Bavaria's Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the world's most extraordinary buildings. A symbol of German identity, the castle dreamed up by King Ludwig II is also inextricably linked to his tragic fate.

With its towers, turrets, frescoes, and throne hall, Neuschwanstein Castle looks like it was plucked straight from a medieval fairy tale. But the truth is that this over-the-top palace nestled in the ...