Guest Senior Correspondent Phil K., Pittsburgh PA: When conjuring the image of a children’s imaginary castle, something similar to the Neuschwanstein image appears. The 19th century marvel may actually be the inspiration for Disney's Cinderella theme park castles.

We visited the castle and were amazed by both the traditional design and location, perched high atop a mountain. It's a great example of a king, having fantastic vision and resources to fulfill his dream. The castle was built by King Ludwig II, with the cornerstone laid in 1869. History reports that the entire design and construction was a tribute to the Medieval age of classic German knights and legends the Holy Grail.

We visited Neuschwanstein Castle while on a Rhine River cruise through Germany and Austria. The castle is located at the top of a hill above the small village of Hohenschwangau. A very popular tourist destination, the castle is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in winter (mid-October through March) and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in summer. No admission New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Neuschwanstein Castle is located in the Bavaria region of Germany, about two and a half hours from Munich. The village of Hohenschwangau is easily accessible by road or rail. The surrounding area of Bavaria and the Black Forest region are all ideal parts of Germany for senior tourists to explore and enjoy.