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Hiking in the footsteps of the Bavarian kings from castle to castle with panoramas to enjoy.
On this beginner-friendly route, all sightseeing highlights of the castle park region lie along the way and panoramas to melt away for. The route is especially beautiful in autumn when the leaves change color. From the Kalvarienberg viewpoint, enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the old town of Füssen, the lake-rich foothills of the Alps, and the royal castles Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein against an impressive mountain backdrop. From the Maxsteg, you have a good view into the narrow gorge of the Lechfall. The final highlight of the route is the High Castle, a landmark of the old town of Füssen, with colorful frescoes on the courtyard facades.
Author’s recommendation
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Tips and suggestions
Attention: Tickets for Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles and for the Museum of the Bavarian Kings are available exclusively online or at the Ticket Center in the town of Hohenschwangau.
www.fuessen.de/tipps-wandern
www.fuessen.de/aktiv-in-der-natur
www.fuessen.de/wandern
Did you know?
... the royal traces of Kalvarienberg Füssen ...
Around the same time as the reconstruction of Hohenschwangau Castle, work began on a Calvary on the Hutlerberg near Füssen. The royal family, who resided nearby in Hohenschwangau, learned of this project and visited the Calvary regularly. Crown Prince Max of Bavaria, the later King Max II and father of the fairy tale king Ludwig II, helped the initiator of the Calvary, city pastor Johann Baptist Graf, in obtaining a particularly revered relic, a particle of the cross, which found its way to Füssen in 1842. To honor this relic with dignity, a small tomb chapel was built below the three crosses, whose eternal light could be seen all the way to Hohenschwangau Castle.
A few weeks before his death, on Good Friday 1886, King Ludwig II visited the Calvary alone and prayed quietly at all its stations. An eyewitness reported: "Suddenly, when I came to the next station, I saw the king deeply absorbed in prayer. (...) Before the monarch turned away from the station again, he lifted his face to the cloud-covered sky. For a long time, a desperate, sorrowful, and pain-marked gaze lingered in the direction where he seemed to seek God. Then he passed his hand over his face to hide his tears."
... the royal traces of the Swan Lake Park ...
Below Hohenschwangau Castle, Crown Prince Max, the later King Max II and father of the fairy tale king Ludwig II, had a park laid out in the English style. Already during the first works in 1838, 5,000 trees and shrubs were planted. But also special flowers, herbs, and grasses found their way into the new setting. Paths were also laid out, running throughout the entire area. The royal family was always to be found here during their stays in Hohenschwangau. They strolled through the extensive park or took afternoon tea here.
... the royal traces of Lake Alp ...
The clear mountain lake at the foot of the Alps below the castles Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein already exercised a great attraction on the royal highnesses and their guests in the 19th century. "The ride across the lake surrounded by great Alps (...) this and all at and from that place belonged to the life moments that the individual keeps for all time.", wrote the poet Hans Christian Andersen after he had visited Hohenschwangau in his 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 rowboats. "The weather is wonderful, pleasant for outings, riding, fishing, and bathing. We fish every day, one day one of us fishes in Lake Alp, the other in Lake Swan; I catch a pike almost every day; (...) I now always read while fishing, which can be combined very well. (...)", wrote the young Prince Ludwig in a letter.
Queen Marie, Ludwig's mother, also loved the crystal-clear mountain lake. In the summer months during her lifetime, it was quite possible to find the queen fishing on the shore of the lake. The Marien Monument still commemorates her today. A memorial stone erected at her bathing spot.
... the royal traces of Marien Bridge ...
In the year of their wedding in 1842 Crown Prince Max, the later King Max II and father of Ludwig II, had a wooden bridge built over the Pöllat Gorge for his newlywed wife Marie. The bridge was named "Marien Bridge" after the gifted one. From here, one could enjoy a magnificent view of the ruins of the Vorder- and Hinterhohenschwangau castles, the site where Marie's son Ludwig II would build his Neuschwanstein Castle many years later. But the wooden construction soon became dilapidated and had to be completely renewed several times. Only Ludwig II had the wooden bridge replaced by an iron and steel construction, which still allows hikers to cross the Pöllat Gorge today.
... the royal traces of Neuschwanstein Castle ...
Shortly after King Ludwig II ascended the Bavarian throne, the desire matured to build a castle on the hill opposite Hohenschwangau Castle: "I intend to have the old castle ruins (...) at the Pöllat Gorge rebuilt in the style of the true German knight castles and must confess to you that I am very much looking forward to living there some day (...)". The foundation stone was laid as early as 1869 in the absence of Ludwig II, who was only 24 years old. During the entire construction phase, the royal builder made a point of visiting the construction site as often as possible himself. Despite some interruptions, work steadily progressed over the following seventeen years.
