Füssen attracts visitors with its historic old town, picturesque location in the Allgäu and proximity to the famous royal castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau. A day trip from Munich is well worthwhile.
- The history of Füssen
- Exploring Füssen's historical sights
- The royal castles Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau
- Experiencing nature around Füssen
- Tips for eating out in the city
- Travelling from Munich to Füssen
During Roman times, the Via Claudia Augusta ran through what is now the town of Füssen. In the 8th century, the Mang Monastery was founded by the bishops of Augsburg and, together with the Hohes Schloss, is one of the town's most important historical buildings. In the centuries that followed, Füssen became an important centre for trade, but the town eventually became world-famous for violin and lute making – the latter is a Renaissance musical instrument similar to the guitar. Today, Füssen is particularly popular as a cultural and spa town and is a favourite destination for tourists from all over the world due to its proximity to Schloss Neuschwanstein.
A short walk through the historic old town is enough to soak up the unique atmosphere of baroque houses and winding alleyways. Then a delicious cappuccino in the traditional Bio Café Baumgarten and the perfect day out is complete. If you want to experience more, you can visit the Hohes Schloss, one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Bavaria. The branch gallery of the Bavarian State Painting Collections is particularly worth a visit. Mang Monastery is also worth a visit, as the former Benedictine monastery now houses the town museum.
Most visitors to Füssen come to the region to see the world-famous Schloss Neuschwanstein up close. The fairytale architecture offers numerous great photo opportunities, and you can also take a guided tour to learn interesting facts about the advanced construction methods – and that the romantic fairytale castle was the inspiration for the Disney logo. Whilst you're there, Schloss Hohenschwangau is located nearby. King Ludwig II spent his childhood in this residence. The neo-Gothic building is picturesquely situated with a view of the Alpsee. Particularly noteworthy is the beautiful starry sky ceiling in the king's bedroom.
Glittering lakes and alpenglow – the region around Füssen is a popular excursion destination for all nature lovers and those who enjoy an active holiday. It is a wonderful place for hiking and cycling, while the Forggensee, Hopfensee and Weißensee (lakes) are also ideal for swimming and boating. The Lech Falls offer a wonderful natural spectacle, where the Lech plunges picturesquely into a gorge over a constructed barrage. Also worth mentioning is the Ziegelwies Walderlebniszentrum, which also provides variety for families with children with interactive exhibitions and a treetop path.
The cuisine in Füssen places great value on regional ingredients and offers a selection ranging from Bavarian delicacies to sophisticated specialities. The restaurant ‘Zum Hechten’ serves fantastic Allgäu Kässpätzle. The speciality? The right cheese mixture makes all the difference, then the dish is briefly tossed in the pan, topped with fried onions and that's it. When visiting Füssen, Allgäu Kässpätzle are a must!
Tradition meets a modern twist in the ‘Frühlingsgarten’ restaurant. We recommend the local steak with brown bread, mountain cheese, radish and marinated spinach. The dumplings with mountain cheese and curry mango chutney are also temptingly delicious.
The famous ‘Gasthaus zum Schwanen’ is located in a 500-year-old building where the monks of the St. Mang monastery used to brew their beer. Freshwater salmon is served here, the game comes directly from Hohenschwangau and the Spätzle are freshly planed.
Train from Munich: approx. 2 hours. More information on www.bahn.de
By car: approx. one and a half hours via A96
