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Above left Picturesque Schloss Hohenschwangau,
Hohenschwangau Above right Landsberg am
Lech from across the Lech riverEAT AND DRINKSCHONGAU
Gasthaus zum Lindauer
inexpensive–moderate
The pine-paneled rustic interior is
an appropriate setting for the Bavarian
fare at the Gasthaus zum Lindauer.
Enjoy fresh trout or pike-perch or
venison goulash with Williams pear.
Löwenstrasse 1, 86956; 08864 81 42;
http://www.gastronomie-schongau.de/
lindauer.html; closed Wed & Sat pmFÜSSEN
Gasthaus zum Schwanen
inexpensive–moderate
Housed in a beautiful old gabled
house close to Kloster Mang, this
restaurant serves Schnitzel (pork
fillet) alongside regional specialities
from Swabia and the Allgäu, including
Maultaschen (Swabian ravioli) and
Kasspätzen (cheese-topped noodles)
with roast onion and salad.
Brotmarkt 4, 87629; 08362 61 74;
closed MonDRIVE 19: The Southern Romantic Road
Eat and Drink: inexpensive, under €20; moderate, €20–€40; expensive, over €407 Hohenschwangau
Bavaria; 87645
Germany’s most famous castle sits in
dreamy splendor on a forested crag
above Hohenschwangau. Schloss
Neuschwanstein (open daily) was
built for Ludwig II bet ween 1869 and
- Schlosskonzerte, or clas si cal
music con certs (www.schlosskonzerte-
neuschwanstein.de), are held here
every September. The Neo-Gothic
Schloss Hohenschwangau (open daily)
in the valley below is where Ludwig
spent much of his childhood. Enjoy
a sum mer toboggan run (www.
tegelbergbahn.de) or a cable car ride
to the top of the the Tegelberg
summit (www.tegelbergbahn.de) for
spectacular views.
An Operatic Fantasy
Conceived by theater designer
Christian Jank, Neuschwanstein is
the ultimate fan tasy castle, inspired
by the castles of the Age of Chivalry,
notably the Wartburg in Thuringia.
Ludwig II was the patron of the com-
poser Richard Wagner, whose operas
provi ded inspi ra tion for the decor.
The Sängersaal, or Singers’ Hall, is
mod eled on the hall at Wartburg –
the scene of the singer’s con test in
Wagner’s opera Tannhäuser.8 Füssen
Bavaria; 87629
The Romantic Road ends at Füssen in
an enchanting landscape of lakes and
mountains. The Altstadt is dominated
by the late-Gothic Hohes Schloss, for-
mer summer palace of Augsburg’s
bishops, which houses two art galler-
ies (Apr–Oct: closed Mon; Nov–Mar: open
Fri–Sun pm). The former Benedictine
monastery of Kloster St. Mang (Apr–
Oct: closed Mon; Nov–Mar: open Fri–Sun
pm) has a series of Baroque state-
rooms, while th e Heilig Geist
Spitalkirche, or Church of the Holy
Ghost, has a pretty painted façade.DAY TRIP OPTIONS
Augsburg is a good base for exploring
the northern section of the route, while
Schongau and Füssen are excellent
for discover ing the southern part.Historic towns
Explore historic Augsburg 1 before
heading to Friedberg 2 to admire
the exhibits in Wittelsbacher Schloss.Stop at Landsberg am Lech 3
to visit its Baroque town hall.Head east to Friedberg along the
B2, then south along the B300/B17
to Landsberg am Lech.Scenic and architectural paradise
Stroll through Schongau’s 4
old town, then head toHohenschwangau 7 to explore its
royal castles, which stand amid
superb Alpine sce nery.Head south to Rottenbuch on the B23.
At Achen, the Steingadner Strasse
bran ches off to Wildsteig. Watch out
for brown sign s to the Wieskirche. Bear
left at Steingaden on to the B17 and
follow signs to the castles.“Mad” King Ludwig II
Bavaria’s famous monarch Ludwig II,
has become a revered figure since
his drowning in the Starnberger See
in 1886. Coming to the throne as a
youth on the eve of Bavaria’s defeat
and incorpo ra tion into the Prussian-
led German Empire, he was denied
real power; instead, he lived out his
absolutist fantasies in extra vagant
building pro jects that threatened to
bankrupt the public purse. As a
result he was forced to step down
shortly before his untimely – and
some still say suspi cious – death, a
few weeks before his 41st birthday.ª Exit Hohenschwangau and take
the Parkstrasse and turn left on to the
B17 for Füssen. Park in one of the
underground parking lots close to the
tourist office and the Altstadt.HIKING IN THE PFAFFENWINKELThe Pfaffenwinkel has three major
hiking trails – the Konig-Ludwig-Weg,
Lech-Hohenweg, and the Pralatenweg- crisscrossing the district. There are
also 28 self-guided routes that range
from easy strolls to mountain hikes.
http://www.pfaffen-winkel.de