The Ländeweg in Füssen

The Ländeweg in Füssen is a beautiful cross-border path that leads from the Lechfall in the Bad Faulenbacher valley, along the Lech, to the Austrian Vils. On the Ländeweg await a beautiful nature impressions and views. The hike has a slightly adventurous character, because many of the paths between the Faulenbach Valley and the Tyrolean Vilstal were popular smuggler paths before the borders became permeable.

The Ländeweg in Füssen, which is suitable for leisurely hikes and also for Nordic walking, is something of an insider tip. It is frequented by quite few tourists, so that you can enjoy the beautiful views and the idyll of nature undisturbed. The Ländeweg starts at Lechfall in the Faulenbacher valley. The Faulenbacher valley, which is largely car-free, is an idyllic gem and the natural spa park of the city of Füssen. There are six picturesque lakes here, including the Mitter and Obersee and the mysterious Alatsee, which forms the upper valley. Bad Faulenbach, which is also called Valley of the Senses, is ideal to be in the middle of a beautiful To calm down the landscape and let the soul dangle. However, it is a little less quiet at the Lechfall, because here roaring water masses plunge up to 12 meters into the depth, then flow into the Lech gorge, which at the end of the worm ice age before about 12000 Years emerged. The overflowing dam on the Lech offers a great natural spectacle, which can best be followed from the König-Max-Steg, which leads over the waterfall. This was done in the year 1895 Built in honor of the former Bavarian King Maximilian II. In a niche above the clamb is a bust of the monarch. In an inscription below, the city of Füssen expresses its thanks to him. It refers to the fact that the construction of Hohenschwangau Castle, which he commissioned, set in motion an enormous economic upswing in the region around Füssen. Interesting here at the Lechfall is also the so-called Magnus step, which is a fossilized shell, which according to a legend was interpreted as the footprint of the holy Magnus, the city patron Füssens. The legend says that he left this footprint when he fled from his pagan adversaries and jumped over the Lech.

On the Ländeweg in Füssen you have great views of the river Lech, the Lechfall and the surrounding mountains. About three minutes of walking time before the border to Tyrol, you can discover a small cave above the Ländeweg, where you found relics from the Stone Age. Branching off from the Ländeweg is the so-called “Smugglerweg”, a small forest path that leads up to the Schwärzerweg. In the past, before the borders opened through the EU, many smuggled goods were brought across the border here on the winding paths between the Faulenbach Valley and the Tyrolean Vilstal. With black-painted faces and loaded with backpacks containing tobacco products, perfume and If there were all sorts of Crimean stuff, the smugglers rushed here through the countryside, always on guard against watchful customs officers. A border house can still be discovered today on the Ländeweg, but it is now of course empty. While you are on the road, it is advisable to stop and enjoy the dreamlike views of the green-blue floods of the Lech. It takes about an hour to get from the Faulenbach valley to the Austrian Vils. There you can visit the castle ruin Vilsegg, which circa 60 Meters above the Vilstal on a rocky hill on the edge of the Salober Alps. From the castle, the imposing, square bergfried is still preserved. Nearby – but on German territory – is also the castle ruin Falkenstein. Its exposed, scenic location once impressed the Bavarian fairy tale king Ludwig II, who in the year 1883 bought up and wanted to be converted into a magnificent castle in the style of Neuschwanstein. Only his death in the year 1886 prevented the realization of this construction project.

Who would like to hike from the castle ruin Vilsegg simply on the Ländeweg back to Füssen. Alternatively, for the way back, the tour over the Salober Alps to the Alatsee and then to the starting point. The Saloberalpe is a beautiful, easy-to-manage mountain that offers fantastic views. On it stands the farmed Salober-Alm, which invites to a cozy rest and spoils with delicious cottage dishes and hearty breadtimes. Via a wide forest road you can then descend to the mysterious Alatsee, around which many legends and myths rank and which was already the scene of popular Allgäu crime.

A hike on the Ländeweg in Füssen promises interesting impressions, fantastic views and wonderful landscape impressions. Far away from tourist flows, this beautiful hike along old smuggling paths can be really enjoyed.