King Ludwig II of Bavaria, often called the "Fairytale King," commissioned the construction of three major finished or semi-finished castles, though he had several other projects in various stages of planning. His most famous masterpiece is Neuschwanstein Castle, the inspiration for the Sleeping Beauty Castle, which was never fully completed inside despite its global fame. His second major project was Linderhof Palace, the only one he lived to see completely finished; it is a compact, opulent "Royal Villa" inspired by Versailles. His third was the Herrenchiemsee New Palace, intended to be a grander replica of Versailles on an island, which also remained largely unfinished after his death. Additionally, he built the King’s House on Schachen, a more modest alpine wooden lodge with an incredible "Turkish Room." As of 2025, these four sites are officially recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Serial Property. While he planned several other extravagant retreats like Falkenstein, they never progressed beyond the foundation or design stages before his mysterious death in 1886.