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Ludwig’s death didn’t clarify anything. It’s a to an open railing. This viewpoint is a photographer’s
complicated story involving castle construction debts, dream; a place for selfies and magazine covers. (And
a covetous uncle, charges of insanity, a kidnapping, a the ravine below is, according to Dani, “a graveyard for
drowning in waist-deep water, and an unconvincing colorful phone cases.”)
autopsy. All adding to the legend of Ludwig and his From here, the castle is pure romance. Soaring
castle. turrets, blue roof tiles, impregnable walls. It looks
If there’s a single spot that captures Neuschwanstein like a page from an illustrated manuscript. It doesn’t
extravagance, it may be outside the gaudy rooms. matter that Neuschwanstein’s builders used powered
Not far from the castle gates several trails branch off equipment to lift its massive stones, not an army
into the surrounding forest. I took one that skirted the of peasants; or that Ludwig’s rooms were partially
castle’s base then wound through woods. Eventually I illuminated by electric lights and warmed by a central
came to a scrum of more than 50 tourists on a bridge heating system. This is Camelot by the Alps.
above a rugged ravine. That hasn’t changed since 1969.
I had to wait my turn but finally squeezed through

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