The high castle of Füssen
The castle complex as an emblem
Sitting enthroned over the old town Füssens impressively the graceful high castle of Füssen belongs to the most photographed emblems.
Much has been speculated over the early history. The Roman armed forces camp set up between 300 - 350 A.D., named Foetibus. The further history is as complex as complicated. As of 1313 cloister and town were subordinate to the Augsburg bishops, however.
Bishop Friedrich II. of Zollern had the high castle enlarged to his shape of today and provided with a remarkable illusion painting at 1500. The high castle was part of the biggest and most important medieval castle complexes of Swabia.
A balanced collection of late Gothic, mostly Swabian painting presents itself in six rooms of different character in the second upper floor of the high castle today, completed by some paintings from the end of the 16th century.
The "great hall" with its coffered ceiling carved splendidly served as a representative hall in which emperor Maximilian I. was frequently greeted with his royal household as a guest of the bishop.
The branch office gallery of the Bavarian state painting collections with works of art of the late Gothic and renaissance of artists of the Allgäu and upper Swabia and the municipal picture gallery are located in the north section today.
Clock tower of the high castle
The tower watchman lived here and could overlook the entire medieval town. A cast bay, served for the defence of the castle, is on the side. The floors under the Türmerstube were prison cells.
