castle, colorful and complete with the towers, windows, and a moat.

Their movies often give viewers a brief tour of the castle’s outer part before settling into a pictorial form. 

There have been a series of debates that the Cinderella castle as depicted in Walt Disney is the Neuschwanstein castle of Bavaria, but the company officially denied this assertion, further stating that the castle in the logo was not designed with the Neuschwanstein castle in mind.

The company went ahead to modify the castle to make it look less than the Hohenschwangau castle and more of the Peter Pan and other fairy tale castles. It is rumored that the castle in the logo now serves as a prototype of the Disney Castle in Paris.

Having taken ideas from the Hohenschwangau castle to design some of their fairy tales, the company is not comfortable allowing its logo to be squarely dependent on the same castle.

#6 – Who designed Disney castle?

The Romanesque designs of the Neuschwanstein castle were painted by Christian Hank while the Cinderella castle was allegedly designed by Imagineer Dorothea Redmond.

Closing Note:

So, while the Disney Castle may have been inspired by the Neuschwanstein castle in Bavaria and most of the fairy tale castles modeled after it, the Disney logo has been modified to look different from the Neuschwanstein castle.

Walt Disney and co would rather have an imagining to take the glory for their logo but we do know that it was inspired by the Germany Castle which lies near Fussen, in Bavaria, Germany.

For more information on the Neuschwanstein castle, click here to see our articles.

Neuschwanstein Castle and its beautiful story

The Neuschwanstein castle has as much awesomeness as its history. On one part we see a medieval-style castle with neo-Gothic inspiration and Romanesque designs. But when you discover that it is the object of a person’s fantasies the whole story becomes more interesting.

The foundation for the Neuschwanstein castle was laid by King Louis II who was also nicknamed the Mad King Ludwig but the building couldn’t be concluded in his lifetime.

The King had grown up in a Hohenschwangau castle with epic decoration drawn from historical, legendary, and poetic sources.

So when he became king, he aspired to build something more legendary, and grander to serve as his palace. Unfortunately, he didn’t live long enough to see the castle complete.

Neuschwanstein Castle
Picture by robroskopp98 on flickr.com

A Brief History of the Neuschwanstein castle

The construction of the Neuschwansteincastle started in 1869 shortly after Louis II became the king of Bavaria.

It was originally named the New Hohenschwangau Castle and modeled after the castle where the new king grew up but with grander and more elaborate composition.

Some say the King’s original idea was to create a real version of a fairy tale castle that would leave fans awestruck; he succeeded partly in doing this. In 1886, the castle was opened to the general public upon King Ludwig’s death.

Here are some of the most asked questions about the Neuschwanstein castle:

1. Where is the Neuschwanstein Castle and How can I get there?

The castle is located at Neuschwansteinstrate 20, 87645 Schwangau, Near Fussen in Allgau, Germany.

If you drove down, it is advisable to park at the village of Hohenschwangau before you move on (the parking facilities are often run by private individuals so it may cost you a little amount of money). 

Directions: Take the A7 motorway, when you get to the end of the road, follow the B17 and you will start seeing signs on the direction to go. There is also public transport available.

2. How old is the Neuschwanstein castle?

The Neuschwanstein castle is at least 136 years old.

The site where the castle sits today had 2 smaller buildings which were demolished in 1868 to make room for the building of the new castle.

It was eventually opened to the public in 1886 in the memory of King Ludwig and has since then undergone a series of maintenance and renovations until its current state was attained. 

3. Most alluring wonders of the King’s Bedroom

You will remember that the Neuschwanstein castle was built for the King’s private residence which explains why there is an amazing King’s bedroom behind its walls.

Eight (8) out of the ten people who visit the Neuschwanstein castle mention the King’s bedroom as one of the best sites to see.

It has a leitmotif drawn after the Legend of Tristan and Isolde (a romantic tale about King Meliadus’ Prince – Tristan.

The story states that Tristan returns to form a battle fatally injured, but was saved by Isolde who used magical herbs to heal him. The duo falls in love and insists on getting married despite being from two enemy tribes but were faced with a new kind of challenge when King Marke desired Isolde for marriage.

