How about combining your ski or snowboard vacation with a visit to the most popular castle in Europe: Neuschwanstein Castle? Stay in one of the boutique and luxury self-catering apartments or a rustic hotel and enjoy the view of the King’s Castles, which look impressive, especially when illuminated at night.
And as a bonus, you can use the Royal Thermal Spa with its indoor and outdoor hot pools, sauna and massages after a fun day in the mountains.
Here is a list of the best places to ski in and around Schwangau.
1. Tegelberg Mountain (1720 m) and Wintersport Arena / Schwangau Germany
Right in Schwangau, the village of King Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles is the Tegelberg winter sports arena with its cable car, 4 regular ski lifts and flood light at night. Here you will enjoy 7.3 kilometers of downhill track, as well as a separate run for tobogganing. This place is ideal for beginners and intermediate skiers, it has a ski school and a ski/snowboard equipment rental center. Snow machines provide guaranteed snow.
A special highlight is the 2 km long Neuschwanstein cross-country ski trail, which is illuminated at night… and of course skiing with “Cinderella’s castle” in view.
2. Buchenberg Ski Area (1140 m) / Buching Germany
Just a 5-minute drive from Schangau you will find a two-seater lift that will take you to the top of the Buchenberg. 2 more regular elevators provide variety.
A special highlight is the 2.5 km long toboggan run from the top of the mountain. The cabin on top of the mountain offers amazing views of the lakes and the valley. This area is ideal for beginners and families, as well as fans of sledding.
3. Alpspitz (1575m) Ski Arena / Nesselwang Germany
Just a 20-minute drive from Schwangau is the Alpspitz Ski Arena. It benefits from the longest daily illuminated track of 2 km in the region, has a cable car, one with 4 seats, one with 2 seats, 3 regular lifts and 2 for children. This diverse location offers skiing fun for advanced skiers as well as beginners and families. Ski school, ski/snowboard/sledge rental facilities and sledding areas are available, as are several excellent mountain lodges for your après-ski.
Snow machines provide guaranteed snow.
A special highlight here is the O’Neill Alpspitzpark, a modern Freerider snowboard park with floodlights every night from 6 to 9 p.m.
4. Breitenberg Mountain Ski Center (1877m) / Pfronten Germany
Just a 15-minute drive from Schwangau you will reach the Breitenberg ski center with its cable car, an open 4-seater and 5 regular lifts, as well as 4 children’s lifts. Near Steinbach you will find the Snowboard amusement park, the ski school and two other illuminated slopes.
A special highlight for the first time in winter 2009/10 is the 6.5 km long toboggan run from the top of the mountain.
5. Hahnenkamm Ski Resort (1900 m) / Reutte Austria
Just a 25-minute drive from Schwangau to Austria is the Hahnenkamm ski area with its cable car, two-seater and 5 more regular lifts. It has one of the best ski schools for adults and children. There you can rent skis and snowboards.
6.-9. Füssener Jöchle (1821m) and Ski Arena Tannheimer Tal / Austria
There are 4 ski resorts in the Tannheimer Tal in Austria, no more than 30 minutes from Schwangau, one of which is Füssener Jöchle in Grän. It has a cable car, one with 6 seats and 3 regular lifts. The track from the top is 3.5 kilometers long.
The other ski resorts here are Neunerköpfle / Tannheim, Schattwald and Nesselwängle.
10. Jungholz Ski Center / Jungholz Germany
About 40 minutes from Neuschwanstein Castle is a super-family ski center with two 4-seaters special for children and a training lift. For adults there are 4 regular elevators. Snow machines provide guaranteed snow.
There are even more cross-country/Nordic skiing opportunities that I will cover in a separate article. And if you get bored of alpine skiing, how about trying snowkiting, letting the wind on your kite drag you down the slope?