The wonderful Mariengrotte is located below the Falkenstein castle ruins on the mountain of the same name near Pfronten in Allgäu. A trip to the Falkenstein impresses with 2 remarkable sights and also with an unparalleled dream view over the vast foothills of the Alps.
A hike up the 1268 meter-high Falkenstein promises lots of varied and great holiday impressions. Several paths lead up the mountain, which can be managed relatively easily even by inexperienced hikers and families with children. Both from Roßmoss, Meilingen and directly from Pfronten, via the König-Ludwig-Weg or the Maximiliansweg, you can reach the striking mountain, from the summit of which you have a dream view of almost the entire Ostallgäu. The route that begins at the Zirmenbrücke on the Breitenbergbahn in Pfronten Steinach is also very worthwhile. From here it takes around an hour to walk to the Mariengrotte and another half hour to the summit and the castle ruins.
The first highlight of a trip to the Falkenstein is the beautiful Mariengrotte, a high hollow under a vertical rock face on the south side of the Falkenstein. The grotto was lovingly decorated and equipped with larger-than-life figures of saints depicting the Mother of God Mary and Saint Bernadette. Located in the middle of impressive mountain nature, the Mariengrotte is a place of reflection and peace. A woman from Pfronten dreamed in 19. Century about an extraordinary grotto on the Falkenstein and told the local priest about it. He sent out an exploration party that actually found this cave. In the year 1889 it was equipped as the Lourdes Grotto and today it is a popular excursion destination.
From the Mariengrotte it only takes about half an hour to reach the summit of the Falkenstein. The Falkenstein castle ruins are located here, which are one of the most famous sights in the Ostallgäu due to their exceptional location. The highest castle complex in Germany was built at the end of the 13. Century on behalf of the Tyrolean Count Meinhard II, who used it to send a clear threatening gesture towards the Bavarian dukes, with whom he was then fighting over the Staufer inheritance in the Ostallgäu. The castle later served as a seat for Ausgsburg nurses and bailiffs before it was set on fire by the Tyrolean state government during the Thirty Years' War. This was to prevent it from falling intact into the hands of the advancing Swedish Protestant army. Ultimately, the Swedes changed their direction of march, so the destruction was pointless.
The Bavarian fairytale king Ludwig II was so impressed by the special location of the castle ruins that he purchased it in order to build another dream castle in the style of Neuschwanstein in its place. However, since “Kini” 1886 died unexpectedly, this plan was never realized. What a magnificent Falkenstein castle should have looked like is shown today in the city's museum Füssen.
A few years ago, a wooden viewing platform was created inside the castle ruins, from which you can enjoy a dream view over the Vilstal, the community of Pfronten and the Tannheim mountains. When the weather is good, the view even extends to Neuschwanstein Castle at Füssen. This view alone makes a hike to the Falkenstein highly recommended. Various refreshment stops on the mountain also make the tour a culinary delight.
The beautiful Mariengrotte, an extraordinary hilltop castle and an unforgettable view of the summit - Allgäu holidaymakers will be thrilled by a trip to the Falkenstein and will look back on it for a long time.