The lover’s tales end with sorrow as they died in each other’s arms). 

You can find beautiful Leitmotif of the lovers, their pictures, and carvings scattered all around. The room also has a beautiful chandelier and a tiled stove.

The King’s bedsit at the corner of the room with blue silk coverings, with unimaginably artistic embroidery. It is a must-see.

4. What is the Neuschwanstein Castle known for?

The castle is known for quite a handful of features that leaves visitors awestruck, such as:

  1. The portraits, carvings, and leitmotif were drawn after legends and stories. Walking into its halls, one would experience tens of stories through the amazing art and interior designs.
  2. The amazing blue-blacking turrets of Neuschwanstein castle also make it distinguishable and extremely beautiful. The castle sits at a cliffside, making it almost surreal; it is a great site to see and this attracts many tourists.
  3. It has a rich history and it is one of the most toured castles in the world and has attracted at least 61 million tourists so far). 
  4. The castle is about 213 feet tall and measures about 65, 000 square feet. About 100 rooms were initially planned but only 14 have been completed to date (those are open to the public)
  5. It is the inspiration for some of Disney’s fairy tales such as Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty. Many visit just to see the closest real version of what their favorite fiction castles look like.
  6. The 13 feet tall chandelier and murals of the Throne room are more than epic.

5. What is the meaning of Neuschwanstein and how did it get its name?

The name Neuschwanstein is the German for New Swan Stone Castles.

It was named after the Swan Knight Lohengrin (of the Lohengrin legend), one of King Ludwig’s favorite characters and the designer (Richard Wagner) inspiration.

6. Who owns the Neuschwanstein Castle?

The castle is owned by the Bavarian State, while Hohenschwangau is owned by the descendants of Ludwig II.

7. Nearby hotels you can lodge in

Are you considering a visit to the castle? Here are some of the nearby hotels you can lodge in:

  1. Villa Ludwig in Hohenschwangau
  2. City Fereinwohnung Fussen 
  3. Vitalhotel Wiedemann
  4. Luitpoldpark-Hotel
  5. Hotel Ruchti, etc.

There are many hotels in Hohenschwangau and Fussen, you should carefully check their facilities and your budget in choosing any of your choices.

8. Getting to the Neuschwanstein Castle by Train – The nearest Train Station

The nearest train station to the Neuschwanstein castle is the Fussen train station which is 5km away.

9. Distance to the Neuschwanstein from some parts of Germany

Munich – Fussen

By road, it is about 117.6 kilometers apart and will take you about 1hour 50 minutes to travel. If you are traveling by train, it will take you about 2 hours 50 minutes. The average cost of a travel ticket per hour is £57.

Frankfurt – Fussen

From Frankfurt, Germany, it is about 425.7km to reach the Fussen by road. That may take about 4hours 30 minutes to reach your destination. 

From Fussen, it is about 20 minutes bus ride to arrive at Schwangau, where the castle is.

Entry Fees

Adult: £15

Children: free (if under 18 and accompanied by parents)

Seniors (over 65 years of age): £14

Pupils & companions of disabled people: free

You can purchase the tickets online with an extra charge of £2.50 or from the Hohenschwangau ticket center if you choose the latter option, you have to get your ticket before proceeding to the castle, otherwise, you won’t be allowed to go in.

Tickets are personal and cannot be exchanged.

10. Best Time to Visit the Neuschwanstein Castle

The castle opens all week long, from 9:00 am until 10:00 am every April to October 15 and from October 16 to March 15 it is open for 6hours between 10:00 am till 4:00 pm. They however close up for Christmas and New Year Celebration for four days; December 24-25 and on the 31st to January 1st. 

Further reading

Which country has the most castles?

Do you love castles? Have you ever wondered which country has the most castles?

The country with the most castles in the world is Germany. It is estimated that there are about 25,000 castles in this country! However, the exact figure is still yet to be disclosed by the European Castle Institute.

map of Germany with castles

Whether you’re young or old, we can all agree; there’s just something about a castle that piques our curiosity.

