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Schwangau is indeed known
all over the world as the home of the Royal Castles
Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau, but it does in fact
have a lot more to offer: old farmhouses, artistically
carved village fountains, wayside crosses and the famous
pilgrimage church of St. Coloman. Schwangau has
succeeded in retaining its village character and old
customs are kept up. This is well portrayed during
festivals, when local clubs wear traditional costume and
brass band music can be heard sounding through the
village.
The people of Schwangau have not just preserved the
village life, but also their wealth in nature. At a time
when the environment is becoming more and more destroyed
and damaged, here is a piece of earth still intact –
four crystal clear lakes, a mountain railway to the
“Tegelberg” mountain in the Ammergebirge nature reserve
and 120 km of walking and rambling paths. Schwangau
offers numerous sports facilities for summer and winter
and is well known as a climatic health resort.
Just 5 km from Schwangau, this town which boasts two of
Germany’s most romantic castles – Maximilian II’s
English-style Hohenschwangau and ‘mad’ King Ludwig II’s
fairy tale Neuschwanstein – lies the ancient town of
Füssen.
Long a popular health and alpine resort, it has a
location that many other towns might envy. Mountains
dominate the town, and it is here that the River Lech
cascades out of the Alps and begins its journey across
the heart of Bavaria to the Danube. The town is
naturally an important centre for winter sports –
skiing, skating, curling and ice hockey. At other times
of year its many lakes make it a fine centre for
bathing, angling, surfing, sailing and boating. The area
is also a renowned spa centre, and neighbouring
Weissensee, Hopfen am See and Bad Faulenbach are famous
for their Kneipp cure.
The Old Town is highly picturesque. The ancient castle
rises high above the town, and below it lies the former
abbey of St Mang, with its ornate Italian-style
decoration. Füssen also lies at the southern end of the
Romantic Road, and the pretty town of Landsberg, and the
great abbeys and churches of Steingaden, Diessen,
Wessobrunn, Ettal and Wies are all within easy reach by
car – not just from Füssen, but also from Schwangau.
Both would also make an ideal base for visiting
Oberammergau and, close by, King Ludwig’s jewel-like
Linderhof Castle, which lies amidst the ravishing
lake-and-mountain landscapes, so typical of this region. |
