Hiking: Beichelstein circuit
On the 17,1 kilometer-long Beichelstein tour you get to know the dream landscape around the Füssen district of Hopfen am See, which is also known as the Allgäu Riviera due to its southern flair in front of a breathtaking Alpine panorama. The hike leads over sunny meadows and through beautiful forests, but also includes a few moderate meters of altitude. At the end it leads up to the Hopfen castle ruins, the oldest stone castle in the Allgäu.
On the banks of the picturesque Hopfensee - one of the warmest lakes in Bavaria - lies the Füssen district of Hopfen am See, a popular Kneipp and climatic health resort. Hopfen am See offers a unique, southern flair with a magnificent picture-book panorama. Around the Hopfensee you can enjoy numerous leisure activities all year round, such as hiking, swimming, boating, fishing and playing golf. On the Beichelstein tour you get to know the beautiful landscape here better and can look forward to wonderful natural impressions and unforgettable views. The start and finish point of the hike is the Tourist Information in Hopfen am See. If you arrive via the A7 motorway, take the Füssen exit and follow the B310 to Hopfen. The federal highways B16 and B17 also take you to Füssen, from where Hopfen is very well signposted. Free parking spaces are available, for example, on the west bank of Lake Hopfensee. Train travelers can get to Hopfen am See from Füssen train station with the 56 bus line, which runs every hour. There are no high peaks that need to be conquered on the Beichelstein circuit, but you should still be fit enough for the 17 kilometer long hike.
First of all, on this hiking tour you stroll in a relaxed manner along the waterfront in Hopfen am See and enjoy the 180 degree dream view over the Hopfensee to the Allgäu mountains and the world-famous Neuschwanstein castle. We then walk along the banks of the Hopfensee, which is one of the warmest lakes in the foothills of the Alps and offers great natural impressions. Occasionally you come across rare water birds such as grebes or coots, which have their nesting places here in the bank area. Via the Vils car park you hike into the Hopfener Forest, whose intact flora and fauna will enchant every nature enthusiast. A little later you hike along the Ostallgäuer hiking trail through sunny meadows and pass the hamlets of Rohrweiher and Hopferwald. At some point the path noticeably increases and the tour becomes more strenuous.
Through the hamlet of Ober-Langegg, whose pretty little chapel is worth taking a closer look at, you go up to Alpe Beichelstein, which is surrounded by lush meadows where cattle graze in summer. It is advisable to take a break in Alpe Beichelstein, as there are no other places to stop for refreshments on this hike. Here you can fortify yourself with a delicious and hearty Bavarian snack or try warm Allgäu delicacies before continuing the hike.
Rested and strengthened, you then follow the path that leads behind Alpe Beichelstein over the uncultivated Senkele Alpe into the beech forest. Here too, nature presents itself intact and from a particularly beautiful side. When you come to a hiking trail, turn right to reach the Koppenkreuz via a small plague cemetery. From here you go up to the Hopfen castle ruins, which lie on a hill above the Füssen district. Hopfen Castle is the oldest stone castle in the Allgäu and remains of walls up to three meters high have been preserved. Once in 12. In the 19th century, a Welf family of servants lived at the castle before it became the property of the Bishopric of Augsburg and was used as an office by the 1322 provost until 1322 . Due to the new construction of the High Castle in Füssen, the castle was no longer needed and fell into disrepair over the following centuries. Beginning of 18. In the 19th century, the St.
Mang monastery was converted into Füssen and the ruins of the castle were exploited as a quarry. From 1999 , the city of Füssen began renovation work, so that the basic structure of the castle complex is visible again today. The city also had a panoramic pulpit built from which visitors can enjoy an unforgettable panoramic view of the Ammergau Alps and Tannheim Mountains. You should definitely take out your camera here to capture this view. After visiting Hopfen Castle, we go down to the Tourist Information in Hopfen, where this eventful hiking tour ends.
After the charming Beichelstein circuit, it's a good idea to stay a while in Hopfen am See and have some fun. On summer days, we recommend a visit to the Hopfensee outdoor pool, which offers comfortable sunbathing areas and includes a children's playground and a mini golf course. A pedal boat ride on the Hopfensee is wonderfully relaxing after a long hike. There is a boat rental on the shore. Of course, there are also numerous cozy cafés and restaurants in Hopfen that pamper their guests with all sorts of Allgäu delicacies. There are some nice ways to end a successful day of hiking in Hopfen pleasantly.
