Page 209 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Germany

DRIVE 19: The Southern Romantic Road 207

Above left Scenic Schloss Hohenschwangau,
“Mad” King Ludwig II ª Exit Hohenschwangau and take Hohenschwangau Above right Landsberg am
Bavaria’s famous monarch Ludwig II Parkstrasse, turning left on to the Lech from across the Lech river
has become a revered figure since B17 for Füssen. Park in one of the
his drowning in the Starnberger See underground car parks close to
in 1886. Coming to the throne as a the tourist office and the Altstadt. HIKING IN THE PFAFFENWINKEL
youth on the eve of Bavaria’s defeat
and incorpo ra tion into the Prussian- 8 Füssen The Pfaffenwinkel has three major
hiking trails – the Konig-Ludwig-Weg,
led German Empire, he was denied Lech-Hohenweg and the Pralatenweg
real power; instead, he lived out his Bavaria; 87629 – crisscrossing the district. There are
absolutist fantasies in extra vagant The Romantic Road ends at Füssen in also 28 self-guided hikes that range
building pro jects that threatened an enchanting landscape of lakes and from easy strolls to mountain hikes.
to bankrupt the public purse. As a mountains. The Altstadt is dominated www.pfaffen-winkel.de
result he was forced to step down by the late-Gothic Hohes Schloss,
shortly before his untimely – and
some still say suspi cious – death, a former summer palace of Augsburg’s EAT AND DRINK
few weeks before his 41st birthday. bishops, which houses two art galler-
ies (Apr–Oct: closed Mon; Nov–Mar: open SCHONGAU
Fri–Sun pm). The former Benedictine
7 Hohenschwangau monastery of Kloster St Mang Schlossgasthof Zum Hechten
moderate
Bavaria; 87645 (Apr–Oct: closed Mon; Nov–Mar: open Dark wooden tables and historic
Germany’s most famous castle sits in Fri–Sun pm) has a series of Baroque paintings provide an appropriate
dreamy splendour on a forested crag staterooms, while th e Heilig Geist setting for hearty, traditional local fare
above Hohenschwangau. Schloss Spitalkirche, or Church of the Holy such as Schweinshaxn (knuckle of ham).
Neuschwanstein (open daily) was Ghost, has a pretty painted façade. Ritterstrasse 6, 87629; 08362 916 00;
www.hotel-hechten.com
built for Ludwig II bet ween 1869 and
1884. Guided tours take visitors An Operatic Fantasy FÜSSEN
through the richly adorned Singer’s Conceived by theatre designer Gasthaus zum Schwanen
and Throne Hall as well as the king’s Christian Jank, Neuschwanstein is moderate
royal lodgings. The Neo-Gothic the ultimate fan tasy castle, inspired Housed in a beautiful old gabled
house close to Kloster Mang, this
Schloss Hohenschwangau (open daily) by the castles of the Age of Chivalry, restaurant serves Schnitzel (pork
notably the Wartburg in Thuringia.
in the valley below is where Ludwig Ludwig II was the patron of the com- fillet) alongside regional specialities
spent much of his childhood. Enjoy poser Richard Wagner, whose operas from Swabia and the Allgäu, including
a sum mer toboggan run (www. provi ded inspi ra tion for the decor. Maultaschen (Swabian ravioli) and
tegelbergbahn.de) or a cable car ride The Sängersaal, or Singers’ Hall, is Kasspätzen (cheese-topped noodles)
with roast onion and salad.
to the top of the the Tegelberg mod elled on the hall at Wartburg – Am Brotmarkt 4, 87629; 08362 61 74;
summit (www.tegelbergbahn.de) for the scene of the singers’ con test in www.schwanen-fuessen.de; closed
spectacular views. Wagner’s opera Tannhäuser. Mon & Tue
DAY TRIP OPTIONS Stop at Landsberg am Lech 3 Hohenschwangau 7 to explore its
Augsburg is a good base for exploring to visit its Baroque town hall. royal castles, which stand amid
the northern section of the route, while superb Alpine sce nery.
Schongau and Füssen are excellent Head east to Friedberg along the
for discover ing the southern part. B2, then south along the B300/B17 Head south to Rottenbuch on the B23.
to Landsberg am Lech. At Achen, the Steingadner Strasse
Historic towns bran ches off to Wildsteig. Look out for
Explore historic Augsburg 1 before Scenic and architectural paradise brown sign s to the Wieskirche. Bear left
heading to Friedberg 2 to admire Stroll through Schongau’s 4 at Steingaden on to the B17 and follow
the beautiful Herrgottsruh church. old town, then head to signs to the castles.
Eat and Drink: inexpensive, under €20; moderate, €20–€40; expensive, over €40

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