On the 13,8 km long summit hike to the Säuling, you follow royal footsteps in a dream landscape to climb the 2047 meter-high Säuling and enjoy an unforgettable view over the Allgäuer Königswinkel from its summit. However, this attractive mountain tour is only suitable for experienced mountain hikers and requires good fitness, sure-footedness and a head for heights.
The mighty Säuling is Füssen's local mountain and, with its striking shape reminiscent of a pyramid, is a landmark that can be seen from far away. In 19. In the 19th century, the royal family around Maximilian II often went on trips to this mountain, which is right on the German-Austrian border. A summit hike to the Säuling offers wonderful impressions and breathtaking views over the region around Füssen with its scenic and architectural sights. However, you need to be in good physical condition as well as sure-footedness and a head for heights for this hike, as some steep and difficult passages have to be overcome. Ankle-hugging hiking boots with a good profile and hiking poles are recommended for this mountain tour. Your starting and finishing point is the Schwangau district of Hohenschwangau, where the royal castles sit in the middle of a picturesque rocky landscape.
From Füssen you can reach Schwangau via the B17, where you follow the signs “Hohenschwangau / Königsschlösser”. There are sufficient parking spaces available. Travelers using public transport can get to Hohenschwangau from Füssen train station with bus lines 73 and 78. For the hike, which is almost 14 km long, you should plan at least 7 Stunden and take enough provisions with you.
At the starting point of the tour in Hohenschwangau, you first walk along the ticket center towards Neuschwanstein Castle. Anyone who wants to visit this world-famous attraction, which was created between 1869 and 1886 on behalf of the fairy tale king Ludwig II, after the tour can now get a ticket from the ticket center. At the castle, a gravel path branches off to the right, which leads over the toboggan run to the “Jugend” viewing point. Here you have a beautiful view over the Allgäuer Königswinkel with its castles, mountains and lakes. You continue hiking along the water pipe path to the Wildsulzhütte, where you keep left to begin the ascent to the Säuling. The path winds steeply in serpentines up the mountain. From the iron ladder onwards it becomes more challenging and rocky; Some sections of the path are secured with wire ropes, which makes climbing easier.
Finally you reach the picturesque Säulingwiese, where King Maximilian II and his wife Queen Marie once enjoyed having picnics or two. Of course, it makes sense to do as the royal couple did and thus relax and strengthen yourself a bit. From here the path continues over rocky ground to the summit cross of the Säulings. Here, hikers can enjoy a phenomenal dream view of the landscape around Füssen with its numerous lakes, magnificent mountains and the royal castles Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau.
On the descent, you first go back to the Säulingwiese and then on a via ferrata secured with chains down to the Säulinghaus. This section of the hiking tour is the most difficult and requires surefootedness and a head for heights. You are now on the Tyrolean side of the Säuling border mountain. At a height of 1720 meters stands the serviced Säulinghaus, which invites you to take a leisurely break. Here you can enjoy a hearty snack or treat yourself to Allgäuer and Tyrolean hut dishes. Rested and strengthened, we then continue down the mountain, around the Pilgerschrofen, until we arrive back at the Wildsulzhütte. From here you hike to the “Youth” viewpoint back in the direction of Neuschwanstein Castle. A little way in front of the castle, a path branches off and leads into the wildly romantic Pöllat Gorge. There are numerous small and larger waterfalls here, which give an idea why this gorge was one of Ludwig II's favorite places.
The Marienbrücke leads high over the gorge, from which you have a great close-up view of Neuschwanstein Castle. After passing the bridge, you finally hike back through the Pöllat Gorge to Hohenschwangau. You can cool your tired hiking feet in a mountain stream with ice-cold water and then have enough strength to take part in the 30 30 30-minute tour of the castle. The imposing castle impresses with huge halls full of splendor and art treasures, which take you into the world of legends and fairy tales and regularly amaze well over a million visitors a year. The romantic residential palace Hohenschwangau can also be viewed in the form of a guided tour that lasts approximately 30.
The summit hike to the Säuling offers experienced mountain hikers in good shape a wealth of great impressions as well as an unforgettable summit view over the Allgäuer Königswinkel. This charming mountain tour is a real hiking highlight and should not be missed on a holiday in Allgäu.
