Tourist Attractions in Fussen

5km/3mi southeast of Füssen is Schloss Neuschwanstein, one of the "fairy tale castles" of King Ludwig II of Bavaria. This towered and battlement fantasy was built by E. Riedel in 1869-86 to the design of the stage painter Chr. Jank. Conducted tours of the sumptuous interior (Throne Room, Singers' Hall; views).

To the west of the town center in Füssen lies the outlying district of Bad Faulenbach (spring of sulfurous water, mud baths, natural baths). Beyond this, in the Faulenbach valley, are the Mittersee and Obersee (bathing stations).

Near the bridge over the Lech in Füssen is the Heilig-Geist-Spitalkirche, the church of the Hospital of the Holy Ghost, with a lively and colorful Roccoco facade (1748-49).

1km/0.75mi north of Füssen is the 11.5km/7mi long Forggensee, an artificial lake formed by the damming of the Lech (boat hire and excursions on the lake).

The Füssen Heritage Museum is located in the south-west wing of the former Benedictine Monastery of St Mang.

Exhibits include artifacts relating to the history and culture of the region, including a collection of musical instruments. A highlight of the collection are lutes and violins from the 16th to 19th century.

Above Füssen stands the Hohes Schloss, formerly the summer residence of the Prince-Bishops of Augsburg. Originally built in 1291, it has been little changed since around 1500. It is now occupied by local government offices (Knights' Hall, chapel and Staatsgalerie, with Gothic pictures and sculpture).

The Rittersaal or "Knight's Hall," is known for its stunning coffered ceiling. There's also a collection of Swabian art work from the 1400s to the 1700s.

South of Füssen is Schloss Hohenschwangau, a neo-Gothic castle built for King Maximilian II in 1832-36 to the design of the stage painter D. Quaglio (frescoes by Moritz von Schwindt).

The large hall also called the Hall of Heroes and Knights, takes up the whole width of the Castle. The ceiling of the hall features a pink background with silver stars. There are numerous royal bedrooms in Hohenschwangau Castle with painted walls and images from poems or myths.

Northwest and west of Füssen are the Hopfensee and Weissensee, both with bathing stations, boat hire and facilities for water sports.

Reichenstrasse, the principal shopping spot in town, was known in Roman times as the Via Claudia. The cobblestone street is flanked with houses from the Middle Ages, most of which have towering gables.

From Schwangau, south of Füssen, there is a cableway up the Tegelberg, with views and a skiing area.