Füssen, the romantic soul of Bavaria

Füssen is the romantic soul of Bavaria, a fairytale land of lakes, rolling hills and majestic mountains. Art and culture await you in the ancient city of Füssen and the nearby royal castles. Enchanted by the landscapes of this fascinating world, you’ll experience unforgettable moments. Expert health and wellness treatments are also available.

Worthy of a fairy tale

If Louis II of Bavaria has been dubbed the “fairytale king”, he owes it not least to the fairytale castles he had built: Neuschwanstein, Linderhof and Herrenchiesmsee. His tragic death in Lake Starnberg in 1886 remains a mystery to this day. Bavarians still honor his memory.

King Maximilian II of Bavaria, Ludwig’s father, had Hohenschwangau Castle built as a summer residence overlooking the valley below, as well as the idyllic Alpsee. Louis spent a happy childhood and adolescence here. The castle’s richly decorated rooms and period furnishings bring to life the daily life of the royal family, and are well worth a visit.

Castle life not far from Füssen

The castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau both stand between the plain and the high mountains. They are protected by the majestic peaks of the Alps and offer extensive views of the Pre-Alps and their many lakes, which appear as a large park surrounding the castles. Nowhere else along the Alpine chain is the romance of nature more palpable than here.

Pure romanticism

Traditions live on in Füssen. Visitors from all over the world experience its customs at first hand, for example at alphorn concerts on Lake Forggensee. A fascinating mountain panorama, a sparkling lake and the harmonious sound of alphorns: this is Bavaria at its best.

Overlooking the banks of the River Lech, the Benedictine monastery of St. Mang (St. Magnus) and the Hohes Schloss (Castle Fort) in Füssen are the town’s two jewels. Füssen has over 2000 years of history. Situated on an ancient Roman road and embedded in the Lech Valley, the town has always attracted visitors from many different countries. Even today, Füssen’s history is still very much alive in the romantic old town, which invites you to stroll and browse.

Discovering the old town

Originally, the Schrannenplatz was home to the town’s grain market. Today, historic parades brighten up life in this charming part of town. The Franciscan convent offers a magnificent view of the medieval town center. Next to the monastery are St Sebastian’s cemetery and the ancient city wall.

The Hospitalier Church of the Holy Spirit is a real eye-catcher. The richly decorated rococo façade of this church depicts St. Florian helping to prevent fires and St. Christopher who, as patron saint of sailors, occupies his rightful place on the stormy banks of the Lech.

The monastery and church of St. Mang (St. Magnus) overlook the town. The former Benedictine monastery dates back to the 9th century. Füssen architect Johann Jakob Herkomer (1652-1717) transformed these medieval buildings into a Baroque architectural complex. It now houses the municipality and the town’s cultural heritage museum. Of all Füssen’s Baroque churches, St. Magnus is the largest and most impressive.

Füssen’s Cultural Heritage Museum and its splendid Baroque halls give an idea of the former wealth of the St. Magnus Monastery. The museum also boasts one of Europe’s finest collections of early lutes and violins, as well as the impressive “Dance of Death” by Jakob Hiebeler (1602), the oldest mural depiction of a Dance of Death in Bavaria. The Fountain of the Violin Makers is a reminder of Füssen’s historical importance as the “cradle of violin making” in Europe.

Historic houses that once belonged to the nobility line the main shopping street, which follows the route of the ancient Roman road, Via Claudia Augusta. Built as a Roman military road under Emperor Claudius Augustus, the Via Claudia Augusta remained one of the most important crossings of the Alps well into modern times. Today, this road linking Upper Italy and the Danube is a popular tourist route.

Also not to be missed is the town fountain at the upstream end of Reichenstrasse, adorned with the statue of St. Mang (St. Magnus), Füssen’s patron saint.

Enjoy local specialities

A typical Bavarian snack (bayerische Brotzeitplatte) consists of ham, various types of sausage, spicy cheese and bread. Füssen’s restaurants will introduce you to the hospitality of the Allgäu region.

The tasty specialties of Bavarian cuisine have a long tradition. Baked white sausages are served with sweet mustard and a pretzel. Oven-prepared meat terrine is served with white or dark wheat beer. Roast pork sausages with sauerkraut are a favorite dish for many Bavarians.

Bavarian-style pig’s trotters are served grilled or roasted, usually topped with semolina or potato dumplings and accompanied by red cabbage, sauerkraut or chicory salad. A hearty Bavarian dish. Cheese spätzli is an Allgäu specialty made with pasta mixed with spicy Allgäu cheese and topped with oven-baked onion strips. Apple strudel is one of Bavaria’s finest desserts. It is served with whipped cream and, most often, a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Discovering the beauties of the Allgäu

Discover the Allgäu by boat! Cruise the Forggensee, Bavaria’s fifth-largest lake, and you’ll see the castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau, the ancient mountain town of Füssen and the surrounding Alpine peaks. Don’t forget your camera! Boats cruise the Forggensee from early June to mid-October. For the romantically inclined, we recommend that you don’t miss the sunsets on board our evening cruises.

The Füssen region stretches over hundreds of kilometers of hiking trails at three different heights, and boasts a network of bike paths covering some 1,500 km. The roads are lined with traditional inns, welcoming guesthouses and picturesque alpine huts.

Want to savor every moment? Surrounded by the grandiose mountain circus, walk the Allgaü with regal ease, on the smooth path along the Lech to the Forggensee, follow the flat Hopfensee and Weissensee trails and tour the lakes of the Faulenbach valley.

Salober-Alm: The starting point is the Morisse parking lot at Kemptener Straße. In front of the rock gate, the Felsentor, turn right onto the Unteren Kobelweg and climb up (same in opposite direction; in winter, this path is not cleared). You then follow the Hahnenkopf path to reach the “Zwei-Seen-Blick” with its panoramic view of the two lakes. From here, it’s downhill to the Alatsee, from whose northern shore you climb to the Salober alpine hut (Saloberalm) at 1087 m, which welcomes hikers. The return journey takes you through the forest of the Faulenbach valley, which is car-free. Route approx. 7 kilometers, 300 to 400 meters ascent, duration 4.5h to 5.5h.

Hopfensee: Departure from the Uferstraße parking lot in Hopfen am See, approx. 5 km from Füssen (to get there, take a Füssen public transport bus). This easy circuit offers enchanting views of the Tegelberg and Säuling mountains. Route approx. 7 km, 30 m ascent, duration 2 h to 2.5 h.