Appearing in the German landscape as almost a fairytale castle, Neuschwanstein, which was not selected, was the brainchild of Ludwig II, King of Bavaria. After losing control of his military in an alliance with Prussia, Ludwig II mended his ego by building the most grand castle he could dream up -- according to the castle's website, "his own kingdom, in the form of his castles and palaces, where he could be a real king."