The Sleeping Beauty is hands down my favorite ballet of all time. The story, Petipa’s choreography, the ornate costumes, the elaborate sets… the music? Well, it was good enough for Disney filmmakers to use for the melodies for ballads and background music in the 1959 animated film. Once I found out that Walt Disney based Princess Aurora’s iconic pad on Neuschwanstein Caste, there was no doubt in my mind (much to B’s dismay), that I must see it.

There is a bit of scandal surrounding the castle commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria’s. Ultimately, it is where he was forcibly taken into custody which led to his mysterious death only a day later. You can read more about Ludwig’s drama here.

There are guided tours through the unfinished castle which is furnished. Tiny servant quarters are accessible to view. Elaborate carvings are almost overwhelming in detail. The mosaic floor in the throne room (sans throne) boasts over 2 million pieces! Murals of Richard Wagner’s operas adorn the walls and tons of gleaming copper pots line the kitchen. Talk about a chef’s fantasy.

The day was beautiful and cool enough to make the walk (which is easy enough to do in slightly wedged boots) comfortable, so after viewing the castle, we hiked to Marienbrücke (Queen Marie’s Bridge) for a truly spectacular view. It was like a fairytale.