Nestled in the mountains of Bavaria, the fairy-tale castle of Neuschwanstein (New Swan Castle) stands as a king's tribute to the chivalry and magic of a mythical age.

The castle was the brainchild of Bavaria's “mad” King Ludwig Ⅱ. Inspired by Richard Wagner's operas, the young King Ludwig sought to re-create the legendary dreamworld of medieval knights and heroes. Accordingly, he employed scenic artists, sculptors, and stonemasons to turn that dreamworld into concrete reality.

In consultation with Wagner and various theatrical designers, plans for the castle were drawn up and the foundations laid in 1869. No expense was spared. Fourteen sculptors spent four-and-a-half years to complete the wood carvings in the king's bedroom. The floor of the throne room was composed of no fewer than 2 million stones. In all, 15 rooms were completed. Most depict scenes from the king's favorite operas---especially “Lohengrin,” the “Swan Knight.”

Like many an opera, Ludwig's life ended in tragedy.His fascination with castles led government officials to rebel. They accused him of neglecting his duty and forced him to abdicate. The following day, Ludwig was found drowned---in six inches of water.

But the mad king's unfinished dream lives on---a tribute to a “once upon a time” that never was.

It became everyone's idea of a fairy-tale castle, and the prototype for Walt Disney's Castle of the Sleeping Beauty.

1. chivalry n. 骑士（精神）

2. brainchild n. 创作品，脑力创造物

3. depict v. 描绘

4. abdicate v. 让位

新天鹅堡，一座童话般的城堡，座落在巴伐利亚山，它是一位国王对骑士精神的颂扬，也展现了神话时代的魅力。

这座城堡是巴伐利亚（对城堡）“着迷”的国王路德维希二世奇想的产儿。年轻的路德维希国王受到瓦格纳歌剧的启发，想要再造传说中中世纪骑士英雄们的奇幻世界。因此，他雇了制造景观的艺术家、雕刻家和石匠，来將这个梦幻世界变为现实。

在与瓦格纳及多位剧场设计师商议后，画出了城堡的平面图，并于1869年奠基，不惜耗费巨资。14位雕刻家花了4年半的时间完成了国王卧室里的木雕品。王宫的地板至少由两百万块石头砌成。共建造了15个房间。多数绘画取材于国王最喜爱的歌剧场景，特別是“罗格恩林”，即“天鹅骑士”。

路德维希的生活就像许多歌剧一样，最终以悲剧告终。他对城堡的痴迷引起了政府官员们的反对。官员们谴责他荒废国事，并迫使他退位。第二天，有人发现路德维希溺死在6英寸深的水中。

然而这位“痴迷”的国王没有做完的美梦──对一个从未存在的“很久以前”（的童话）的颂扬，保存了下来。它成为所有人心目中童话城堡的形象，也成为了迪斯尼睡美人城堡的原型。