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Neuschwanstein Castle

Theme Park Guy Rating: 4444
Date Visited:
September 29, 2009

Review

Walt Disney was here! Shortly after the Second World War the mastermind toured Europe seeking inspiration for his envisioned Disneyland park in Southern California.

Neuschwanstein Castle, the dream castle built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria celebrating Richard Wagner's operas, opened as late as 1886 (many people think it's much older). Disney and his architects fell in love with the castle and emulated its turrets and many other features in their magic copy 10,000 kilometers away in Los Angeles.

Observing the gargoyles on the walls, one might get the idea that the Pirates of the Caribbean had their origins here and the dripstone grotto room within the castle looks like the fetus of Big Thunder Mountain. A closer inspection of the castles in Disneyland Anaheim and Hong Kong Disneyland reveals a lot of further similarities.

What fascinates me is that at the time when Disney visited Neuschwanstein, the ‘classic’ German castle wasn’t any older than Disneyland is today!


Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany

Castle courtyard Castle courtyard

It's an imaginative place! It's an imaginative place!

Neuschwanstein Castle, with the Alps in the background Neuschwanstein Castle, with the Alps in the background

Tourists, in peace with the world Tourists, in peace with the world

The camera and I The camera and I

Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

King Ludwig II of Bavaria, the builder of this castle King Ludwig II of Bavaria, the builder of this castle

Inside the castle Inside the castle

More castle views. It's an amazing place to visit! More castle views. It's an amazing place to visit!

Artificial stalactite cave inside the castle - the ancestor of Big Thunder Mountain? Artificial stalactite cave inside the castle - the ancestor of Big Thunder Mountain?

Bavaria in the background Bavaria in the background

A model of the castle in the castle A model of the castle in the castle

Neuschwanstein Castle, undergoing renovation in 2009 Neuschwanstein Castle, undergoing renovation in 2009

Unreal natural beauty surrounding the castle Unreal natural beauty surrounding the castle

Sad place: a woman fell from a cliff here decades ago Sad place: a woman fell from a cliff here decades ago

More Bavaria More Bavaria

Neuschwanstein Castle from above Neuschwanstein Castle from above

The Alps, with another castle on the right The Alps, with another castle on the right

Panoramic view Panoramic view

Castle entrance Castle entrance

Entering the courtyard Entering the courtyard

Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate's Life For Me? Walt Disney was here in the 1930s Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate's Life For Me? Walt Disney was here in the 1930s

Anaheim and the heart of Europe have something in common Anaheim and the heart of Europe have something in common