Discover Penzberg: Mining, art and nature

Penzberg between mining history, art and nature

Penzberg combines mining history and art with outdoor attractions. At the Penzberg Museum – Campendonk Collection, an exhibition on Nazi-era history, a reconstructed miner’s home and works by Heinrich Campendonk come together. Outdoors, the spoil heap and Eitzenberger Weiher offer a different perspective. The Mining Trail passes 13 stations where former mining facilities are presented and described. This lets you give cultural and landscape interests different weight during your stay.

Art and local history at the museum

The permanent exhibition at the Penzberg Museum – Campendonk Collection focuses on Nazi-era history and the so-called “Penzberg Murder Night.” A reconstruction of a miner’s home from around 1920 adds another historical perspective; it is housed in a listed historic building. The museum thus brings together different aspects of Penzberg’s history without requiring any one topic to take centre stage.

The collection features the world’s largest exhibition of works by Heinrich Campendonk, including paintings, drawings and vivid reverse-glass paintings. Campendonk was the only artist in the “Blue Rider” group to immortalise Penzberg in his paintings. For art enthusiasts, the collection therefore also offers a connection to the town; its subjects and varied forms can be explored from different perspectives.

Mining history at the museum and along the trail

In the wider Weilheim-Schongau destination, the Penzberg Mining Museum preserves the memory of the town’s bituminous coal mining, which operated from 1796 to 1966. The museum is at Karlstraße 36, in the basement of the secondary school’s rear building; access is via the schoolyard. It is about a ten-minute walk from Penzberg railway station. Check access arrangements before your visit. The museum offers multilingual guided tours for international visitors, families and school classes.

The Mining Trail was established by the Penzberg Miners’ Association. Its 13 stations present and describe former mining facilities. The trail complements a museum visit with another way to explore mining: the museum focuses on the history of bituminous coal mining, while the trail highlights the mine’s former facilities.

Trails and views from the spoil heap

The spoil heap was formed in 1974 from the mine’s former rubble mounds and was transformed into a green oasis in the heart of Penzberg. Its plateau has walking and hiking trails, and the spoil heap offers panoramic views of the Loisach-Kochelsee moorland and the Alpine range. Here, exercise and scenery take centre stage, while the museums and trail explore the history of mining. You can consider these two perspectives separately when planning your visit or combine them.

Eitzenberger Weiher and excursions nearby

Eitzenberger Weiher lies in the northwest of Penzberg. This small moor lake is set in gently rolling, wooded countryside. The water is described as silky; a securely anchored raft and several bathing jetties are located at the lake. It covers just over five hectares and is ten metres deep. There are also more than 18,000 square metres of well-maintained lawn for sunbathing. The figures for its area and depth give an idea of the lake’s size, while the lawn, raft and jetties describe the visible features on site.

For cycling and hiking ideas, the Penzberg Cycling and Hiking Map includes suggested routes around Penzberg and as far as Weilheim, Bernried, Bad Tölz and Kochel am See, as well as long-distance cycling and hiking trails. Map editions and route alignments may change, so check the current edition if you are planning a specific trip. The town bus network has four routes serving individual districts. Routes 940 and 941, along with two direct routes, generally start and end in the town centre and at the railway station. Routes and frequencies may change, so it is advisable to check the current timetable before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Hohenpeißenberg, Pähl, Wielenbach, Schongau, Weilheim in Upper Bavaria, Bernbeuren, Polling, Rottenbuch.

Return to the wider travel overview: Weilheim-Schongau.