Only one guest was honored to visit Neuschwanstein Castle during Ludwig's lifetime. The king surprised his mother on her 60th birthday with a very private tour of his "New Castle." Ludwig II was only allowed to live in Neuschwanstein Castle for a total of 172 days. In doing so, he practically moved into a construction site as work was still in full swing. Due to his mysterious death in 1886, construction came to a complete stop. To this day, Ludwig II's fairy tale castle has not been completed.
... the royal traces of Hohenschwangau Castle ...
Only a few weeks after his birth, the newborn Prince Ludwig, the later King Ludwig II, spent his first stay on land in his father's castle. The royal family loved summers at Hohenschwangau Castle in rural seclusion. "Otto and I are healthy and happy. We take nice walks daily, pick flowers, catch fish in Lake Alp, and chase butterflies." wrote the young Prince Ludwig in a letter. Ludwig's mother, Queen Marie, also found Hohenschwangau to be 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 can look back on a long history. Parts of the former castle Schwanstein 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, his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren inhabited parts of the castle until the 1980s.
Roadbook
You start at the Tourist Information Füssen and cross Augsburg Street on the right at the traffic light and immediately afterward cross the street again at the traffic lights. You are now in the main pedestrian zone, Reichenstraße, which you follow in the direction of the High Castle. Past the town fountain, keep right and head towards the High Castle. Through the gate in the castle wall, you enter the Tree Garden and go left down to Faulenbach Alley. You walk right along the Lech riverbank to Bad Faulenbach. After the Max Chapel, turn left and follow the signs to "Lechfall/Maxsteg." At the end of Maxsteg, climb the stairs and cross Tiroler Straße to continue towards "Alpenrosenweg" before going above Lake Swan on the Alpenrosenweg to Hohenschwangau. At the end of Alpenrosenweg, at the junction "Alpenrosenweg/Fischersteig/Hohenschwangau," keep right and at the next fork turn left towards "Hohenschwangau Castle." After reaching the paved road, keep right and after a few minutes reach the village of Hohenschwangau. Past the Museum of the Bavarian Kings and the bus stop for the shuttle bus, turn right opposite Hotel Müller onto Fahrstraße, which takes you up on an asphalt road towards Neuschwanstein Castle. At the next fork, keep right and walk on the gravel path towards "Youth/Marien Bridge" to the shuttle bus stop. From the bus stop, a short detour leads to the Marien Bridge. After visiting the bridge, return and at the bus stop turn right towards "Neuschwanstein." Past Neuschwanstein Castle and the somewhat lower carriage square, follow the signposts "Hohenschwangau/Tegelberg" and descend right back to Hohenschwangau. At the end of the paved path, cross the parking lot and reach the central point in Hohenschwangau. Keep left past the Tourist Information Hohenwangau towards "Three-Castle Route." Soon turn left from the paved bike and hiking path and reach Lake Swan on a gravel path. At the next junction, keep right and walk along Lake Swan, passing two bathing jetties, further towards "Füssen." At the end of Lake Swan, turn left to follow the gravel path up towards "Three-Castle Route/Kalvarienberg/Füssen." At the second option to reach Kalvarienberg, turn right and hike up the narrow path. After reaching the viewing platform, descend on the opposite side and follow the signs "Three-Castle Route," passing the stations of the Stations of the Cross. Shortly after Marien Chapel, turn right and shortly thereafter left onto the path towards "Füssen." At the church "To Our Dear Lady", cross Tiroler Straße and keep right towards "Old Town." At Theresien Bridge, take the path on the left and reach the old town via Lechhalde. At the Museum of the Town of Füssen, turn right to Brotmarkt and its Lautenmacher Fountain. Continue straight to Brunnengasse, at the end of which lies Schrannenplatz. Keep right and turn left into the small passage to cross the main street at the traffic lights and reach the starting point, Tourist Information Füssen.
There are catering options only directly in Hohenschwangau and in Füssen on this route.
Lechfall waterfall and panorama plattform
Tourist Information Füssen
Public transport
From the long-distance train stations Ulm, Augsburg, and Munich, you will find regular train connections to Füssen. The starting point of the route at the Tourist Information is about a 5-minute walk from the station.
From Hopfen, you reach the starting point via line 56 to Füssen (station).
From Weißensee, you reach the starting point via line 71 to Füssen (station).
Directions
You can reach Füssen directly via the A7 motorway as well as federal roads B310, B16, and B17.
Parking
The parking guidance system in Füssen offers you several parking options. The paid parking garage P5 "City / Sparkasse" is located in the immediate vicinity of the Tourist Information.
Coordinates
Book recommendations for this region:
Recommended maps for this region:
Localization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
User Questions