Penzberg: Mining History, Mining Spoil Tip and Pond

Penzberg combines mining history, museums and paths on the mining spoil tip with Eitzenberger Pond. When choosing accommodation, art, industrial history and the landscape offer distinct focuses for your stay. A snow-dependent cross-country skiing option in the wider Weilheim-Schongau district is the Filzloipe trail in Hohenpeißenberg.

Regional winter option in Hohenpeißenberg

The approximately seven-kilometre Filzloipe trail in Hohenpeißenberg is groomed in winter for skating and classic cross-country skiing. Check current snow conditions and grooming before making plans. This trail is in Hohenpeißenberg, not Penzberg; compare your preferred starting point with the actual address of your accommodation. There used to be a ski slope with a drag lift and a toboggan run on Penzberg’s mining spoil tip. This long-past period does not describe a current skiing facility.

Mining spoil tip and Eitzenberger Pond

The mining spoil tip was created in 1974 from the former spoil heaps of the mine and became a green oasis in the middle of Penzberg. There are walking and hiking paths on the plateau. From there, the panoramic view stretches across the Loisach-Kochelsee moorland to the Alpine range. The spoil tip thus combines its origins in mining history with paths and expansive landscape views.

The setting is different at Eitzenberger Pond in north-west Penzberg: the small moor lake lies in gently undulating woodland. It covers just over five hectares and is ten metres deep. Features by the water include a firmly anchored raft and several bathing jetties; there is also more than 18,000 square metres of well-maintained sunbathing lawn. If you are weighing up a walk with panoramic views against time by the water, these offer two distinct local options.

Mining history and museums

The Penzberg Mining Museum preserves the memory of the bituminous coal mining that operated from 1796 to 1966. You’ll find it at Karlstraße 36: it is in the basement of the school’s rear building and can be accessed via the schoolyard. From Penzberg railway station, it takes about ten minutes to walk to the museum. As train connections and access conditions may change, check both before your visit.

The museum offers multilingual guided tours for international visitors, families and school groups. The mining theme is complemented by the Mining History Trail, established by the Penzberg Miners’ Association. It follows 13 stops where former mine facilities are shown and described. The museum and trail therefore present industrial history in different ways: in the museum and through the stops along the route.

The Museum Penzberg – Campendonk Collection explores a different subject. Its permanent exhibition focuses on the history of the Nazi era and the so-called “Penzberg Night of Murder.” In a listed historic building, the museum also presents a reconstruction of a miner’s apartment from around 1920.

The collection includes the world’s largest exhibition of works by Heinrich Campendonk, including paintings, drawings and luminous reverse-glass works. Campendonk was the only artist from the “Blue Rider” group to immortalise Penzberg in his paintings. Thus, Penzberg’s mining heritage sites meet a distinct art history.

Local routes and getting around

For trips, the Penzberg cycling and hiking map includes suggested routes around the town as far as Weilheim, Bernried, Bad Tölz and Kochel am See. It also covers long-distance and hiking trails. Route suggestions on a map are a planning aid; routes and map editions may change, so check the latest edition before settling on a route.

The city bus network comprises four lines serving individual districts. Lines 940 and 941, along with two direct lines, generally start and end in the town centre and at the railway station. Routes and service intervals may change; check the current timetable before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Habach, Hohenpeißenberg, Peiting, Schongau, Huglfing, Seeshaupt, Peißenberg and Rottenbuch.

Go to the wider travel overview: Weilheim-Schongau.