Füssen

After we got our fill of the castles, which felt like we were in Disneyland, we headed for the very charming town of Füssen

Pedestrian-centre-with-the-towers-of-the-castle-and-monastery-rising-above-the-old-town-and-the-foothills-of-the-Alps-behind-them

Pedestrian-centre-with-the-towers-of-the-castle-and-monastery-rising-above-the-old-town-and-the-foothills-of-the-Alps-behind-them

Füssen is at the end of the Romantic Strasse in southern Bavaria (or the beginning if you are travelling in the less usual direction). This 700-year-old city is such a pretty and picturesque little town with the Alps rising behind it and set between two lakes. It’s a great base to visit the nearby castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau.  A lot of people visit the castles but miss the town, but while you are in the area we definitely recommend you visit.  It is only a small town and half a day is probably all you need.

The town of Füssen is also part of the Alpine Trail which we had originally planned to travel but we are now saving that for another time although we did go to Lindau next which is at the start of the Alpine Trail.

We found a stellplatz called “Füssen Mobil” which was in the grounds of a caravan shop. It was in a small out of town shopping area with a Lidl and Aldi supermarket. There was another stellplatz just 500 metres along the road which we didn’t look at as we felt quite safe and happy where we were.    We had to go into the gym across the road to pay, which seemed strange.  The cost was 13.50 euros a night with electric.

Beautiful River at Fussen

Beautiful River at Fussen

The next morning we woke up to a lovely blue sky and no sign of the heavy clouds from previous weeks so we cycled the 20-minute journey into Füssen.  We so enjoyed the experience as the whole area is served by an extensive network of cycle paths, some of which run alongside the shores of the lake.

The route was really breathtaking with the spectacular backdrop of the high mountain peaks, green forests, the castles and the Lakes.  The colour of the water was blue-green and so clear you could see right through to the bottom, in fact, the colour almost looked fake.  I have read that the water is so clean that you can drink it.  Apparently, they have very strict regulations to keep it that clean.

Fussen Old Town

Fussen Old Town

Once we arrived in the town we locked our bikes up in a bike rack and continued exploring the town on foot.  Again we were not disappointed with this wonderfully quaint Bavarian village, which felt so cosy, with its colourful houses, cobbled pedestrian streets, baroque churches, restaurants and many shops selling typical Bavarian items.

Fussen Horn Blowers

Fussen Horn Blowers

In one of the streets, we were greeted by musicians in traditional medieval costumes playing musical instruments as well as many people walking about in traditional dress making it all very colourful.

The artwork on many (if not most) of the buildings is worth seeing.

We were spoilt for choice with restaurants but in the end, settled for a lovely little restaurant in the pedestrian area for a lunch of pizza and wine. (not too much wine though as I didn’t want to go falling off my bike again).

Füssen is small enough that a car is not really needed. There is a bus to the castles and the trains to Munich and Augsburg and the old town is easy enough to access by foot. Direct trains leave about every two hours. Other options require changing trains along the way. You can walk to Neuschwanstein and Hochschwangau castles via some marked roads; travel times posted on the signboards are comfortable over-estimates.

Pedestrian-centre-with-the-towers-of-the-castle-and-monastery.

Pedestrian-centre-with-the-towers-of-the-castle-and-monastery.

Fussen-hat-shop

Fussen-hat-shop

On-cycle-route-to-Fussen21

On-cycle-route-to-Fussen

Former Benedictine Monastery. Now partly Fussen Town Hall & exhibition centre Museum for local history.jpeg

Former Benedictine Monastery. Now partly Fussen Town Hall & exhibition centre Museum for local history

Beautiful river at Fussen.jpeg

Beautiful river at Fussen.

Camping Details:

Fussen Stellplatz  sat nav co-ordinates:  47˚34’57”  E10˚42’11”
1 ½ k  out of town.  Cycle route along the river into Fussen.