Java Project: Failed to load ApplicationContext

Looks like you are using maven (src/main/java). In this case put the applicationContext.xml file in the src/main/resources directory. It will be copied in the classpath directory and you should be able to access it with

@ContextConfiguration("/applicationContext.xml")

From the Spring-Documentation: A plain path, for example "context.xml", will be treated as a classpath resource from the same package in which the test class is defined. A path starting with a slash is treated as a fully qualified classpath location, for example "/org/example/config.xml".

So it's important that you add the slash when referencing the file in the root directory of the classpath.

If you work with the absolute file path you have to use 'file:C:...' (if I understand the documentation correctly).