The Lechweg is a 2012 in-born long-distance hiking trail that leads from the source of the Lech in Vorarlberg, Austria, for approximately 125 kilometers to the Lechfall in Füssen. Along its course, hikers come through varied natural landscapes in three regions and two countries. At Füssen, hiking enthusiasts can get a taste of this charming long-distance hiking trail on the last stage of the Lechweg, which runs from the Austrian municipality of Pflach via Hohenschwangau to Füssen.
The newly created Lechweg follows the course of the river and makes easy alpine hiking possible in three different regions, all of which have been shaped by the Lech over centuries. Hikers can look forward to unique experiences both in the Austrian Arlberg area, where the Lech rises near Lake Formarinsee, as well as in the Lechtal-Reutte nature park region and in the southern Allgäu. On the Lechweg you pass one of the largest ibex colonies in Europe, cross the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in Austria and discover the Bavarian royal castles in Ostallgäu. The last stage of the Lechweg leads 15,7 kilometers from the Austrian town of Pflach via Hohenschwangau to the Lechfall in Füssen and offers the opportunity to get to know this long-distance hiking trail. The starting point of the stage is the Tyrolean community of Pflach.
To get there, first take the A7 motorway or the federal highways B309, B16 and B17 to Füssen and then in the direction of Hohenschwangau until the B17 branches off to the right to Austria. We recommend that you park your car at the Ziegelwies Forest Adventure Center in Füssen and take the 74 bus from there to Pflach. If you use public transport, you can also take the 74 bus line from the Füssen train and bus station to Pflach. This last stage of the Lechweg is moderately demanding and you should plan around five and a half hours for it.
The last stage on the Lechweg begins in Pflach at the Gasthof Schwanen, where hikers will also find the long-distance hiking trail marking - a white L on a black background. The route runs behind the inn to the right, under the bypass road and out of Pflach. Hikers keep left here and walk below the bypass road before climbing to the right to the Kniepass. Now we walk along the pass road for a while before the path leads to the right into a small forest. After the hiking enthusiasts have passed the Sternschanze, from which a wonderful view of Oberpinswang is possible, they follow in the footsteps of the fairy tale king Ludwig II. To do this, they temporarily leave the Lechweg near Unterpinswang and stop at the Schluxen estate, where the fairy tale king used to often be a guest with his mother Marie. After a little refreshment with a snack, you return to the Lechweg via Fürstenstrasse. After the hikers have walked for a while on forest paths, they come closer to the Alpsee, which was once Ludwig II's favorite bathing lake, on forest paths.
The path to the Alpsee in Hohenschwangau leads past the Israelite, a long, overhanging rock face. The Alpsee soon appears in the hikers' field of vision, from whose banks a wonderful close-up view of the royal castles Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau perched on a rock is possible. Of course, the two magnificent castles can also be visited. A visit is only possible in the form of a guided tour and lasts approximately 30 minutes. The Alpsee is one of the cleanest lakes in Germany and on warm days it is a wonderful place to cool off. On the Alpsee circular route, hikers pass the Marienmonument, which marks Queen Marie's favorite bathing spot. The route then leads above the neighboring Schwansee, which is also a beautiful, picturesque swimming lake, over the Alpine Rose Trail to Füssen.
The Alpine Rose Trail, once created on behalf of Maximilian II for his wife Marie, offers unforgettable views of the foothills of the Alps and many of its attractions. In Füssen the hikers then climb the Calvary, which combines religion, nature and art in a special way. The path to the summit leads past fourteen artistically designed station chapels, which document the suffering of Christ. The view from the top of Calvarienberg over the city of Füssen and the vast foothills of the Alps is breathtakingly beautiful. After the descent, the hikers finally reach the Lechfall, where the Lechweg ends. The König-Max-Steg leads over this waterfall, from which you can observe the impressive natural spectacle in which the roaring masses of water flow over several steps into the Lech Gorge. In a niche above the gorge is the worth seeing royal bust of Maximilian II, which was set into the rock here on behalf of the city Füssen.
The Lechweg is a fascinating long-distance hiking trail and its final stage is rich in different impressions and sights along the way. Here you walk past many places that are closely linked to the Bavarian kings. Magnificent views over the picturesque foothills of the Alps crown this stage, which can only be recommended to all hiking enthusiasts on a holiday around Füssen.
