Neuschwanstein places eighth for the strength of its nineteenth-century romantic vision. Construction began in 1869: this is a historicist palace, not a surviving medieval fortress. Its individual fantasy gives it the edge over Hohenzollern, but Chambord offers the more inventive spatial plan.
Interior visits require a timed guided tour. Allow time to reach the entrance and arrive for your slot; the exterior viewpoint is not the tour meeting point. Choose this for theatrical castle architecture, and compare the staged medieval appearance with its much later construction.
Sources: Official guide 1 · Official guide 2.
