Allgäu, Geographic region in southern Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
Allgäu sits in southern Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, covering both gentle pre-alpine lowlands and steep mountain ranges with summits rising above 2000 meters (6600 feet). Rolling hills in the north gradually transition into rugged rock formations, while numerous valleys carve through the terrain in between.
The name comes from an old Germanic word referring to the Iller river that runs through the area. Evidence shows people settled here at the end of the last ice age, roughly 10,000 years ago.
Local festivals and markets bring together traditional Alphorn music and folk dances that villagers still practice throughout the year. Farmstead cheese dairies welcome visitors who want to watch artisans shape wheels of mountain cheese using methods passed down through generations.
The area offers skiing and snowboarding in several mountain resorts during winter months. In summer, marked trails lead through meadows and forests up to mountain peaks for walking and hiking.
Glaciers from the last ice age carved out small hills and lakes that shape the landscape today. The Lech and Iller rivers flow through these ice-carved valleys, linking different parts of the territory together.
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