Book a trip to your favourite castle

We all grow up and hear of fairytales about such fortified structures, historical battles around the world, and tales of royals living in such castles. 

Likewise visiting a country for the largest amount of castles is a great reason to visit. However, there are many other countries with a significant amount of castles which are worth visiting!

Read on below for some of Europes best castles.

Which country has the most castles per square mile?

Caerphilly Castle

The country which has the most castles per square mile is Wales.

Wales, in itself, has 600 castles, all with a medieval narrative behind them whether it be from the Romans, British royals, or former Welsh princes. 

If you ever visit Wales, it’s most likely you won’t be far from a medieval castle!

How many castles Spain has?

Spain is a country rich in history and is renowned for its Christian monarchy. Due to its turbulent past and fighting between kings, lots of castles were established in the making.

Coca Castle

 It was rumoured that there used to be 10,000. In the past, everyone wanted to have their castle to protect them and house them safely. Today, in Spain, it’s been reported there are around 2500 castles in the country. 

How many castles the U.K. has?

It’s estimated that the U.K. has around 1,500 castles standing. It has so many because it’s made up of multiple kingdoms such as Wales, Ireland, and Scotland.

Warwick Castle

It turns out that many prestigious Anglo Saxon nobles owned such castles and refused to give them up!

When the Normans eventually came in, they had to find a way to control the Saxons. They did this by building castles on lands they had just conquered!

How many castles Ireland has

Ireland is a country with lots of castles and ruins. While the standing castles haven’t been counted, it’s estimated that the castles and their ruins total up to 30,000! 

Ashford Castle

When the Normans conquered Ireland during the late 12th century, they took large portions of land from the Irish.

 Like other areas of the U.K., to mark their terrority, they built a castle on the land. Hence why there are now so many and ruins about in Ireland!

How many castles France has

Château d'Angers

The French Ministry of Culture states there are currently 11,000 castles in France. However, Parisabout, mentions if all the private residencies were where people live in castles counted and historic castle ruins, the number could be well above 45,000! 

If you visit France, don’t be surprised if you frequently come across a castle. 

Best castles to see in Europe.

Now that we’ve mentioned how many castles German, Spain, France, the U.K., and Ireland has, let’s share with you a list of what we think are the best castles to see in Europe. 

We know we’ve left some marvellous countries out of this blog post up until now, however, don’t be disheartened as we most likely will cover them if you read on.

In no particular order, here are the best castles to see in Europe:

1.Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle

Do you like Disney? In Germany, the magical Castle of Neuschwanstein was a structure Walt Disney drew inspiration from to create Disney’s famous Cinderella castle! It often gets named the ‘Disney Castle.’ 

It’s estimated that more than a million people visit this castle every year, and in the summer, up to 6000 people can visit! 

This charming blue and white castle is great to look at, but it also has epic views! Once you reach the castle, you can look at the top of the scenic Bavarian village of Hohenschwangau.

2. The Pena Palace

Pena Palace
Image by Walkerssk from Pixabay

Located in Sintra Portugal, The Pena Palace is a gorgeous structure full of warm colours such as yellow, orange, and brown. 

This castle was built in the 18th century and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s located in the Sintra Mountains on top of a hill overlooking the village of Sintra. 

3. Château de Chantilly

Château de Chantilly

This beautiful castle is located in the French town of Chantilly, Oise, located just over 50km from the capital. 

This was initially destroyed during the French Revolution but was later rebuilt. Ironically, this marvellous castle never was owned by any French royals, however many wealthy noblemen did live here.

 The castle even has an art collection, housing many French treasures.

4. Bran Castle

Bran castles

Bran Castle is where the fictional character of Dracula lives. Yes, Bram Stoker drew his inspiration from this majestical castle The Carpathian Mountains in Transylvania, Romania. 

Many armies have fought at this site, which makes it just, even more, feel like a castle when you’re visiting. Stand there and imagine the knights battling away!

5. Miramare Castle

Miramare Castle

If you’re visiting northeastern Italy, then you must visit the dreamy Miramare Castle.

