THE castle in Bavaria that was the inspiration behind Cinderella’s palace has just been given a brand-new status.
Found on a hilltop in , the sprawling castle has been awarded a title given to places that are deemed to be of ‘great importance to all of humanity’.
, or Schloss Neuschwanstein, is a 19th-century palace at the foot of the in the south of , near the border.
Inside the there are over 200 rooms, however only 14 are open to the public.
The highest tower reaches a height of 213 feet, but the palace appears much taller as it is on top of a hill.
The castle was built in 1869 after being commissioned by King Ludwig II, who was nicknamed the ‘Mad King Ludwig’, and was known for his love of extravagant palaces.
Sadly, King Ludwig II never saw the final Neuschwanstein, according to the Bavarian Castle Administration he died in 1886 and the final towers weren’t completed until 1892.
One man who did see the castle in all its glory was Walt .
He saw it on a trip to while travelling with his wife, and Walt used it as inspiration for his very own Disneyland.
Elements of it are used in the castle, which is the most recognisable building and logo of Disney.
Now, the site has officially been added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites.
As of July 2025, there are1,223UNESCO World Heritage Sites across across 168 countries.
The sites are chosen as cultural or natural locations around the world that are recognised for their “Outstanding Universal Value”;.
are deemed to be of ‘great importance to all of humanity’.
The decision was made to add the castle to the list in July 2025.
You can visit Neuschwanstein Castle by booking tickets online.
Prices for adults start at €23.50 (£23.32). Tickets for children up to 17 are just €2.50 (£2.16).
On the website, it is detailed that visiting the castle is only possible as part of a guided tour.
Outside of the castle walls, there’s another must-see which is Marienbrücke.
The bridge found in the castle grounds is suspended over a waterfall, making it a great viewpoint.
If you want to visit the castle, the closest airport is . offers direct flights which are just one hour 45 minutes long.
Flights from Stansted to Memmingen start at £21.99. From there, it’s an hour’s drive south to the castle.
Walt Disney also .
Here are .
