Falkenstein Castle

The castle ruin Falkenstein is located on the same name 1268 Meter high mountain at Pfronten, on the border with Tyrol. It is the highest castle ruin in Germany and stands directly on the edge of a vertical mountain wall. Due to its exceptional location, the castle is considered an impressive symbol of power and from it you have a dreamlike view over the Vils Valley and the southern Ostallgäu.

The castle ruin Falkenstein is undoubtedly one of the top sights around Füssen that should not be missed. After all, the castle once even impressed the popular Bavarian fairy tale king Ludwig II. So much so that he bought it up and wanted to turn it into a castle similar to Neuschwanstein. The history of Falkenstein Castle dates back to 13. century when they were around the year 1280 It was built by Count von Tirol Meinhard II. The castle, initially called “castrum Pfronten”, was intended to create an impression and was an unmistakable threat to the Dukes of Bavaria. But since the castle was very expensive to maintain, Meinhard handed over II. They around the year 1290 around the Augsburg bishop Wolfhard to the fief. Until the year 1582 The castle was then the home of the Augsburger Vögte and Pfleger. These settled in a stable building under the castle, as it was not habitable at some times in winter due to its special altitude. When the Augsburg Vogtei finally moved its official residence to the valley, the castle Falkenstein fell into disrepair. At the end of the Thirty Years’ War, it – like the two neighbouring castles Ehrenberg and Hohenfreyberg – was evacuated and set on fire on behalf of the Tyrolean state government. The background was that they did not want it to fall into the hands of the Swedish Protestant army that approached Tyrol intact. Afterwards, the Destruction for no reason, as the attackers had changed their march route and did not come to the area. In the year 1803 Together with the ruins of the castle, the Falkenstein came into the possession of the Kingdom of Bavaria, which sold it a little later to the city of Pfronten.

In year 1883 He bought King Ludwig II. the castle in order to build a magnificent castle in the style of Neuschwanstein. He commissioned the stage designer Christian Jank, who had already participated in the construction of Neuschwanstein, to draw up corresponding plans. However, his extensive designs could not be realized architecturally. A little later, the architect Georg von Dollmann took over the planning. Due to the now drastic financial hardship of the fairytale king, his designs were far less magnificent and only a relatively modest Gothic castle with a main tower was planned. Louis II did not agree with these plans at all and he He resigned from Dollmann after seeing his designs. Instead, he commissioned Regensburg architect Max Schultze, who eventually disfigured designs that included both Ludwig II. They were both satisfying and architecturally feasible. In year 1885 First a castle path and a water pipe were created. However, the construction work did not progress any further, as the fairy tale king was known to 1886 He died in mysterious circumstances at Lake Starnberg. What the Falkenstein Palace should have looked like is now very beautifully illustrated in the Museum of the City of Füssen, which is housed in the monastery of St. Mang, on the basis of a computer animation.

Falkenstein Castle consisted of a “fixed house”, of which remains are still preserved and a ring wall, which is hardly visible today. The castle's economic or construction yard was about 50 meters deeper. A few years ago, during a renovation, a wooden viewing platform was built in the castle interior. Due to the exposed location of the historic castle and the fantastic views you have from it, a visit is very worthwhile. Falkenstein Castle is freely accessible and open at all times. Below the castle you will find parking at Falkenstein. The ascent to the castle ruins is then not long. Alternatively, you can also reach the castle ruin Falkenstein on foot on various routes. A very beautiful path with great landscape impressions and views leads from Füssen over the mysterious Alatsee and the Saloberalm to the The ruins of Falkenstein. The ascent from the Alatsee in the idyllic Faluenbach valley to the hosted Saloberalm takes about three quarters of an hour. Below the rustic mountain hut, the path branches off over the Zirmgrat to the castle ruin Falkenstein. On the way, there are fantastic views of the Forggensee, the Weißensee, the Hopfensee and the Bannwaldsee. Great are the views that await you from the castle ruins after you have mastered the climb. In the north stretches the wide pre-Alpine country , in the south rise the Breitenberg and the Aggenstein and deep down in the valley the houses of the city Pfronten look like from a toy landscape.

The castle ruin Falkenstein near Pfronten should be seen on a holiday in Füssen. This historic castle enchants with its exposed location and beautiful views.