Long Ago, In a Land Far Away ...

This is the castle Neuschwanstein in south Bavaria. Built by King Ludwig (sometimes known as Mad Ludwig, maybe for his crazy architectural ideas?).

It's comparatively young (19th century) and is supposedly the model for Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle. It has a fascinating history, of which I remember almost nothing.

All I remember is an unexpectedly cold, barren interior, with tapestries on the walls. I remember one in particular, faded red, depicting scenes from Wagnerian opera.

And I remember, "Entschuldigen Sie, bitte. Wo ist das badezimmer? Schnell?"

It's beautiful, though, from a distance. Like so many things.