Horn: Farmhouse History and Routes on Lake Forggensee

Horn combines listed farmhouses with routes through the village and along Lake Forggensee. This offers a chance to explore architectural history and plan excursions. When planning your stay, you can distinguish between local attractions in Horn and the additional offerings in the wider destination of Schwangau.

Farmhouses and Local History

The farmhouse at Frauenbergstraße 56 is a listed building with a Schwangau-style gallery. Its core dates from the 17th or 18th century; it bears the date 1783. Another listed farmhouse stands at Am Ehberg 32/34 in Horn. It is a longitudinally divided double house: the western section bears the date 1767, while the eastern section was built in 1842 with a gabled door and a segmental-arched barn door. The construction details show different dates and features that are easy to distinguish when comparing the two houses.

Names and traditions are also part of local history. Frauenberg is associated with Horn and was still called Mariaberg around 1850. Local history in Horn also recounts that in 1183 the Bishop of Augsburg gave land to St. Mang Abbey. This donation remains a reported event, not one presented as an established fact.

Lake Forggensee and Routes through Horn

Lake Forggensee is a first-order lake. It was created artificially by damming the Lech and lies west of the Horn Nord area. The lake is therefore more than a landmark in the landscape: its shores are also part of the routes described around Horn.

The Schwangau circular route leads from Alterschrofen through Horn and then runs below the district along the shore of Lake Forggensee. The Schwangau Runde cycling route first passes through the district of Horn and then follows the lake. Another cycling route, the Kleine Allgäuer Seentour, runs from Waltenhofen to Horn and continues via the Lech dam towards Füssen. The two Schwangau routes continue past Horn along Lake Forggensee; on the Kleine Allgäuer Seentour, continuing via the Lech dam towards Füssen is part of the route. Check local conditions before setting out.

Horn is connected via Schwangau’s transport network to Füssen railway station, Hohenschwangau, Alterschrofen, the village centre, Waltenhofen, Brunnen and Bannwaldsee. Guests can travel free of charge in second class on the listed bus and train services with the Schwangau guest card and the KÖNIGSCARD. You can take these connections into account alongside the routes through Horn when planning your trip.

More Experiences in the Wider Destination of Schwangau

The wider destination of Schwangau has more than 120 kilometres of hiking trails, from easy walking paths and half- or full-day hikes to challenging mountain tours. Conditions and seasonal availability may vary. A free hiking pass for children and adults is available from the Schwangau Tourist Information Office and includes tours of varying difficulty. The “Neuschwansteinblick” circular route follows flat paths from Schwangau to Hohenschwangau.

Cultural attractions are also part of what Schwangau has to offer. Across 16 exhibition rooms on two floors, the Museum of the Bavarian Kings presents the history of the Bavarian royal family and displays original artefacts as well as interactive museum technology. You can explore it independently, with or without an audio guide. Neuschwanstein Castle is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “The Palaces of King Ludwig II of Bavaria”; Hohenschwangau Castle is preserved as an exceptional architectural monument of the Romantic period. The royal castles cannot be reached by private car. Visitors should use only the paid P1 to P4 car parks in the Hohenschwangau valley.

In the wider destination of Schwangau, Lake Forggensee offers opportunities for sailing, rowing, stand-up paddleboarding and swimming; SUPs, pedal boats and kayaks can also be hired, and courses are available. Another option is the Kristall Therme Schwangau, which has six natural soda and brine pools, five saunas and a steam room. Relaxation areas, a restaurant, café and pool bar are also available, with views of Neuschwanstein Castle and Hohenschwangau Castle.

Go to the wider travel guide: Schwangau.