Neuschwanstein sits high on a rocky hill in the south of Germany, surrounded by mountains and a lake. It was built in the 1800s by King Ludwig II of Bavaria, who loved music, stories and wild scenery. He wanted a castle that looked like a dream.
Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle in California is based on Neuschwanstein - so if you have ever seen a Disney film, you have already seen Germany's most famous castle without knowing it. Walt Disney visited and was so amazed by it that he sketched a version for his theme parks.
Most German castles are far older - hundreds of years old. They were built on top of hills so the people inside could see far in every direction. Many sit beside the Rhine, a huge river that winds through Germany. You can take a boat along the Rhine and count a new castle around almost every bend.
These days most castles are open to visitors. Some are museums, some are hotels, and some are still ruins where children climb on the old stones and pretend to be knights. A few are even used by orchestras, who play music inside the great halls so the sound bounces off the thick stone walls.