However, later on, it houses emperors and empresses. The structure alone is impressive, but so is the gardens! There are tropical trees and plants all around the site.

6. Hohenzollern Castle

Hohenzollern Castle

It was then again rebuilt during the 14th century with the gothic architecture you see today. 

A third castle was also built onto this site during the 18th century. Today it attracts over 350,000 visitors per year and is privately owned by the House of Hohenzollern.

7. Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle

You can’t visit Scotlands capital without paying for a trip to the remarkable fortress, Edinburgh Castle.

 The castle sits on Castle Rock, and there’s been the discovery of life on this site by archaeologists since the iron age. 

Today Edinburgh is one of the tallest castles in Scotland and most visited in the UK.

8. Alcázar de Segovia

In the Spanish city of Segovia stands this magical castle. This fortification is completely built out of stone and also served as another inspiration for Walt Disney.

 It’s estimated that it was built during the 11th century, as the first reference to it was in documents dating back to 1120.

9. Conwy Castle

Conwy castle, wales

Located in North Wales, is the stunning Conwy Castle. This castle was constructed by Prince Edward I during the 12th century. 

This medieval fortress sits above overlooking the town of Conway. Inside there are mesmerizing spiral staircases that wind around the castle and lots of furniture. On a clear day, you can see Snowdonia from this castle!

Well, there you have it 9 of some of the best castles in Europe. They aren’t officially the best castles; we think they’re great. In all honesty, there are many more castles out there! So do check them out and visit them all! 

Don’t forget to check out our blog section for more castle-related articles

What is the Oldest Standing Castle in the World?

Formerly the oldest standing castle was in Aleppo, northern Syria, built around 3000BC. However, due to the countries war, it was bombed, and today it no longer exists. Therefore, now the oldest standing castle is The Reischsburg Cochem. It is located in Cochem, Germany, and was built in the year 1000.

What is the Biggest Castle in the World?

If measured by land area, the biggest castle in the world is Malbork Castle. This is a 13th-century Teutonic brick fortress located in the town of Malbork, north-central Poland. Today this mighty castle is still standing and visited by many.

Best castles by country

Find the best castles to visit next

Find out more

Lists o top castles around the world.

Is Neuschwanstein Castle Worth a Day of Your Life?

Neuschwanstein castle is all over social media, but is it worth giving it a day or even a weekend on your travel schedule?

Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle is worth visiting for its unique architecture inside and out. It’s gorgeously highlighted in the nighttime, has stunning views of the mountains, and its history inspired Walt Disney. It’s genuinely a fairytale castle where you can spend a whole weekend.

When discussing Neuschwanstein Castle, there are a lot of pros and cons of it being worth it.

Some travellers before visiting this castle, wish they read the information provided here first!

Book a trip to your favourite castle

Why should you visit Neuschwanstein Castle?

Neuschwanstein Castle, Best German Castles. View of Neuschwanstein Castle and the mountains.
Neuschwanstein Castle

Each year 1.4 million visitors flock to this area and in peak summer times 6000 people a day visit! It’s a wanderlust destination, and here at Castle Tourist, we have a few reasons why ‘hungry’ travellers should head towards Neuschwanstein Castle.

Story behind 

Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle was built in the 19th century on the ruins of an older medieval castle by King Ludwig II.

He built the castle as a residence for him and his family, in honour of his friend the composer Richard Wagner. 

Wagner never got to see the castle; his marvellous operas influenced a lot of the original interior of the castle. 

Ludwig used his own money to build the castle as well as borrowings instead of using Bavarian public funds.

Sadly Ludwig lived in his castle for only 172 days, and then he mysteriously died, the castle became open to the public six weeks later.

Ludwig only slept in the castle for 11 nights.

Scenery 

Neuschwanstein Castle

You’ll find many people hiking to the castle just to admire the exterior.

It is rising in the foothills of the breathtaking alpine mountains near to the Austrian border. 

Many people come for the vistas first and then the architecture.

We can assure you, just seeing the castle against its backdrop will provide enormous amounts of wanderlust.

