The King Ludwig Trail To His Fairytale Castles

During the cause of the day arrive at Bernried on Lake Starnberg and short journey south of Munich. The lake is Bavaria’s second largest and is approximately 20km long.

Today you have a short train ride to the town of Starnberg where you shall start walking along the King Ludwig trail through the Maising Gorge. Then passing through several pretty typical Bavarian villages, all that seem to have many inviting beer gardens!  Soon you shall reach the Andechs monastery with its own brewery, would you believe? You know walk through the Kiental gorge to Ammersee and onto Herrsching where you take a boat trip to Diessen.

From Dießen the path takes us across beautiful meadows and past a castle and chapel before entering into the tranquil Stiller forest. Now crossing several hilltops, you shall see several marvellous viewpoints before you reach Wessobrunn. Here you find the nearby Wessobrunn Abbey and Benedictine monastery. Here you shall also get a first site of the Zugspitze summit Bavaria’s highest summit at 2962m

Today the King Ludwig Way takes you through the Alpine foothills which are typical of Bavaria. Passing through remote moorland and a few little villages. Soo you will have a steep ascent up the Hohen Peissenberg mountain. This is a magnificent spot where you will have magnificent views from the weather station. You shall be able to see on a good day over the Alps from the Großvenediger all the way into the Allgäu region. Now you shall descend to Hohenpeissenberg where you take the train onto Peiting.

From Peiting the trail leads you through the Ammer ravine which has several little wooden bridges to cross. This takes you all the way to Rottenbuch. Here the is an especially ornate monastery to view. Now across small hills and across meadows with glorious views onto the Alpine mountain range, you arrive at Wildsteig.

From Wildsteig you shall be walking through forests and crossing moorlands towards the world-famous UNESCO world heritage site Kirche in der Wies.  A church in the meadow, which was designed in 1740 and is of a unique style.  Now walking through pretty flower-clad meadows with distinct views to the Alps you reach Welfenmunster in Steingaden where you take the bus to Buching.

Walking through nature reserves you head towards the jewel in the crown at Schwangau. Passing along the shores of Lake Hegratsried and continue on the path to the most stunning castles, Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau on Lake Schwansee. After a look and maybe some photos continue along the Kalvarienberg and onto the historic market town of Füssen.

Departure after breakfast or an extended stay in Fussen. This is recommended as castles Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau are possible to visit with a ticket only with entrance by a designated time. Tickets are sold each day for that day’s visits. It will take most of the day to visit both castles.