Even in its own time, the Neuschwanstein Castle was built for novelty and romanticism. Originally called New Hohenschwangau Castle, it was a project commissioned by Ludwig II to be built upon the ruins of two older castles, neither of which were incorporated into the new plan. I visited the castle twice–once in November of 2002, and again in June of 2003. I couldn’t believe that a castle such as this was simply built for Ludwig’s pleasure. The setting in which Neuschwanstein was built is absolutely breathtaking and the views from the castle windows are stunning. While touring Neuschwanstein’s magnificent interior I peered out the glass of every window we passed by to gaze upon the beautiful landscape. The castle is nestled near two lakes, framed by distant mountains, and on the opposite side it overlooks wide-open greenery with yet another lake. Part of my June visit involved exploring the exterior of Neuschwanstein. We hiked through the surrounding wooded area to discover a waterfall with a suspension bridge (Marienbrücke, or Queen Mary’s Bridge) far above it. My sister and I jumped into the pool of water at the bottom of the fall, to realize that the temperature was unbearable. Soon after scrambling out of the water, I noticed that it was apparently cold enough to preserve the body of a dead frog. The Neuschwanstein Castle is one of many that I visited while living overseas, and it is by far my favorite.