Füssen Castle

The Hohes Schloss has largely preserved its late Gothic architectural form to this day. Later changes mainly affected the interiors.

The castle is located on the eastern spur of the mountain range, which at its other end bears Falkenstein Castle near Pfronten. The defensive complex was integrated into the city's fortifications. The "Hohes Schloss" together with the St. Mang Monastery, located somewhat lower, forms a characteristic ensemble above Füssen's old town.

A mighty neck ditch, carved out of the rock, separates the west side from the hinterland. This ditch, called "Schlucht" (gorge), was expanded under Prince-Bishop Friedrich II von Zollern (1486–1505). Behind it, the "Hoher Stock" (High Block) and the semicircular projecting keep protected the attack side, which is further reinforced by a Zwinger (outer bailey).

The elongated, trapezoidal floor plan of the core castle adapts to the terrain. To the south, a Zwinger was also laid out here, whose walls were lowered by half in the 19th century. In the southwest, the short flank wall of the city fortifications is still connected to the main castle. Here is also the outer gate of the castle complex. The gate path runs past the south side to the gate tower, into which the clock of the demolished Augsburg gate tower of the city wall was installed. To the left and right, the ring walls with their still partially covered battlements and a semicircular defensive tower above the Zwinger connect.

The horseshoe-shaped core castle opens to the east. The three-story side wings are topped by late Gothic gables adorned with pinnacles. The choir of the castle chapel projects polygonally from the gable front. In the west, the mighty keep (prison tower) watches over the fortress. The tower is connected to the side wings by short connecting structures. Above the northeast corner is the Storchenturm (Stork Tower), originally called "Hohes Haus" (High House). The residential tower has a high gabled roof with gable pinnacles.

The entire castle complex still retains its whitewashed exterior plaster, which serves as a base for the Gothic illusionistic paintings. The building material used was mostly the local alpine limestone, but brick tiles and river pebbles were also used. Portals and window frames usually consist of dressed sandstone.

The Illusionistic Paintings The courtyard facades of the castle wings and the gate tower were decorated around 1499 with unusually rich architectural and illusionistic paintings. The windows are framed by magnificent gables with crockets and finials. Numerous - larger and smaller - oriel windows adorned with coats of arms seemingly project from the facades. The Hechingen painter Fidelis Eichele is presumed to be the master who executed them. However, the current state is heavily restored.

The Interiors Despite numerous alterations and additions, some remarkable interiors have been preserved.

In the northern connecting wing are two "French Rooms" with late Gothic wooden ceilings. The north wing houses a late Gothic, cross-rib vaulted hall on five square pillars on the ground floor. The "Knights' Hall" on the 2nd floor (State Gallery) has a late Gothic, colorfully painted carved ceiling with figural half-reliefs, which are attributed to Jörg Lederer.

Numerous smaller rooms have also retained their beamed or stucco ceilings, tiled stoves, portals, or window frames, but are not always publicly accessible.