Walt Disney chose Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany, as the primary inspiration for Sleeping Beauty Castle because he wanted a symbol that embodied the quintessential "fairytale" aesthetic. During a 1935 tour of Europe with his brother Roy, Walt was struck by the dramatic, slender turrets and the cliffside romanticism of the structure, which was originally built by King Ludwig II. Disney's lead designer, Herb Ryman, utilized the castle’s verticality and faux-Romanesque style to create a visual "beacon" for Disneyland that would draw guests into Fantasyland while remaining visible from the park entrance. Interestingly, while the exterior mimics Neuschwanstein’s silhouette, the scale was significantly reduced to fit the theme park environment, and the color palette—specifically the bright blue roofs—was chosen by Disney to blend with the sky and make the castle appear taller. Today, the influence of Neuschwanstein is so pervasive that it has become the foundation for the Walt Disney Pictures logo and the architectural "standard" for fairytale castles in modern pop culture.