Distances:
Munich 105 km
Garmisch-Patenkirchen 60 km
Oberammergau 60 km

14,300 inhabitants (2005); 800-1200 m above sea-level
There is a growing demand for the over 700-year-old town of Fussen, situated at the southern end of the Romantic Road and in the heart of one of the finest holiday regions in the entire Alpine region, as a destination for a weekend get-away or a city break.

The town's charming location on the edge of the Alps is impressive: framed in by imposing high mountain peaks and the idyllic lake district, thus making it Bavaria's town at the highest elevation, the ideal starting point for visiting the royal castles of Neuschwanstein and Hobenschwangau just four kilometers away or the Wies Church (29 km).

As it drawn by an artist's hands, the Fussen's medivial town center rises high above the banks of the River Lech. Different historical epochs meet here in a harmonious ensemble, whose unique flair is an invitation to go on journeys into the past or to take a look around the shops.

The Hohes Schloss, the former summer residence of the prince bishop of Augsburg and one of Swabia's largest and best preserved late gothic castle complexes, is Fussen's landmark, towering over a maze of narrow lanes.

The living quarters, once occupied by the bishops, today house a branch gallery of Bavarian State Collections of Paintings, which focuses on late Gothic and Renaissance works of art from the Aligau-Swabian and Franconian region.

Neuschwanstein Castle
Seven weeks after the death of King Ludwig II in 1866, Neuschwanstein was opened to the public. The shy king had built the castle in order to withdraw from public life, now vast numbers of people came to view his private refuge.

Today Neuschwanstein is one of the most popular of all the palaces and castles in Europe. Every year 1.3 million people visit "the castle of the fairy-tale king". In the summer around 6000 visitors a day stream through rooms that were intended for a single inhabitant.

The setting of Neuschwanstein could not be more idyllic. However, movement in the foundation area has to be continuously monitored, and the sheer rock must be repeatedly secured. The harsh climate also has a detrimental effect on the limestone facades, which will have to be renovated section by section.

Since 1990, the Free State of Bavaria has spent around 11.2 million Euros on the renovation and maintenance of the castle and improvement of the visitor service.