The Bavarian Alps are probably the most popular tourist destination in Germany and it’s easy to see why. In winter, the region attracts with its skiing resorts, while in summer the Alps are great for hikers. There are pristine lakes, forests, beautiful baroque churches and fairytale castles, with King Ludwig II’s Schloss Neuschwanstein being the unparalleled favourite.
If you decide to linger a bit longer in the area, I would recommend staying in Füssen. The final stop on the popular Romantic Road and the highest town in Bavaria at 808 metres above sea level, Füssen sits on the banks of the fast-flowing river Lech. It has a lovely old town with a hilltop castle and the former abbey of St Mang right below it. Both are worth a visit. Right before the bridge to cross the river there is a little rococo church, called Heilig Geist Spital Kirche, with an unusual red façade and beautifully painted interior.
Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles are less than 10 minutes away by bus (which leaves from opposite the train station). The only way to look round the castles is on guided tours, and due to the enormous popularity of both attractions, you may need to wait a couple of hours until your admission time. If you’re visiting during the summer, a good way to pass time is to hire a paddle boat on nearby Alpensee, and get a glimpse of both castles. I really enjoyed the panorama that unfolded, of wild, rugged landscapes with densely forested mountains and steep granite cliffs.
You can make use of many hiking paths in the area. Right across the river from Füssen, the Kalvarienberg mountain rises steeply up to almost 1,000 metres. There is a trail lined with little chapels that starts on Tirolerstrasse, goes to the top of the mountain, where you can rest and take in the 360-degree view of the area, and descends to the shores of Schwansee, a smaller lake on the other side of the mountain.
It takes about an hour and a half to reach Schwansee, but the terrain is thoroughly hilly. After all the climbing I took the pleasure in taking a swim in the cool waters of Schwansee with a rather wild and mystical alpine ambience.
I recommend taking the Lonely Planet guide to Munich, Bavaria and the Black Forest and for a map, the Kompass 1:50 000 Füssen Ausserfern (4).
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Author: Vadim Tsaikovski