June 19, 2023 - Germany
Fussen

Fussen was our base for visiting the Kings Castles: Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein.  But Fussen itself was a nice little town.  We enjoyed taking the Rick Steves "Walk" around town.

Fussen has been a strategic stop since ancient time.  Its main street was once part of the Via Claudia Augusta -- later known as Salt Road -- the Roman road across the Alps.

We stayed at the Hotel Sonne in downtown Fussen.
   
Our first stop on the walk was to check out this nobel Babarian stag.  Looks like a 16-pointer to me.
   

Fussen received its official status as a city between 1274 and 1295 and it was immediately encircled by a town wall.  Gate towers were added in 1330.  The wall was modernized and enlarged in 1502.

Below is a surviving wall segment and tower from Fussen's 1502 medieval town wall.
   
Fussen stands on the north side of the Lech River.   The river's milky color is from mountain rocks, pulverized to a sediment over the long journey from the Alps.
   
Looking downstream.
   
Checking out the Bread Market Square and the fountain honoring a famous 16-th century lutemaking family, the Tieffenbruckers.  In its day, Fussen, surrounded by forests, was a huge center of violin and lute-making.
   
Looking uphill at the big St. Magnus Monastery.  From 1717 until secularization in 1802, this Benedictine monastery was the power center of town.   Inside is the highly-regarded Fussen Heritage Museum but it was late in the day and it was closed.
   
Inside the St. Magnus Basilica, named after St. Mang, Fussen's favorite saint.
   
In the eighth century, St. Mang worked miracles all over the area with his holy rod.
   
 
   
Checking out the painting on the flat walls of the High Castle -- summer residence of the Bishop of Augsburg -- that give it a deceptive three-dimensional look.
   
Looking at the St. Magnus Monastery and High Castle from afar.
   
Upstream the river are the Lech Falls.
   
The Lech River heads downhill through a gorge.
   
Maximilian II, "Mad" King Ludwig's father, looks across the gorge.
   
Back in Old Town Fussen.
   
 
   
 
   
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