Tips for day trips

Are you looking for somewhere for the whole family to visit? If so the Naturparkhaus Klimmbrücke is the perfect choice for both younger and older visitors. The Naturparkhaus Klimmbrücke is housed in a building which has been built over the Lech River near the village of Elmen. Its unique location is impressive. The Naturparkhaus is home to an information centre about the Lech River Nature Park. There is also a playground nearby with a balancing course, a climbing slide and a zip wire. Families also enjoy visiting the maze which is in the shape of a river landscape and made using willow branches. 

Anna Stainer-Knittel was born on July 28^th in 1841 in Elbigenalp. She is known in the German speaking world as the Geierwally and led an intriguing life. At the age of 17 she climbed down a very steep cliff to remove an eagle’s nest in the Alperschontal. She went on to become the only woman studying at the Munich Art Academy and a local legend. It came as no surprise that the open air theatre in the village of Elbigenalp was named after this renowned painter. The stage has been built into the rockface in the Bernhardstal Gorge creating a truly unique theatrical backdrop which captivates thousands of theatregoers every year. 

In the village of Holzgau there’s a suspension bridge which spans the ruggedly picturesque Höhenbachtal Gorge. The bridge connects wonderful hiking routes from the sunny Gföllberg slopes to those on the Schiggenberg slopes and on to the impressive Simms Waterfall. 

The Vitalweg trail in Holzgau helps visitors to discover the 5 pillars of healthy living identified by Kneipp. These are plants, exercise, balance, water and nutrition. 

Between 1780 and 1840 many local people traded goods across the nearby borders with different countries. When these traders returned to the Lechtal they wanted to show off their new found wealth and success and so they built a number of impressive houses in Holzgau with beautifully painted exteriors. The word Lüftlmalerei in German references the first person to paint frescos on the exterior of houses. He lived in a house called Zum Lüftl  in the town of Oberammergau and he called himself the Lüftlmaler.

The Ehrenberg Castle is just a 30 minute drive away. The historic medieval castle was built in 1296 and has impressive fortified walls and high towers. 

The Highline 179 is the world’s longest Tibetan style pedestrian suspension bridge and spans 406 meters. The bridge sits at a dizzying height above the B179 road and has fantastic panoramic views. 

It is only a 40-minute drive to Füssen. Today Neuschwanstein is one of the most visited castles in Europe. In 1886, shortly after the death of King Ludwig II, “the castle of the fairy tale king” was opened to the public. The unique location, on a rock above the Pöllat Gorge with mountain views, could not be more dramatic.

Less well known, but no less beautiful, is Linderhof Palace, the only larger palace building that King Ludwig II saw completed during his lifetime.