Füssen (German pronunciation:[ˈfʏsn̩]ⓘ) is atown inBavaria, Germany, in the district ofOstallgäu, situated one kilometre from theAustrian border. The town is known for violin manufacturing and as the closest transportation hub for theNeuschwanstein andHohenschwangau castles. As of2024-12-31, the town has a population of 15,287.
Füssen was settled in Roman times, on theVia Claudia Augusta, a road that leads southwards to northernItaly and northwards toAugusta Vindelicum (today'sAugsburg), the former regional capital of theRoman provinceRaetia. The original name of Füssen was "Foetes", or "Foetibus" (inflected), which derives fromLatin "Fauces", meaning "gorge", probably referring to theLech gorge.In Late Antiquity Füssen was the home of a part of theLegio III Italica, which was stationed there to guard the important trade route over theAlps.
Tower of the High Castle
Füssen later became the site of the "Hohes Schloss" (High Castle), the former summer residence of the prince-bishops ofAugsburg. Below the Hohes Schloss is the Baroque complex of the former Benedictinemonastery of St. Mang, whose history goes back to the 9th century. Füssen has Saint Mang (Magnus of Füssen) as itspatron saint. He and his Benedictine brother Theodor were two monks from theAbbey of Saint Gall and are considered to be its founders, in addition to theMonastery of Kempten.[3] Magnus' original burial place was in the small chapel he built. His bones were transferred to the crypt of the church built in 850. Around the year 950 all his bones disappeared.[4]
Thecanting coat of arms, depicting atriskeles symbol (alluding to the GermanFüsse "feet"), is based on a city seal used in the early 14th century.
Füssen is located on the banks of theLech River, which flows into theForggensee. TheForggensee is a man-made lake which was built to prevent flooding.[citation needed] It is the catchment area for all the melting snow in the spring, and is drained after the middle of October.
Füssen is 808 meters (2,651 ft) above sea level, surrounded by mountains of theAmmergau Alps. The castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau are located near the town. Located at the 47th parallel north, Füssen is one of the southernmost towns in Germany, at roughly the same latitude asSeattle, Washington, United States.
St. Mang Basilica.East view of St. Mang MonasteryThe Forggensee with Füssen in the distance.Füssen and the Lech River.Lech Falls.
The High Castle houses a branch gallery of the Bavarian State Collections of Paintings, which focuses on late Gothic and Renaissance works of art.[citation needed]
The oldestfresco in Germany can be found in the crypt of St Mang's Basilica.[citation needed] It dates back to about the year 980.
St Mang's Feast Day (6 September) is commemorated with aHoly Mass followed by a procession by torchlight through the old part of the city. During the week of the Saint's Feast a special 'Magnus Wine' is sold, with only 500 bottles produced.[citation needed]
Known beyond Füssen is the success ofEV Füssen, the localOberliga ice hockey club.
The local newspaper for Füssen is theAllgäuer Zeitung, printed daily except Sundays and onHoly Days of Obligation. It contains a special section with news from Füssen and the surrounding towns and villages called theFüssener Blatt.
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