New Year's swim

The first mission of the new year is always freezing cold for the water rescuers from Füssen and the surrounding area. Traditionally, on New Year's Day at dusk, up to a hundred daring lifeguards dive into the wintry cold Lech. They then float downstream past the old town of Füssen by torchlight to wish the thousands of spectators a Happy New Year.

If you would like to witness this impressive spectacle, you should secure a good spot on the banks of the Lech or on the Theresienbrücke bridge below St. Mang's Monastery in good time on January 1st. From 4 p.m., you can shorten the waiting time here with mulled wine, punch and hot sausages until the first torches can be seen at the bend in the Lech at around 5.30 p.m.. As the torch-lit floats pass the Theresienbrücke bridge, the Füssen firecrackers salute the New Year with their heavy hand-held firecrackers and cannon. Once everyone is safely back on dry land, there is a firework display over the Lech at the end.