The Via Claudia Augusta was one of the most important Roman roads that led from the Adriatic region across the Alps to the Danube. In the 90 years of the last century it was revived as a tourist route, which has since then been followed by numerous travelers, especially those interested in culture and cuisine. If you want to follow in the footsteps of the ancient Romans on a Allgäu holiday, you can do so on the 13,1 km long Forggensee stage. The hiking tour offers wonderful views of the Allgäu mountains and can be combined with swimming fun and a boat trip on Lake Forggensee in summer. The Via Claudia Augusta, completed under the Roman Emperor Claudius, was the most important route in the first two centuries AD that led over the Alps and connected the Po Valleys with southern Germany.
In the middle of the 90 years of the last century, it was revived as a tourist route, as it leads through beautiful Alpine landscapes and there are many things worth seeing along its route. Tourists interested in culture and cuisine in particular follow the Via Claudia Augusta on their way through three countries. The Via Claudia Augusta is traveled by car, but also by bicycle or even, as in the old days, by stagecoach. The long-distance hiking trail of the Via Claudia Augusta is also very popular. All around Füssen, Allgäu holidaymakers can test out this long-distance hiking trail by completing the 13,1 km long Forggensee stage, which runs along Germany's largest reservoir. This easy hike, which is also suitable for seniors and children, is particularly attractive in summer, as it can then be combined with swimming fun and a boat trip. The start and finish point of the Forggensee stage is the boat harbor in Füssen.
Anyone coming from outside should first take the A7 or the federal highways B16, B17 and B310 to Füssen. From the city center, take Augsburger Straße in the direction of A7 and shortly after the roundabout at the cemetery turn right into Weidachstraße. The boat harbor, where there are enough parking spaces, is signposted here. Allgäu travelers who use public transport can reach the starting point of the hiking tour from the Füssen train and bus station in approximately 20 minutes. Approximately 4 Stunden must be planned for the Forggensee stage.
The Füssener boat harbor is located directly on Forggensee, a reservoir created in the 50er years of the last century that only reaches its full water level in summer. Then the body of water is a popular excursion destination that offers numerous sports and leisure activities, with a view of the impressive Allgäu mountains and the royal castles Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau. From the beginning of June to mid-October, two passenger ships sail on Lake Forggensee several times a day, taking their passengers on small and large tours. A boat tour on the Forggensee impresses with wonderful views of the mountains, the castles and the Füssen city skyline. It is one of the most popular boat trips in Bavaria and promises unforgettable holiday impressions. Hiking enthusiasts on the Forggensee stage also first get on one of the boats to get to the opposite bank to Roßhaupten.
There they cross the Forggensee dam and walk towards the information center and art park. On a small hill, the riverside path branches off to the left to Mangmühle. However, if you first go a little further straight, you can see works by Allgäu artists on the Roman theme that are worth seeing in the art park. The hiking enthusiasts then walk past the Mangmühle to the Tiefental Bridge. Behind the bridge, the access road to the campsite branches off to the left. On the right, a wide gravel path leads to Mansione Via Claudia Augusta, a small rest area that is suitable for a break with a snack.
A little later the hikers reach a crossroads near the boat harbor, where they turn left and then immediately turn right again into a small forest and walk past a Roman milestone to Dietringen. Here you follow the road until just before Osterreinen, where you turn left down to the boat harbor. The hikers now walk along the banks of Forggensee to Café Maria. Here, as well as in Roßhaupten and Dietringen, there are beautiful swimming spots that invite you to cool off in Lake Forggensee on hot days. From Café Maria you take a cycling and hiking path to the city gardening center in Ehrwang. Now the hikers follow the course of the B16 to the left turnoff, which leads under the federal road bridge to the Füssen festival hall. From here we go back to the starting point of the tour. An interesting route variant is available in the winter months when Lake Forggensee has largely been drained. Then hikers can walk directly from Café Maria across the bottom of the lake to the Füssener boat harbor. They follow the original route of the Via Claudia Augusta, traces of which can still be discovered.
The Forggensee stage on the long-distance hiking trail of the Via Claudia Augusta offers beautiful landscape impressions and is particularly recommended in summer. Combined with swimming fun and a boat tour, the whole family will have a lot of fun on this hike.
