At more than 15 km², Forggensee is Bavaria’s fifth-largest lake and Germany’s largest reservoir. It offers a striking introduction to the landscapes of Ostallgäu, where bodies of water, mountains and cultural discoveries each provide a different focus. The same variety can be seen in the activities on offer: you can follow cycling and hiking routes, include seasonal boat trips in your plans, or plan a visit to a museum and the royal castles.
Forggensee and mountain landscapes
Forggensee is a striking body of water not only because of its size: it is also Germany’s largest reservoir. If you would like to explore the lake on a cycling trip, the Forggensee cycle route runs all the way around it. During the summer season, Forggensee boat cruises run regular trips. The cycle route and boat cruises offer two different ways to include the lake in your travel plans. If you are planning a boat trip, it is a good idea to check the latest sailing times in advance.
The mountains in the Ostallgäu district also give the landscape its own distinctive character. They form part of the Vilser Gebirge in the southwest and the Ammergebirge in the southeast. At 2,082 metres, Hochplatte is the highest mountain in Ostallgäu. The region’s landmarks thus range from a large reservoir to clearly defined mountain ranges and a highest peak. Which ones shape your trip depends on whether you would rather focus on bodies of water or mountain landscapes.
Cycling routes, hiking trails and winter activities
For cycling trips, the RadReiseRegion Ostallgäu includes regional routes that extend across the whole of Ostallgäu. Each route is 25 to 76 kilometres long, consistently signposted and has its own theme. Distance and theme are therefore two concrete points to consider when choosing a route. Each theme gives its route a distinct focus, while the varying distances show that the regional routes are not all the same length.
There are 32 local routes for hiking in Ostallgäu. They showcase special natural and local treasures. The two types of routes therefore differ in both activity and perspective: the regional routes are designed for cycling and extend across the region, while the local routes are for hiking and draw attention to nature and local places. If you are choosing between cycling and hiking, you can start by deciding which kind of discovery best suits your trip.
Winter sports at the Alpspitzbahn Nesselwang offer a distinct seasonal activity. The lift provides access to the runs around the 1,575-metre-high Alpspitz; the ski area offers family-friendly slopes and a children’s ski area. This makes it different from the summer tours on Forggensee. Operating conditions may change with the seasons, so check the latest information before your visit.
World Heritage and cultural discoveries
Since 12 July 2025, Neuschwanstein Castle, together with Linderhof Palace, the Royal House at Schachen and Herrenchiemsee Palace, has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage. The designation brings these named buildings and places together under a shared World Heritage status. Visiting the two royal castles, Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau, is subject to a specific condition: visits are possible only as part of a guided tour. Plan your visit accordingly and check available dates in advance.
The South Seas Collection beside the Obergünzburg Local History Museum offers a different cultural focus. It now displays more than 1,500 everyday and cultural objects. Anyone interested in such objects will find a distinct focus here alongside the World Heritage royal castles. Together with the landscape and route options, the collection offers another perspective on your trip: cultural discoveries await not only outdoors, but in the local towns and villages too.
When planning your trip, you can weigh up these interests: the lake and boat trips during the summer season, cycling and hiking routes with different themes and lengths, winter activities at the Alpspitzbahn, or cultural visits and collections. When choosing a hotel in Ostallgäu, it is worth first deciding which of these perspectives will be the main focus of your trip.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Oberostendorf, Eggenthal, Füssen, Lechbruck Am See, Nesselwang, Pfronten, Halblech, Eisenberg, Kaufbeuren, Marktoberdorf, Roßhaupten, Schwangau, Seeg, Buchloe, Stötten Am Auerberg, Unterthingau, Mauerstetten, Waal, Germaringen, Biessenhofen, Pforzen, Westendorf, Ronsberg, Lamerdingen, Obergünzburg, Rieden am Forggensee.
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