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Füssen, Germany

Where is Füssen?

Füssen is an attractive town at the foot of the Bavarian Alps near the Austrian border with the Lech river running through it.

It has an interesting historic centre and plenty of sights nearby - the world-famous Neuschwanstein castle and Hohenschwangau castle built by Bavarian King Ludwig II are just a short journey away near the neighbouring village of Schwangau.

The town is actually the southern end (or beginning) of the Romantic Road tourist route and makes a good stop-off point on the way along the German Alpine Road.

View over Füssen in southern Germany
View over Füssen in southern Germany

How to get to Füssen

Nearest airport to Füssen

The closest airport to Füssen is the regional airport at Memmingen, followed by the trip over the border into the Austrian Tyrol and Innsbruck Airport.

Distance to Allgäu (Memmingen) Airport: 78km
Distance to Innsbruck Airport: 107km
Distance to Bodensee (Friedrichshafen) Airport: 122km
Distance to Munich Airport: 161km

Memmingen has grown in terms of the number of destinations that it serves and the public transport connections are far better than they once were. As with most locations in southern Germany, the choice of flights and the transport options from Munich mean it should come into serious consideration.

Train station in Füssen

The railway station at Füssen is on the edge of the old town centre. Füssen is at the end of a branch line to Biessenhofen. Regional services to Munich and Augsburg connect through this station with some not requiring any change of train.

Where to stay in Füssen

Füssen is situated on two very popular tourist routes as well as having its own attractions so there is plenty of choice when it comes to accommodation.

Füssen accommodation map

If you know when you are planning to go but haven't decided on accommodation, then use the map below to get an idea of which properties are available and to compare prices during the period you wish to travel.

Enter your proposed dates and use the '+' to zoom in on a location and reveal more properties. Click on the price above a property to see more information.

(Please note that this selection will also include some guesthouses, pensions and self-catering apartments for those who are interested in that form of accommodation!)

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History of Füssen

Füssen can trace its history back to the days of the Romans. As an important way station on the Via Claudia Augusta trade route, Roman legionaries were stationed here to guard the Lech river crossing.

The Romans called their settlement 'Foetibus' but later the name 'Fauces' was used meaning 'gorge' (in this case, meaning the Lech narrows and waterfall to the south of the town).

The current name of Füssen (also the word for 'feet' in German) was first used in the 12th century and the coat of arms for the town shows three joined legs (the 'feet' of the name).

Aerial view of Füssen in southern Bavaria
Aerial view of Füssen old town in southern Bavaria

The Lechfall also boasts another, more legendary in nature, sight - supposedly the 'Apostle of the Allgäu' St Magnus leapt across the Lech in one bound while he was being pursued by heathens.

St Magnus, locally known as St Mang, arrived from the monastery at St Gallen and founded a church here which fell into disuse after his death. The Benedictine abbey of St Mang was ordered to be built later in the 9th century by the Bishop of Augsburg in memory of the saint.

Füssen received its town charter in the 13th century but, unlike several other similar settlements in southern Bavaria, it never received the status of an Imperial Free City (which would have meant that it had a great degree of independence and was only answerable to the Holy Roman Emperor) and remained for a long while under the control of the Augsburg rulers.

This lack of status didn't stop the Emperors (with their sizeable courts) coming to stay - the Emperor Maximilian, for example, stayed here around 40 times. The Imperial visits are now commemorated with historical parades in the town.

As it was with the Romans, the town of Füssen was an important trading centre in the Middle Ages but was badly affected by hostilities of the Thirty Years' War.

Museums in Füssen

The Town Museum is located in the former Benedictine Abbey of St Mang in the heart of the old town.

The building is reputed to date from monastic quarters which were founded by St Magnus, a follower of the evangelising monks from Ireland who came to Central Europe in the 6th or 7th century.

The actual buildings consist of the Basilica, the Anna Chapel and the former monastery. The town museum is entered around the corner from the religious buildings.

St Mang Abbey in Füssen
St Mang Abbey in Füssen

A selection of the Bavarian State Picture Collection is displayed in one of the wings of the Füssen High Castle. This fortification originally belonged to the Prince-Bishops of Augsburg and its imposing walls can be seen from most of the town.

The collection of paintings and sculptures offers works from the Middle Ages in this particular area of the Allgäu and Swabia, as well as allowing a visit to some of the impressive historic rooms.

Füssen Tourist Office

The Füssen Tourist Office is situated outside the pedestrian area on the main road which goes around the historic centre. It is open Mon-Sat year round, and on Sundays and public holidays in the summer months and has plenty of information about mountain hiking in the surrounding area as well as day trip options to the Royal castles and other local attractions.
Website: www.tourismus-fuessen.de