Forggensee and Royal Castles

Neuschwanstein Castle and Hohenschwangau Castle with Tegelberg and Säuling are reflected in the last evening light on the calm surface of Lake Forggensee. Fortunately, from this viewpoint near Rieden, the traffic and crowds that prevail directly at the royal castles are not noticeable. This panorama makes it clear why Ludwig II built his castle in this theatrical Alpine setting, majestically resting above the plain and surrounded by rocky mountain peaks.

Lake Forggensee near Füssen, however, did not exist during the time of King Ludwig II. It was only created in the 1950s when the Lech river was dammed for regulation near Roßhaupten. Since it lies in the basin of a former, ice-age lake, Lake Forggensee nevertheless blends harmoniously into the Allgäu landscape. Although many natural areas worth protecting along the wild-flowing Lech were destroyed by the numerous weirs, it is now a recreational paradise for sailors, hikers, and cyclists.

That I was able to experience such an atmospheric evening was not foreseeable at midday. A thunderstorm with heavy rain forced us to stay in the cosy caravan with friends at Camping Seewang. But the sky soon cleared up in the afternoon. So we decided to go on the scenic hike to Rieden after all. First, the path leads close along the shore, past several sailing boat moorings, before ascending via tarmac lanes through pastureland near the hamlet of Dietringen.

Thanks to the cleansing effect of the rain, we experienced a clear view of the Ammergau and Tannheim Alps, which began to glow intensely in the warm evening light. It was the day before the summer solstice, so the spectacle of twilight stretched late into the night.