Our Upper Bavarian Schongau

Neuschwanstein Castle

The fairy-tale castle of King Ludwig II, high above the Alpsee, was the model for Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle and offers spectacular views of the Alps. Built between 1869 and 1886, it remained unfinished after the king's death and, with around 1.4 million visitors a year, is one of the most visited castles in Europe.

Füssen on the Lech

A picturesque little town at the foot of the Alps and gateway to the royal castles, with a historic old town right on the Lech. As the southernmost point of the Romantic Road, Füssen invites you to stroll or hike with its High Castle, the baroque collegiate church of St. Mang and the nearby Alpsee.

Munich

Bavaria's state capital with Marienplatz, the Frauenkirche and the world-famous Oktoberfest. Between world-class museums, the sprawling English Garden and traditional beer gardens, you can experience the Bavarian way of life and big-city flair in equal measure.

Augsburg

One of Germany's oldest cities, home to the Fuggerei, the world's oldest social housing complex still in use. Founded by Jakob Fugger in 1521, it is – together with the city's historic water management system – a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Hohenschwangau Castle

King Ludwig II's childhood home, built in the English Gothic Revival style, stands directly opposite Neuschwanstein. Ludwig's father Maximilian II had it built in the 1830s and 1840s on the ruins of a medieval fortress – this is where the future “Fairy-Tale King” grew up.

Lake Hopfensee

An idyllic bathing lake with views of the Allgäu Alps – popular for swimming, sailing and walks along the shore. As one of the warmest lakes in the Allgäu, it is especially inviting for a swim in summer, while the lakeside path is used for bike rides all year round.

Lake Ammersee

Bavaria's third-largest lake, lined with monasteries and pretty villages – ideal for bike tours and boat trips. The shore around Dießen with its magnificent abbey church and the Five Lakes Region make the Ammersee a popular destination for a day trip.

Ettal Abbey

A baroque Benedictine abbey with an imposing domed church and its own monastery brewery. Founded in 1330 by Emperor Louis IV, the abbey is still known today for its beer and Ettal herbal liqueur, and lies picturesquely in the middle of the Ammergau Alps.

Linderhof Palace

The smallest but most lavish of Ludwig II's palaces, with a Venetian grotto and magnificent gardens. The only one of his palaces completed during his lifetime, it clearly shows Ludwig's inspiration from Versailles – set against the backdrop of the Ammergau Alps.

Andechs Abbey

A place of pilgrimage on the “Holy Mountain” with a renowned monastery brewery and views across the Ammersee. Run by Benedictine monks since 1455, its popular beer garden combines Bavarian brewing tradition with one of the finest panoramic views in the Five Lakes Region.

Lake Forggensee

Bavaria's fifth-largest reservoir at the foot of the Alps – popular for water sports and boat trips in summer. Created in 1954, the lake is largely drained in winter and lies directly on the Royal Castles Route, a popular cycle route between Schongau and Füssen.