Füssen: Old Town, St. Mang and Hopfensee

Old Town and Architectural History

Füssen’s old town features medieval lanes, an old town wall, Baroque churches and monasteries, and the High Castle. The townscape brings together different architectural styles and periods. At the High Castle, you can see late-medieval trompe-l’œil paintings on the courtyard façades. The castle is also one of the most significant secular buildings of the German Late Gothic period. A secular building is a non-religious structure; here, the term adds an architectural perspective to the façade paintings.

The former Benedictine monastery of St. Mang in Füssen is a Baroque complex and is among Germany’s nationally significant cultural monuments. The Museum of the City of Füssen is located in the former monastery. So when exploring St. Mang, you can include both the Baroque monastery complex and the municipal collection in your cultural itinerary.

St. Mang: Frescoes, Tours and Museum

The many ceiling frescoes in the parish church of St. Mang depict scenes from the life of Saint Magnus. Regular church tours include the carved choir stalls, the 1703 Jäger organ, the crypt and the burial vault. If you plan to take this tour, check the current schedule before your visit: availability and timings may change.

The Museum of the City of Füssen displays historical lutes and violins. It illustrates the stages involved in making a lute or violin. Children can try out a decorated lute and listen to the sounds of other historical instruments. This hands-on opportunity is distinct from viewing the collection and learning about the craft processes on display. Check the latest visitor information and programme before your visit.

Hopfen am See: Nature, Trails and Water

Hopfen am See is a district of Füssen. A designated nature conservation area stretches around Lake Hopfensee, with rare plants and nesting sites for waterbirds. The species listed include great crested grebes, coots, wild ducks and grey herons.

The flat Hopfensee circular trail is about seven kilometres long and makes for a leisurely walk of 1.5 to 2 hours. The stated distance and duration can help you plan the route as a separate part of your day. Local boat-rental businesses along the lakeside promenade hire out rowing boats, pedal boats, stand-up paddleboards and kayaks. This gives you a choice between a flat route on land and different types of boats on the lake. Rental availability and operating arrangements may change; check the latest information in advance.

The history of the district is also present by the lake: the remains of the castle ruins above Lake Hopfensee are considered the oldest surviving stone castle in the Allgäu. The ruins therefore add a distinct historical point of interest to the area’s nature and activities.

More to Explore in the Ostallgäu

In the wider Ostallgäu destination, Neuschwanstein Castle, Linderhof Palace, the King’s House on Schachen and Herrenchiemsee Palace have together been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site since 12 July 2025. Visits to the two royal castles, Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau, are possible only as part of a guided tour. If you would like to visit either of these two castles, plan to join a guided tour.

The mountains in the Ostallgäu district can also be understood in their regional context: in the southwest they are part of the Vilser Gebirge, and in the southeast of the Ammergebirge. At 2,082 metres, the Hochplatte is the highest mountain in the Ostallgäu. These details describe the landscape of the wider destination, not additional features of Füssen.

Discover more destinations: Hopfen am See, Weißensee, Oberried, Eggenthal, Nesselwang, Stötten am Auerberg, Halblech, Roßhaupten

Go to the wider travel overview: Ostallgäu.