Fussen

For its wide swath of European history, Fussen’s worth visiting

Fussen, 74 miles southwest of Munich, is in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps, at the end of Germany’s Romantic Road. The town is mainly a base for those traveling on to the castles at Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau. But don’t count it out as a destination unto itself; it has a number of attractive sights to see.

Fussen's main attraction is the Hohes Schloss, one of Bavaria’s finest late-Gothic castles. It was once the summer residence of the prince-bishops of Augsburg (57 miles north). Inside, you’ll see the "Knight's Hall," known for its stunning coffered ceiling. There's also a collection of Swabian artwork from the 1400s to the 1700s. Immediately below the castle lies the 8th-century St. Mangkirche and its abbey, founded by the Benedictines in 750. Within the abbey complex is the Chapel of St. Anne and its macabre Totentanz or "dance of death," painted by an unknown artist in the 15th century. Nearby is the Museum of Füssen which displays artifacts relating to regional history and culture. Füssen's principal shopping spot is the Reichenstrasse, a cobblestone street flanked with gabled houses from the Middle Ages.

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