The 28,9 kilometer-long Bannwaldsee circuit is an easy and really great bike tour for connoisseurs, families and e-bike riders, which leads along gently ascending and descending cycle paths and low-traffic side roads past three picturesque lakes and the world-famous castles Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau. At the end, cyclists have the opportunity to crown the tour with an unforgettable boat trip on Lake Forggensee.
The dream landscape of the Allgäu surrounding Füssen is a real paradise for cyclists with ideal routes for every requirement. Whether mountain bikers, racing cyclists or pleasure and e-bike riders – everyone will find beautiful tours here where they can enjoy the wonderful nature with all their senses. An absolute highlight for leisure cyclists is the easy-to-manage Bannwaldsee circuit, which leads past three picturesque lakes and the royal castles Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau. On the gently ascending and descending cycle paths and traffic-calmed side streets, you can enjoy magnificent views of the Ammer Mountains, while the soothing Alpine air blows around your ears. In between you have the opportunity to visit the castles, cool off in the crystal clear water of the lakes and at the end take a boat trip on Lake Forggensee, which is already one of the highlights of a Allgäu holiday.
Since this bike tour is not very demanding, you can also take it with the whole family and even small children. The start and finish point of the 28,9 kilometer-long Bannwaldsee circuit is the Tourist Information in Füssen. If you are traveling with your own car, you can park it in the P5 “City/Sparkasse” car park nearby. There are free parking spaces in Füssen in the P2 parking lot at the “Federal Performance Center for Ice Hockey”. For the Bannwaldsee round you should plan at least 2 Stunden, and accordingly more if you are visiting the castles or stopping for a swim at the lakes.
After getting on your bike at the tourist information center in Füssen, you ride on Sebastianstrasse towards Schwangau. A cycle bridge, which runs parallel to the König-Ludwig-Bridge, leads over the wildly romantic floods of the Lech. At Alterschrofen you turn right to cycle to Schwanseepark and Hohenschwangau. The Schwanseepark was once the royal castle park of Hohenschwangau and today it is a popular local recreation area with wonderful walking paths and many, some rare, plant species. Blooming orchids, gentians and other flowers transform the park into a colorful sea of color in spring and summer. Finally you come along below the royal castles, which can of course also be visited. In particular, the Neuschwanstein castle, built between 1869 and 1886 on behalf of the fairytale king Ludwig II, which is reminiscent of an impressive knight's castle from the outside and is magnificently furnished with art treasures, gold and valuable furniture, is guaranteed to amaze and awe you. This world-famous symbol of romanticism can only be viewed in the form of a guided tour lasting approximately 30 minutes. Tickets for both castles are available at the ticket center on Alpseestrasse.
From Hohenschwangau, the bike tour, where wonderful natural impressions and beautiful views of the Ammergau mountains are omnipresent, continues to Bannwaldsee, which is considered one of the warmest lakes around Füssen. Here you cycle directly past a swimming area, so you can cool off on warm summer days. Afterwards, the only somewhat steep climb on this tour awaits you, but you can overcome it after a short time. At the small “Abracadabra” kiosk in Greith you have the opportunity to fortify yourself with buttermilk and lard and marvel at the kiosk owner’s impressive collection. A little later you cycle past the idyllic Hegratsrieder Lake, whose quiet, romantic spots on the shore are ideal for a nice picnic. You reach Brunnen via small farm roads, where you turn right after crossing a small bridge to Waltenhofen. We finally return to Füssen via the Schwangau district of Horn.
However, it is highly recommended to change to one of the passenger ships that run here several times a day in the summer at Brunnen or Waltenhofen on the eastern shore of Lake Forggensee and have yourself and your bike brought back to Füssen. The boat trip on Lake Forggensee is considered one of the most beautiful in Bavaria and delights with unforgettable views of the Allgäu mountains, the royal castles and the Füssen city skyline. The passenger ships travel from June to October on the Allgäu's largest lake, which is a reservoir but blends perfectly into the landscape in summer. A boat trip on Lake Forgen is the ideal and crowning conclusion to this wonderful bike tour, which impresses with fantastic holiday impressions and views of the magnificent mountains.
Connoisseurs, families and e-bike riders shouldn't miss the Bannwald circuit on a Allgäu holiday. This leisurely bike tour takes you past scenic and architectural sights that are among the most beautiful in the Allgäu. Since the tour is very easy, takes you past bathing spots and includes a boat ride at the end, children will also love it and have a lot of fun.
