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Signage at the starting point at the Museum of the Bavarian KingsPhoto: CC BY-ND, Füssen Tourismus und Marketing
Idyllic route with views of the Alpsee and the Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles.
The Alpsee was the rowing, fishing, and bathing area for the royal family during their summer stays at Hohenschwangau Castle. Already at the age of fifteen, Ludwig II swam across the Alpsee in 22 minutes from the boat hut in 1860. In August 1861, Ludwig wrote to his grandfather: “Recently I caught an eight-pound pike, which pleased me so much that I had it (...) photographed.” The Hohenschwangau Castle chronicle reports on an open-air performance on November 21, 1865: “After the fireworks, the scene of the arrival of the Swan Knight from Wagner’s Lohengrin was depicted on the Alpsee. A large, naturally and artistically shaped swan pulled a boat with Lohengrin (Wing adjutant Prince Paul of Thurn and Taxis) across the Alpsee; the Swan Knight with boat and swan was splendidly illuminated by electric light. During this, the music played the fitting pieces from Lohengrin. The following evening, this scene was repeated by the King’s highest order.”
Author’s recommendation
Take a swim break at the beautiful Alpseebad or rent a boat at the boat rental. A visit to the Museum of the Bavarian Kings is also worthwhile.
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Tips and suggestions
www.fuessen.de/tipps-wandern
www.fuessen.de/aktiv-in-der-natur
Did you know? ... the royal traces of the Alpsee ...
The clear mountain lake at the foot of the Alps beneath Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein castles attracted royal highnesses and their guests as early as the 19th century. “The journey across the lake surrounded by great Alps (...) this and everything at and from that place belonged to the moments of life that one keeps forever.”, wrote the poet Hans Christian Andersen after visiting Hohenschwangau in a thank-you letter to Ludwig’s father, King Max II.
Ludwig and his little brother Otto also loved swimming in the lake or crossing it in rowing boats. “The weather is wonderful, pleasant for outings, riding, fishing, and bathing. We fish every day, one day one of us fishes in the Alpsee, the other in the Schwansee; I catch a pike almost every day; (...) I now always read while fishing, which goes well together. (...)”, wrote the young Prince Ludwig in a letter.
Queen Marie, Ludwig’s mother, also loved the crystal-clear mountain lake. During summer months in her lifetime, it was quite possible to find the Queen fishing on the shore of the lake. The Marienmonument still commemorates her today. A memorial stone erected at her bathing spot.
... the royal traces of Neuschwanstein Castle ...
Soon after King Ludwig II ascended the Bavarian throne, the desire grew to build a castle on the slope opposite Hohenschwangau Castle: “I intend to rebuild the old castle ruins (...) at the Pöllatschlucht in the style of real German knight castles and must confess to you that I very much look forward to living there one day (...)”. The foundation stone was laid in 1869 in the absence of the then 24-year-old Ludwig II. Throughout the entire construction phase, the royal builder personally visited the site as often as possible. Despite some interruptions, the work steadily advanced over the following seventeen years.
Only one guest had the honor to visit Neuschwanstein Castle during Ludwig’s lifetime. The King surprised his mother on her 60th birthday with a private tour of his “new castle.” Ludwig II was allowed to live in Neuschwanstein Castle for just 172 days. He practically took up residence on a construction site because the work was still ongoing. After his mysterious death in 1886, construction completely stopped. To this day, Ludwig II’s fairy-tale castle remains unfinished.
... the royal traces of Hohenschwangau Castle ...
Only a few weeks after his birth, the newborn Prince Ludwig, the future King Ludwig II, spent his first time on land at his father’s castle. The royal family loved summers at Hohenschwangau Castle in rural seclusion. “Otto and I are healthy and cheerful. Every day we take beautiful walks, pick flowers, catch fish in the Alpsee, and chase butterflies.”, wrote the young Prince Ludwig in a letter. For Ludwig’s mother, Queen Marie, Hohenschwangau was a place of refuge and strength. After the death of her husband King Max II, Ludwig II fulfilled her wish and made it her widow’s residence.
The castle on the edge of the Alps has a long history. Parts of the former Schwanstein Castle date back to the 12th century.
Not only King Ludwig II, his parents, and his brother lived here. Ludwig’s uncle and successor to the throne, Prince Regent Luitpold, as well as his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren occupied parts of the castle until the 1980s.
www.fuessen.de/royal-hiking
Roadbook
From parking lot P4 in Hohenschwangau, turn right onto Fürstenstraße and follow the signs for the "Alpsee Circular Route." After a few meters, you will reach a detour to Pindarplatz, a worthwhile viewpoint. Then continue always along the shore around the lake. Soon you will reach the Marienmonument, a nice stop to enjoy the view of Neuschwanstein Castle at the other end of the lake. On the hike, you will pass footbridges and small bridges, making this beautiful route varied. Finally, you reach the Alpsee bathing area. Shortly after the Alpsee bathing area, the hiking trail splits; keep left here. This path runs directly along the shore. Past the boat rental, it is only a few meters to the starting point of the route.
Marienmonument am Alpsee
Public transport
From the main train stations Ulm, Augsburg, and Munich, you can find regular train connections to Füssen.
From Füssen train and bus station, lines 73 and 78 operate regularly to Hohenschwangau, stop Hohenschwangau/Neuschwanstein Castles.
From Hopfen you can reach the starting point by line 56 to Füssen (station), then transfer to line 73 or 78 to Hohenschwangau, stop Hohenschwangau/Neuschwanstein Castles.
From Weißensee you can reach the starting point by line 71 to Füssen (station), then transfer to line 73 or 78 to Hohenschwangau, stop Hohenschwangau/Neuschwanstein Castles.
Directions
From Füssen, take the B17 towards Schwangau. After the Lech bridge or in Schwangau, follow the signposts on the right for "Hohenschwangau / King's Castles".
Parking
The parking lot directly at the Alpsee (P4) is subject to fees.
Coordinates
Book recommendations for this region:
Recommended maps for this region:
Localization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
User Questions