The greatness of this building inspired Walt Disney for its worldwide known company logo and Disney’s Magic Kingdom, and also holds the title of one of the most beautiful castles in the world.

Unique Architecture 

Neuschwanstein Castl

Indeed it’s a “fairytale castle” built on top of the mountain. A fantastic site brought to life by Ludwig’s imagination.

 Controversially it was built as a status symbol instead of it being a protective structure. 

Its impressive brick, marble, and white limestone structure will command your attention.

During the construction, all the materials came from a local quarry. 

In its early days, King Ludwig hired hundreds of workers, making them work into the early hours of the morning using night lamps!

Throne Room

Neuschwanstein Castle's interior
Neuschwanstein Castle Throne Room

Neuschwanstein Castle’s throne room holds no throne inside of it. However, it is more like a church with its stunning interior. 

Inside the throne room, you’ll find gorgeous angels painted on its walls, a chandelier, and mosaic flooring.

 When inside, you definitely get the sense and feel grandness and elegance in its pure form. 

Singers Hall

Neuschwanstein Castle Singers Hall
Neuschwanstein Castle Singers Hall

As the name suggests, Singers Hall was the music room of the castle. In this room, you’ll find many murals representing The Holy Grail and a stage where singers would contest. 

The Singers Hall has such meticulous detail; there are names of the singers inscribed into the work.

 This room is located next to the throne room and is also a grand one at that.

The Grotto

Another magical feature of the castle is the grotto which is located inside of the castle. 

Alongside this, you can also visit Ludwig’s room and ten other rooms which are open to visitors.

Nearby Scenery

Queen Mary’s Bridge (Marienbrücke)

Queen Mary's Bridge at Neuschwanstein Castle
Queen Mary’s Bridge (Marienbrücke)

To take in the full charm of Neuschwanstein Castle, you may want to hike to Queen Mary’s bridge. 

 However, if hiking is not your thing, you can also get a shuttle bus that stops near the bridge.

Bus costs around €2.50 for a single or around €3.00 for a return. 

The Gorge (Pöllatschlucht)

The Gorge (Pöllatschlucht) near Neuschwanstein Castle
The Gorge (Pöllatschlucht)

Speaking of fairytales, very close by to the castle there is a tranquil oasis known as the Pöllatschlucht Gorge waterfall.

Be impressed by its natural rock walls and its stunning vantage point. 

What people who visited Neuschwanstein didn’t like?

At Castle Tourist, we wouldn’t be transparent if we didn’t share what previous tourists didn’t like about the castle.

 While Neuschwanstein castle has many positives, some tourists complained about the following:

  • Long Waiting times– It’s been recorded as this destination is so popular, many tourists in peak season flock to this castle. Depending on the guide/tour, people can wait up to two hours in a line to enter. 
  • Exhausting Climb To Reach- Initially to reach the castle, you have to climb up a steep bank. Some travellers have complained about being exhausted reaching the castle. Often in peak season travellers are sweaty and demotivated to view the castle by the time they’ve arrived.

No wonder it’s measured as one of the tallest castles in Europe.

  • Guided Tour- You can visit or wander around Neuschwanstein castle freely. You can only enter via a guided tour.
  • Not able to take photos- Some guests have complained that their guide did not allow them to take pictures once inside the castle.
  • The castle is unfinished- As Ludwig didn’t manage to finish all the rooms, there are some empty. Guests often complain that the tour hasn’t been hearty enough due to the lack of rooms available to see.

Given these comments from previous castle tourists, we feel that you should not be discouraged by them. 

We think you should still visit Neuschwanstein Castle and decide for yourself if it’s worth it or not.

Best way to get to Neuschwanstein 

This castle is located in Bavaria, and you have several ways to reach it. They are the following:

Munich

Trip Overview on Google Maps

 If you’re not a fan of trains, there are also intercity buses from Munich known as the Flix bus which takes you to the castle. 

