Hohenschwangau Castle. Bavaria, Germany Which originated in the the 12th Century at that time being known as - The fortress Schwangau , then being mentioned again in 1397 to having become abandoned and dilapidated until Maximilian II of Bavaria acquired it on April 1829 after discovering the historic site during a walking tour. More than 300,000 visitors from all over the world visit the palace each year. The castle is open all through the year (except for Christmas). Opening hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (April through September) and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (October through March). Guided tours are provided in German, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Czech, Slovenian, and Japanese. Self-guided tours are not available. info courtesy Wiki photo courtesy hannes