UNESCO on 12 July added four 19th-century Bavarian royal residences—Neuschwanstein, Herrenchiemsee, Linderhof and the King’s House at Schachen—to its World Heritage list. The unanimous decision, taken during the organisation’s 47th session in Paris, recognises the architectural and cultural significance of the palaces commissioned by King Ludwig II. Construction of the castles began in 1869 and halted with Ludwig’s death in 1886. Their theatrical mix of medieval fantasy and then-modern technology has made them global tourist draws; Neuschwanstein alone receives roughly 1.4 million visitors a year and famously inspired Walt Disney’s studio logo. Bavarian state premier Markus Söder welcomed the designation as a “worldwide accolade” and a boon for regional heritage. While the UNESCO label is not tied to new funding, it obliges Germany to preserve the sites and is expected to further raise their international profile, sharpening debate over how to balance conservation with already heavy visitor traffic.