Fussen 

Google maps overview of the route from Fussen City
Google maps overview of the route from Fussen City to Neuschwanstein Castle

In the town of Fussen, you can get either local bus 73 or 78, which both stops at the ticket centre located in the village of Hohenschwangau. 

What else is there to see near Neuschwanstein Castle?

Alongside Queen Mary’s Bridge and The Gorge, there are a few other great attractions nearby, they are:

Schloss Hohenschwangau

Schloss Hohenschwangau
Schloss Hohenschwangau

This is another castle and was the childhood residence of King Ludwig. Ludwig’s father built Schloss Hohenschwangau. 

In this castle, there are many beautiful rooms, scenic passageways, and lovely views.

Alpsee

Alpsee scenery near Neuschwanstein Castle
Alpsee scenery near Neuschwanstein Castle

If you’re after scenic views, this is a great picnic spot overlooking a small lake. It’s a short hike away from the castle and easy to reach.

Museum of the Bavarian Kings

If you want to explore history even further, there is a museum nearby. Located in Hohenschwangau, this has historical artefacts and information about the late kings. 

What is the best accommodation near Neuschwanstein castle?

Want to break down your stay while at Neuschwanstein castle? Here are three accommodations nearby to stay in:

Schlossrestaurant Neuschwanstein

Only 10 minutes by bus from Fussen town, Schlossrestaurnt Neuschwanstein is in a central location with comfortable rooms. It is also 0.1 miles from the castle. Inside has a restaurant, free wifi, and vending machines. They speak German and English. 

Howies

If you prefer to do your own thing, you may want to stay in Hofweise apartments. It’s located 0.9 miles from the castle, and you get the whole apartment to stay inside. Likewise a 20-minute hike to Marienbrücke.

Romantic-Pension Albrecht 

Operating since 1902, Romantic-Pension Albrecht is a cosy bed and breakfast. It is right beneath the castle and has gorgeous views of it too. Similarly, it is only a 10-minute walk to Alpsee lake and a 25-minute walk to Schwansee Lake.

Well, is Neuschwanstein Castle worth a day of your life? We can’t answer that; we recommend going and checking out for yourself. If you have visited, comment below and share your experience.

For more castle-related articles please visit our blog section

Best castles by country

Find the best castles to visit next

Find out more

Lists o top castles around the world.

Which Castle is the Disney Castle Modeled After?

We all love and know that icon of icons, the Disney castle! It triggers memories of fantasy worlds and happy times. Is the castle just the stuff of imagination, or is there a real Disney castle on which Disney modeled his design?

Disney Castle

Well, the answer is yes, there is a real castle behind the Disney castles. The Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella Castles specifically are modeled on the Neuschwanstein Castle near the town of Fussen in Bavaria, Germany. 

Neuschwanstein Castle perches on top of a hill in the Bavarian Alps for all the world like a castle from Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty. 

Best Castles by Country

A real fairytale castle

Neuschwanstein castle Germany a fairytale castle
Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle means New Swan Castle in English and it’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. In fact, over 1 300 000 people visit it every year.

It was built in the nineteenth century by King Ludwig II. You only need to look at the castle to know why he was called the Fairytale King. The castle is all turrets and towers and medieval mystery.

It was this magical look that gave Walt Disney his inspiration for the Disney castles that feature so prominently in his films and at Disneylands around the world. And it came to be, of course, the universally recognised logo of the Walt Disney companies. 

King Ludwig’s inspiration

Neuschwanstein castle Germany a fairytale castle in Bavaria. Which inspired Walt Disney.
Neuschwanstein Castle Germany

It’s clear this king loved beautiful things. In designing Neuschwanstein Castle, he looked to the great composer Richard Wagner for his inspiration.

As you move through the castle, you can see how lovingly Wagner’s operas and characters are reflected in the interiors of many of the castle’s majestic rooms. 

At the same time, the King also liked his comforts. Yes, the castle was more modern than you might think. 

At first sight, Neuschwanstein Castle may seem to hark back to the middle ages, but it was built with all the modern technology that 19th century Europe had to offer.

It boasted flushing toilets on every floor and an air heating system for the whole castle. No freezing baronial halls for these ladies and knights!

