If there’s one thing we have plenty of in Bavaria, it’s beautiful landscapes. Mountains, lakes, forests, and caves – you certainly can’t complain about a lack of variety. This picturesque idyll is complemented by numerous large and small waterfalls, some of which attract so much attention that people travel across the country just to take a picture. The Königsbachfall waterfall became so popular that it had to be closed to the public. The situation is different at the Lechfall waterfall, which fortunately you can still visit and which offers a truly impressive spectacle.
Millennia-old nature meets modern technology
Photo: Helmut Kroiss/Pixabay
The Lechfall is located south of Füssen in a narrow gorge that was formed at the end of the Würm glaciation about 12,000 years ago. The meltwater from the Lech glacier formed a lake, whose outflow eroded the rock over time and created the gorge. The water plunged 100 meters into Lake Füssen. At the end of the 18th century, it was decided to make effective use of the water power and a weir was built. Since then, the Lech has flowed over five barrages and plunged 12 meters into the depths, where it enters the gorge. Thus, the Lechfall was born.
You can view the waterfall either from the viewing platform or from the König-Max-Steg footbridge, which takes you directly over the cascade. The footbridge has spanned the Lechfall since 1895 and was renovated in 2015. Since then, it has been accessible to wheelchair users, allowing them to enjoy the spectacle as well. However, the footbridge is not the only dedication to Maximilian II that you will find at the Lechfall. In a niche above the gorge, you can discover a bust depicting the Bavarian king.
The legend of Saint Magnus at the Lechfall
Photo: Alpay Aktas/Unsplash
Saint Magnus lived in Füssen in the 8th century and founded the local monastery of St. Mang. One day , while fleeing from demons, he jumped across the Lech, right where the Lechfall is located today. At the jumping point is the Magnsutritt, next to which stands a bronze cross. The Magnustritt is an oval indentation in one of the rocks along the banks of the Lech, reminiscent of a shoe print.
The Lechfall and the gorge together form a geotope and are designated as a natural monument. The geotope is also one of the 100 most beautiful in the state. The water of the Lech is often turquoise or jade green at this point, which is due to the many minerals in the water on the one hand and the low water temperature on the other. This rarely exceeds 6°C. You can visit the Lechfall all year round and at any time of day. And if this drop in the river is not enough for you, then you should visit Landsberg and the Lechwehr there.
