The Bavarian royal castles of Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, and Herrenchiemsee attract more than 2.7 million visitors each year, who are captivated by the bizarre, mysterious personality of their builder, Ludwig II. These castles, along with the hunting lodge Schachen, were Ludwig's dream and fairy tale world, where the legendary king retreated to indulge in his majestic fantasies. In 1886, at the age of only 41, Ludwig died under still unclear circumstances. This richly illustrated and informatively written volume presents over 100 images that showcase the eternal fascination of the fairy tale king Ludwig and his magnificent castles.