Fussen was the starting point for the long distance Romantische Strasse cycling route, embodying the romance of the Bavarian alps, characterised by fairy-tale castles and opulent churches.
Bikes were ready and waiting: moulded gel seats, 26 gears, front suspension, two panniers, locks, repair equipment and pump:
We had a downstairs room next to the bike sheds.
The front of the hotel: Altstadthotel zum Hechten, with restaurant and bar(the red doors)
The other end of the pedestrianised street looking back towards the heart of the old town of Fussen, the highest town in Bavaria, which nestles at the foothills of the Bavarian Alps.The town is dominated by the Hohes Schloss - the late summer residence of the Prince Bishops of Augsburg.
Archaelogical excavations in 1955 revealed foundations of a late Roman fortress. The first town wall encircled the hill between 1274 and 1286, and was then turned into a castle in 1291 and 1322 when the bishopric of Augsburg aquired the hill and completed the unfinished castle. In 1489 and 1504 bischop Frederic II of Zollern, extended the castle into the imposing Burgschloss it is today.
The illusionistic paintings decorating the outer facades date from 1499: they are unique amongst German late-Gothic architecture.
The church of St Mang, part of the Benediktinerkloster St Mang, (a monastery founded in 850 ), just below the castle.
The pedestrianised centre at day and night time.
The Benediktinerkloster St Mang monastery courtyard, (now a museum)- at day and night.
Community living for feathered friends!
Day 1: around Fussen, (35km).............
.....................circumnavigating the picturesque shores of the Forggensee and villages on the way. A restaurant on the shore.
First view of Schlosser Neuschwanstein, showing its stunning location.
The fairy-tale castle, taken from the Marienbrucke, with the Forggensee in the background. Construction on Ludwig's castle began in 1869 and aborted on Ludwig's early death in 1886. It owes its white appearance to the Schwangau marble from the nearby quarry at Schwansee used to adorn the facades of the main building.
The main entrance.....
.....inside the entrance.................
......the main internal courtyard.
Marienbrucke, 90 metres above the dramatic 45 metre waterfall in the Pollatschlucht (gorge), above the castle. Ludwig II replaced the wooden railings to the present cantilever iron construction during the building of the castle.
Looking down from the castle to Ludwig's childhood home, a bright yellow neo-gothic castle, commissioned by his father King Max II in the 1830s. Its origins, however, began in the 12th century. King Ludwig inherited this castle on the death of his father.
Schloss Hohenschwangau, the yellow neo-gothic castle.
Day 2:Fussen to Bad Bayersoien (39km)
One of many village fountains.
The couple who lived here were in the garden and welcomed photographers!
Pristine white oval, UNESCO protected Rococo church at Wierskirche, dates back to 1754 following the demand to create a suitable chapel to house the dilapidated wooden figure of the Saint of the Scourged saviour. Several years before in 1738 tears had been seen on the figure thus resulting in the overwhelming pilgramage rush to see the sculpture.
The elaborate Baroque interior with frescoes covering all the walls and ceiling, and with colourful marble columns.
Opulence????
The wooden figure of the Scourged Saviour.
Well sign posted routes.
The 4-star superior Parkhotel in Bad Bayersoien - a 'Wellness' centre.
Day 3: Circular from hotel. (45km)
Working the hay beside the small lake (the warmest in Bavaria) opposite the hotel.
Geschicte der Gschwender Holzkapelle circa 1700's (a small wooden chapel)
A farmhouse.
A very welcome cool shady spot for lunch.
The pretty village of Rottenbuch, dominated by the abbey church - the Maria Geburt Pfarrkirche which has been at the heart of the village for 900 years.
Different styles found inside, from Gothic to Baroque, reflect the history of the village.
Cycling back to Bad Bayersoien.
Day 4: Bad Bayersoien to Murnau {Hotel Griesbrau} (30km)
E
arly morning mist over the lake.
Lake reflections of village and hotel.
The cows live very comfortably in a luxurious 'Barn Hotel'!!!
Another shady lunch spot in Reigsee.
Hotel Griesbrau, a family run hotel of typical Bavarian character, set around a courtyard with its own small on-site brewery (since 1676) in the atmospheric vaulted brasserie with self service buffet.
Bike shed??
Day 5: Circuit from Murnau (30km)
Pedestrianised main street.
A beautifully colourful flower bed at the bottom of the street.
The occasional wait................
..................and interested bystanders!
Most of the route explored the Murnauer Moos region (Murnau Marsh). Autumn crocuses
Harvesting time...................
No. It's not the Wild West!
Day 6: Murnau to Oberammergau, 40 min by bus ............................
The Passionstheater................The first Passion play was performed in 1634 as a result of a vow made by the villagers that they would perform a passion play every ten years, provided God would spare them from the devastating effects of the bubonic plague, sweeping the region at that time. The play is now performed in years ending in zero and only by the inhabitants of the village. Five-hour long performances take place between May and October and involve about half the local population of Oberammergau: over 2000 took part in 2010 including 500 children.
Luftmalerei: These trompe d'oeil style frescoes encountered throughout the Bavarian Alps were pioneered in Oberammergau by a painter named Franz Seraph Zwink(1748-92) whose house was called Zum Lufti, hence the genre Luftmalerei. The translation of the terminology also means 'air painting'. Religious themes are popular subjects, as well as frescoes illustrating the profession of the house-owner.
................a large cuckoo clock!
..................leaving Oberammergau to cycle back to Fussen (40km)
Water fountain in Unterammergau.
Horses and cart leaving Schober.
Day 7: Circular from Fussen (approx 40km)
Day started cool and showery but cleared by about 11am to a hot and sunny day again. This was an extra day so we made our own route.
In 1468 Sigmund Freyburg of Eisenberg erected a small manor in the village of Hopferau. The stepped gable with tiny turrets was added in 1830/40 to replace a very steep plain gable. In 1999 it was turned into a congress and cultural centre. Since 2005 it has been a small hotel and restaurant but is still a refuge of peace and silence.
A little chapel in the middle of nowhere!
Lunch stop at Weissensee.
Alatsee. This was worth the steep cycle up to, a beautiful spot on the last day.
The top photo was in the hotel at Fussen. Our night wear was 'arranged' on the beds when we returned! The lower photo was at the 'plush' Park hotel.
Bavaria is predominantly a farming area.
"The photographers are back, Daisy"
" If I hide here, they won't take this one!"
How long have these two stood here???
Figurettes on the maypoles represent the trades of the village.
Bronze statues in Fussen.
Traditional Bavarian dress.
The fairy-tale castle, taken from the Marienbrucke, with the Forggensee in the background. Construction on Ludwig's castle began in 1869 and aborted on Ludwig's early death in 1886. It owes its white appearance to the Schwangau marble from the nearby quarry at Schwansee used to adorn the facades of the main building.
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