#tripaway Amidst beautiful, green natural scenery, just a few minutes from Neuschwanstein and the neighbouring castle of Hohenschwangau, Bavaria’s highest town, Füssen, lies on the shores of the Alpine River Lech. It marks the convergence of popular tourism routes such as the Romantic Road, the German Alpine Road and the Trans-Alpine Via Claudia Augusta. Up above, the Hohe Schloss, or High Castle, sits in majesty with its richly coloured illusionist paintings. In the romantic streets of Füssen old town, medieval town houses sit alongside impressive Baroque churches. In summer, the many street cafés lend the old town district an almost Italian flair. Beautiful views can be enjoyed not only from the towers of the Hohe Schloss but also from boat trips on Lake Forggensee – including Neuschwanstein Castle against an Alpine backdrop. Traces of the Bavarian kings abound in Füssen. The Hohe Schloss above the old town, the former summer residence of the Bishops of Augsburg, was due to be woken from its slumber in the 19th century and turned into a residence for Crown Prince Maximilian, father of the Fairy Tale King, Ludwig II. But things took a different turn: on a journey through the Alps, Maximilian came across the ruins of Schwanstein Castle and had his castle, Hohenschwangau, built there, just a few kilometres from Füssen. A royal dream – The Allgäu on both sides of the River Lech, between wild mountains and idyllic lakes – this was the favourite retreat of the Bavarian Fairy Tale King Ludwig II, where he could escape from the everyday life of government in Munich. Here he turned his dreams into reality with Neuschwanstein Castle. The view from Neuschwanstein Castle extends far out into the countryside. Standing on the balcony of the throne room on a castle tour, you can see why Ludwig II chose this particular location for his “Holy Grail”. #tripaway