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4 Nesselwang
Bavaria; 87484
Set amid meadows at the foot of
the 5,167-ft (1,575-m) Alpspitze, the
village of Nesselwang is a center for
activity holidays, such as mountain
biking and canyon ing in summer
and skiing in winter (tourist office;
Linden strasse 16, 08361 92 30 40). In 2003,
Nesselwang opened Bavaria’s first
Nordic Walking Park, which is part of a
261-mile (420-km) network stretching
into neigh boring districts. In winter,
the Alpspitzbahn gondola serves the
Alpspitze’s mostly blue ski runs, which
are generally for beginners. There’s
even floodlit even ing skiing on the
lower slopes. The village clusters
around the impos ing church of
St. Andreas, which was rebuilt in a
Neo-Baroque style between 1904
and 1906 after falling into disrepair.
ª Continue along the B309/Fussener
Strasse, which becomes the B310/
Pfrontener Strasse just before Pfronten.
Continue on the B310 to Füssen. Park
in one of the well-marked under-
ground parking lots close to the
tourist office and the old town.WHERE TO STAYNESSELWANG
Brauerei-Gasthof Hotel Post
moderate
This family-run hotel opposite
Nesselwang’s parish church has 23
rooms with en suite baths or showers.
It also has an attractive wood-paneled
restaurant and its own brewery.
Hauptstrasse 25, 87484; 08361 309 10;
http://www.hotel-post-nesselwang.deFÜSSEN
Hotel Kurcafé moderate–expensive
This established hotel in the center of
Füssen offers well-equipped doubles
and deluxe rooms with marble bath-
rooms and air conditioning. There is
also a café and restaurant.
Prinzregentenplatz, 87629; 08362
930 180; http://www.kurcafe.comOBERAMMERGAU
Alte Post moderate
A lovely old inn dating back to the early
17th century. Rooms have en suite
baths or showers, LCD TV, and Internet.
Dorfstrasse 19, 82487; 08822 91 00;
http://www.altepost.comETTAL
Klosterhotel Ludwig der Bayer
moderate
Located opposite Ettal’s magnificent
abbey, this hotel is named after the
abbey’s founder. Rooms, suites, and
apartments are tastefully decorated;
some have balconies. Facilities include
an indoor pool, table tennis room, and
a bowling alley.
Kaiser Ludwig Platz, 82488; 08822 91 50;
http://www.ludwig-der-bayer.deRight Idyllic pastures along the way to
Füssen Below left Lüftmalerei, traditional
Bavarian wall paintings, Oberammergau
Below right Gilded statues, and pool in
the gardens in front of Schloss LinderhofBACK ROADS GERMANY
Schloss Neuschwanstein
A visit to “Mad” King Ludwig II’s
(see p207) castle of Neuschwanstein
(open daily) is worth a detour off the
Alpenstrasse route. Perched on a
crag above Hohenschwangau, the
castle was inspired by Wagner’s
operas and only comple ted in 1884.
To reach Hohenschwangau look out
for the brown “Königsschlösser”
signs along the B17.5 Füssen
Bavaria; 87629
The main urban center for south-
eastern Allgäu, Füssen is a charming
town with an enchanting setting of
lakes and mountains. The old town,
or Altstadt, is dominated by the Hohe
Schloss, a former summer palace of
Augsburg’s bishops, which houses
two art galleries (Apr–Oct: closed Mon;
Nov–Mar: open Fri–Sun). Also worth
visiting are the former Benedictine
monastery of Kloster St. Mang and
the Heilig Geist Spitalkirche, or the
Church of the Holy Ghost.
ª Continue along Sebastianstrasse,
then take the B17 to Steingaden.Where to Stay: inexpensive, under €70; moderate, €70–€150; expensive, over €150