Unfinished business

King Ludwig II began building his castle in 1869. The project was intended to take three years to complete.

But this Fairytale King must have been something of a perfectionist as construction ran on and on and on. 

He died in 1886 before the castle was finished. In fact, the great Throne Room – of Byzantine proportion and occupying two stories of the castle – did not yet feature a throne.

The world’s first Disney castle

The world was treated to its first view of Walt Disney’s fantasy castle in 1950 when the now-classic animation, Cinderella, was released.

Sleeping Beauty Castle was opened at Disneyland, California.
Sleeping Beauty Castle

Imagine the excitement in 1955 when the first real-life Sleeping Beauty Castle was opened at Disneyland, California. Families could literally visit a castle straight from the storybooks!

This Sleeping Beauty Castle is the oldest of the Disney castles and is the only one whose construction was overseen by Walt Disney himself.

You can almost smell the fresh winds as they blow off the Bavarian Alps, or hear the grinding of an ancient drawbridge. The similarities are undeniable.

Disney’s dizzying heights

The Sleeping Beauty Castle is 23m high. Cleverly, the original designer, Roland E Hill, used ways to make the castle seem much taller.

He designed elements that were larger at the base and progressively smaller towards the top.

This illusion was taken even further when the castle was given a makeover in 2019. The pink shades at the base of the castle were made a little richer.

Then they were gradually lightened towards the top of the castle to give the effect of great height

It’s as if this magic castle really does reach up to the skies. 

If tall castles are your favourites, don’t skip the article about the tallest castles in the world you can visit.

Enchanted visits

When you begin your walk through the Sleeping Beauty Castle, you step into a fairytale.

Scenes from the story of Princess Aurora come to life with 3D models and dramatic sound and special effects.

It begins with the announcement of the birth of Princess Aurora. As you wind through the passages and rooms of the castle, you are treated to a view of the baby Aurora as she receives magic gifts from the fairy godmothers.

You see the king and queen watching as all the spinning wheels in the land are burned.

And of course, there is the plot changing scene where everyone in the castle sleeps and sleeps.

Highlights of the story unfold as you walk through the castle: you meet the wicked Maleficent, the charming Prince and fiery dragons.

Disney castle snippets

There is no definitive Disney castle. The Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella Castles are both Disney flagship castles.

You can see a Cinderella castle at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida or at Tokyo Disneyland.

Disney Cinderella's castle Disney World , castles
cinderella’s castle

Like the Sleeping Beauty Castle, the design was inspired by real and fictional palaces and castles of Europe such as Versailles, the spire of Notre Dames de Paris and the Moszna Castle in Poland.

Again, designers point to Neuschwanstein Castle as the main inspiration. 

The Florida castle took nearly two years to complete and stands around 58m high. More than 30m taller than the Sleeping Beauty Castle in California.

Interestingly, the Sleeping Beauty Castle in Paris Disneyland needed some special attributes to help it compete with the real castles and palaces that families in Europe are used to seeing.

So it, too, is taller and bigger than the original Sleeping Beauty Castle, standing some 51m high.

It receives regular fun and exciting overlays to celebrate anniversaries or the launch of a new film. And … there is a dragon to be seen in its depths that weighs 2500kg!

A castle to look forward to

Disney castle fans can look forward to the reopening of the Hong Kong Sleeping Beauty Castle in late 2020.

Rumour has it that the new-look castle will showcase all the Disney princesses we’ve learned to know and love. 

If their fifth-anniversary overlay is anything to go by, we can expect this to be spectacular.

That celebration saw the castle shimmer as Tinker Bell’s Pixie Dusted Castle. The gold pixie dust glistened in the sun by day and was lit up at night.

Disney castles around the world

Summary

Walt Disney visited many castles around Europe for his inspirations, but Neuschwanstein Castle is one that had a profound impact on him.

Later building all the fairytale castles in the Disney empire he gave Neuschwanstein tremendous popularity among the travellers and fans of Disney.

Thanks for reading this article and we have many more interesting facts about castles in our blog section.