Waterfall at Pöllat Gorge near Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria, Germany

© Gary Whitton/Alam

Thundering through Bavaria

Our view of this dramatic waterfall comes from a footbridge spanning Pöllat Gorge, near the town of Füssen in Bavaria, Germany. Marienbrücke (or Mary's Bridge) was originally built in 1845 by King Maximilian II of Bavaria in honour of his wife. The bridge was later rebuilt by his son, King Ludwig II, who replaced the wooden railings with an iron structure.

The bottom of the gorge is about 90m (295ft) below the bridge, so it is not really suitable for vertigo sufferers. For those with a head for heights, however, it is a popular destination from which to photograph the nearby 19th-century Neuschwanstein Castle. One of Germany’s most visited castles, the palace was commissioned by Ludwig II as a retreat and to honour the German composer Richard Wagner, of whom he was a great admirer.