Burgberg in the Allgäu: Ore Mines, Castle Ruins and Mountain Forest

Burgberg in the Allgäu brings together mining history, an old tower castle and trails with different themes. Above the southern edge of town lies Burgberg Castle Ruins, one of the oldest tower castles in the Allgäu. Between the ruins, ore mines and activities related to hiking and mountain biking, you can shape your stay around the experiences that interest you most.

Castle Ruins and Mining History

The castle ruins were carefully secured from 1992 to 1997, with minimal intervention in the historic fabric. In the museum village of the Burgberg Ore Mines, the geology exhibit hut explores the history of mining in the Allgäu, as well as the geology of the Allgäu Alps and Grünten. It also features a mineral collection and fossilised snails, mussels and shark teeth. Admission to the museum village is free; check the latest visitor information before your visit.

Those interested in mining can choose between an exhibition and a guided exploration: the discovery tour at the Burgberg Ore Mines takes visitors through the countryside and into the historic tunnels of the Theresien and Anna mines with a mine guide. Helmets and lamps are used to enter the tunnels. The tunnel entrances, about 25 metres long, lead into the original mining area. In this way, the exhibits and geological topics in the hut offer a contrast to a guided tour with a look inside the historic tunnels.

Trails with Different Focuses

The Burgberg Family Hiking Trail leads from the nature discovery station at the quarry to the HolzerPfad mountain forest play trail. Along the way, it teaches children about historic work in the mountain forest. This gives it a different thematic focus from the ore mines: here, the subject is former work in the mountain forest. If you are out with children, this specific content can provide a starting point for planning a day together, without requiring both trails to cover the same topic.

Mountain bikers can enjoy the Freizeit Allride Line in Burgberg, a varied downhill run. Downhill experience is an advantage on this trail. Check the latest trail conditions and whether the facility is operating before setting off. For hiking, Stage 08 of the Himmelsstürmer, a route in the Allgäu Hiking Trilogy, leads from Rettenberg over Grünten and through a striking gorge to Burgberg. As route itineraries may be revised, check the latest stage description before your hike.

Getting Here and Choosing Where to Stay

Visitors can take the Ringbus service to the Ortsmitte stop in Burgberg and continue on foot from there. Routes and timetables may change, so check the latest information before travelling. If you would like to focus on the Burgberg Ore Mines, the castle ruins or the trails described here, include Burgberg as a holiday destination in your search. If you would like to consider other places and themes, compare them as separate focuses rather than treating them as equivalent to what Burgberg offers.

In the wider Oberallgäu destination

Other town profiles in the wider Oberallgäu destination also offer specific ideas for planning. Oberstdorf has 200 kilometres of hiking trails and nature trails. Visitors can also tour the Heini-Klopfer ski flying hill; the tower lift takes visitors to the viewing platform on the ski jump tower. The Nagelfluhkette Nature Park Centre is in Immenstadt-Bühl, right by Lake Alpsee. Its free-admission interactive exhibition covers animals, plants, their habitats and the special features of the protected area. This makes it possible to weigh up different options within the Oberallgäu: Burgberg for its castle ruins and mining history, Oberstdorf for its hiking trails and ski jump, or Immenstadt-Bühl for its nature park centre and Lake Alpsee.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Weitnau, Waltenhofen, Rettenberg, Bolsterlang, Oberstdorf, Oy-Mittelberg, Haldenwang, Durach.

Back to the main travel overview: Oberallgäu.