Füssen

The small town at the foot of the Alps adds an appealing historical streetscape to a striking natural location surrounded by lakes. Füssen is the site of a medieval city castle, two monasteries, one made over in Baroque, and a range of historical small churches. Part of the city wall also survives.

It is also regarded as the south end of the Romantische Straße tourist route, which ends in a gateway at the St Stephan monastery.

For many, Füssen is the most convenient base for visiting the popular Romantic castles Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau, recast as mountain retreats by the last Bavarian kings. It's also the best place to start any visit to the world heritage-listed Rococo pilgrimage church Wieskirche at Steingaden.