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Hiking Trail
· Allgäu
King's Dream - Circular hike around Falkenstein in Pfronten
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Falkenstein ruins, Breitenberg and Aggenstein in the backgroundPhoto: Deutschland abgelichtet, Pfronten Tourismus
This dreamlike hike to the Falkenstein castle ruins offers places full of power and unique views. The full-day route leads after the ascent to Falkenstein over a ridge, the back of the "guardian dragon", to the four-lake viewpoint at Salober and back to Pfronten via Vils.
The circular hiking trail around the Falkenstein initially leads to the Falkenstein castle ruins, the place where King Ludwig wanted to build his last castle. It is no coincidence that this route is called "King's Dream". The path continues over the Zirmgrat, which runs like the back of a guardian dragon along the ridge and separates Austria and Germany. With Austria to the right and the Allgäu foothills to the left, impressive views of the surrounding valleys open up along the way. At the four-lake viewpoint, the expanse of the Allgäu lake district unfolds before the descent follows via the Salober Alm and the Altasee to Vils. On foot, the route continues, always with Falkenstein in view, back to Vils.
How the "King's Dream" got its name:
"For centuries I have lain here above. I am just a plain, gray piece of rock and yet I am so much more. I was born in the lap of the mountains, humans sheltered and shaped me and made me part of a castle, a stone in the crown of the sleeping dragon. Thus more than 700 years ago, I became a threat display of Tyrol. I felt strong and powerful, nothing could shake me, no enemy too strong could conquer me, revered by the people in the valley with awe. However, the castle was nothing more than the boasting of a count, a structure in an inhospitable location without strategic use, eventually abandoned and destroyed by its own people. But even if the walls crumbled, I and my kind lost none of our strength.
One day a king came who could feel the power. He was a dreamer, he did not build his castles as a sign of power but as places to escape reality. His fairy-tale castles, which you probably know, made his name immortal – Ludwig II. And this very king recognized in the ruins where I rest the outlines of a new castle, mightier and more magnificent than anything he had built before.
Now you may wonder why I am still here and not this dream of a castle in my place? Well, fate wanted it so that the king died before it could come to that. His dream failed and yet it became a part of me."
Author’s recommendation
Be sure to visit the viewing platform within the Falkenstein castle ruins. The ruins are the highest castle complex in Germany. Count Meinhard II of Tyrol had it built around 1270/80 purely as a threat to the Bavarian dukes. In 1646, the castle was burnt down by the Tyroleans for fear of the Swedes. Finally, in 1883, King Ludwig II of Bavaria acquired the ruins to build his vision of a robber baron’s castle in its place. A small castle museum below the ruins offers, alongside models and exhibits on the castle’s eventful history, an incomparable view.
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Rest stops
Salober Alm (1150 m)Tips and suggestions
Further information can be found on the local homepage of Pfronten: www.pfronten.de/aktiv/wandern-berg-tal
Roadbook
From the House of the Guests, the route first goes via the district of Meilingen towards Falkenstein. The path leads over pastures, then through the mountain forest, ascending steadily to the Schlossanger Alp. The ascent continues past the Mary Grotto and the Burghotel Falkenstein – here a stop and also a visit to the castle museum are worthwhile – up to the ruins of Falkenstein Castle. The viewing platform, freely accessible in summer, offers a dreamlike panorama: From the wide foothills of the Alps over the Ammergau Mountains and the Karwendel with the Zugspitze, the Lechtal and Tannheim peaks to the main ridge of the Allgäu. To the south, the high plateau of Breitenberg rises in front of the rugged peaks of Aggenstein. The path now follows the Zirmgrat, the "dragon’s back", leads over the ridge of the elongated mountain and culminates in the four-lake viewpoint, with Neuschwanstein Castle at its feet. On the descent, the Salober Alm invites you to a break, then the path passes the ruins of Vilsegg on the way to the town of Vils. From there, you take the level path along the Vils river or return by the Außerfernbahn to Pfronten.
Knight's playground
Meilingen hiking parking lot (€)
Mary's Grotto on the Falkenstein
Vier-Seen-Blick
Salober Alm (1150 m)
Pfronten-Steinach train station
Pfronten-Steinach Breitenberg / train station (Tälerbus station)
Public transport
Rail line: Außerfernbahn Pfronten-Ried station, Vils station; Public transport bus stop Pfronten-Ried with lines 71 and 56. Further information on public transport and current timetables for bus and train can be found at www.pfronten.de/service/bus-bahn-vor-ort.
Get Timetable to destination
Directions
Access via the B309Parking
Parking lot at Pfronten-Ried stationCoordinates
Book recommendations for this region:
Recommended maps for this region:
Equipment
Sturdy footwear, a backpack with provisions, and a rain jacket are recommended.
Localization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
User Questions
Unanswered