Fairytale Castle Neuschwanstein, Schwangau, Bavaria, Germany

Sometime during his 1864-1883 reign, King Ludwig II of Bavaria grew tired of bickering ministers, international scheming, and dreams of empire building—in short, politics. A big fan of music and drama, especially Richard Wagner's vivid operas about German mythic heroes, the king had a flair for the fantastical. And though his focus on frivolous pursuits rather than matters of state earned him a chiding nickname, 'The Fairytale King,' the castle he left as his legacy is one of Germany's most beloved symbols.Construction began on Neuschwanstein Castle in 1868, and though it was never finished, it's one of the world's most visited castles, drawing almost a million and a half people per year. And it's a pop culture landmark just as much as a historical one: The famous castle at Disneyland in California was directly inspired by Neuschwanstein.