The Swan Lake near Füssen

The beautiful Schwansee is located in the immediate vicinity of the dream castles Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein in the local area of Schwangau (ca. 5 Min. from feet away. The water is surrounded by a magnificent nature and belongs to the Schwanseepark, which adjoins Hohenschwangau Castle.

Far away from loud street noise and traffic, the Schwansee lies in the middle of a dreamlike, idyllic landscape. The water is 650 metres long, 270 meters wide and up to 7 meters deep. Like many other lakes here in the area around Füssen and Schwangau, the Schwansee impresses with its particularly clean water. With its tranquil meadows, which can only be reached on foot or by bike, the Schwansee is a popular swimming destination in summer. Due to its relatively small depth, the lake warms up quite quickly, so that often already in May the first bathing friends frolic here. In the cold season, the water is a trendy meeting point for skaters who turn their turns here in the face of the magnificent mountains and castles. Where today the lake is, there used to be the late Ice Age Füssener See. After Its disappearance developed around the Schwansee in many thousands of years a unique flora and fauna of very special quality. The moors, wet meadows and lean lime lawns here are home to many rare plant species. So it is not surprising that the Schwansee with its special surroundings in 19. It was included in the parkland of Hohenschwangau Castle. Since 1956 It belongs to the landscape reserve “Alpsee, Schwansee and Faulenbacher Tal”. Nature lovers can expect a beautiful, picturesque landscape around the Schwansee with many tranquil hiking trails and the direct view of the fairytale castles Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau. Only round 400 Metre north of the Schwansee, is the no less beautiful Alpsee, which is King Ludwig II's favourite bathing lake. Today, the Museum of the Bavarian Kings is located on its shores.

The Schwanseepark

Picturesquely surrounded by the Füssener Kalvarienberg and the Schwarzenberg lies the Schwanseepark below Hohenschwangau Castle. It is a popular recreation area for locals and tourists as well as a real “natural monument” with beautiful plants such as orchids, sword lilies, water lilies and many more flowers. In the idyll of this magical natural landscape, young and old can experience the Allgäu from one of its most beautiful sides and escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life to come to rest and relax on leisurely walks.

The history of the Schwanseepark goes right up to the 19. century back. After the then Crown Prince Maximilian II had commissioned the construction of Hohenschwangau Castle in the style of a romantic residential palace, he also acquired the land below the castle. Shortly after completion of the castle, he commissioned garden architect Carl August Sckell to create plans for a beautiful castle park. Since Sckell, whose uncle was responsible for the creation of the English Garden in Munich, died during the planning, Peter Joseph Lenne took over 1840 the commission and designed a castle park according to the English model. He was a well-known garden artist and landscape architect of German classicism, who was responsible for the park of the Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam. At that time, among other things, the 60 Hectares of large Swan Sea Parks around the 5000 Trees and shrubs were planted, a dense network of paths was created and a stately horse racing track was created. Above the Swan Lake Lenne even created a tea terrace on which Queen Marie received important guests at that time. Unfortunately, it is no longer accessible today. Speaking of Queen Marie: As the wife of Maximilian II. So loved the beautiful landscape of the Allgäu and the Hohenschwangau Palace, the royal family spent large parts of the year here. On the paths of the Schwanseepark you really walk on royal tracks, because at that time the royal couple and their son Ludwig II, the famous fairy tale king, were happy and often on the way here.

After the death of Maximilian II and his son Ludwig II, the Schwanseepark lost its importance. It was managed even further, but initially no longer used as a park. Only Duke Albrecht let the castle park flourish again. He spent the end of the 80er-Jahre In the last century, he spent some time on the Schwansee and missed his favorite flowers, the gentians, on the adjacent meadows. In order to change this and to give rare plant species a development opportunity again, he ensured a fertilization ban in the Schwanseepark. Combined with several other projects aimed at restoring the park to its old beauty, it was ensured that many rare plants began to bloom again in the adjacent meadows. Today, gentians, meal primroses, boy herbs and others are again discovered here – up to 60 Threatened and rare plant species. Today, the Schwanseepark is owned by the Wittelsbach Compensation Fund. He is partly grown, but still of incomparable beauty. Whoever is on the way here comes through a magical landscape and walks on paths that already pass through 160 Years have been planned. All in all, there are in the Schwanseepark and the neighboring Alpseekessel over 60 Kilometers of most beautiful hiking trails that invite you to take leisurely walks in a beautiful environment.

By the way, the circular hiking trail on the Schwansee has a length of 2 Kilometers, so can be used for a leisurely walk. Even in the cold season you can take a tranquil winter hike here, while the surroundings are wrapped in a white color dress. A very popular hiking tour from the Schwansee leads to the Calvary Mountain and from there via the pilgrimage route to Füssen to the Lechfall. Also popular are excursions to only 400 Meters north of the Alpsee, which is located directly at the foot of the mountain Säuling. The Alpsee is one of the cleanest lakes in Germany and also enjoys great popularity among locals and tourists. The Alpsee can also be used wonderfully for a romantic boat trip. The boats can be borrowed on the shore. 

If you come to Schwangau in the Allgäu to visit the two dreamlike Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein palaces, you should definitely make a trip to the magical Schwansee and walk in the Schwanseepark or simply let the soul dangle on the lying meadows on the shores. In addition to the beautiful views of the lake, the magnificent Allgäu mountains and the royal castles, you can experience pure natural idylls. Along the swan lake offers a truly fairytale and royal environment, away from roads and traffic and hidden between forests and meadows.