Burgberg in the Allgäu is a place where mining history comes to life both in the museum village and in historic tunnels. There is also a castle ruin above the southern edge of the village, along with various ways to enjoy the outdoors, from the Burgberg Family Hiking Trail to the Allride Line downhill run. You can therefore decide which activities you would like to combine before choosing where to stay.

Mining history between exhibits and tunnels

The Geology theme hut in the Erzgruben Burgberg museum village presents the history of mining in the Allgäu alongside the geology of the Allgäu Alps and the Grünten. It also displays a mineral collection featuring fossilised snails, mussels and shark teeth. Admission to the museum village is free; check the current policy before your visit, as admission arrangements may change.

Those who would like to experience mining history in the tunnels themselves can join the Erzgruben Burgberg Discovery Tour. Accompanied by a mine guide, visitors walk through the countryside to and into the historic tunnels of the Theresiengrube and Annagrube. Helmets and lamps are used when entering the tunnels. The tunnel entrances, approximately 25 metres long, lead into the original mining area. The two offerings therefore have different focuses: the theme hut centres on geology and the collection, while the guided tour also takes visitors into the historic tunnels.

Another historical site is Burgberg Castle Ruin. It is one of the oldest tower castles in the Allgäu and was carefully secured from 1992 to 1997, with minimal intervention in the building fabric. Its location above the southern edge of the village adds another chapter to the local history alongside the mining story.

Hiking trails and downhill riding, each with its own character

The trails also differ in their themes and routes. The Burgberg Family Hiking Trail leads from the nature discovery station at the quarry to the HolzerPfad mountain forest adventure trail, where children learn about historical work in the mountain forest. Stage 08 of the Himmelsstürmer, a route in the Allgäu Hiking Trilogy, runs from Rettenberg over the Grünten and through a rugged gorge to Burgberg. Check the current route before setting out, as it may change.

For mountain bikers, the Freizeit Allride Line is a varied downhill run; downhill experience is an advantage on this trail. Check trail conditions and whether it is operating before riding. Burgberg thus offers a range of activities: a themed trail about historical forestry work, a stage through the landscape and a downhill run for mountain bikers with downhill experience.

Getting there and choosing a hotel

Visitors can take the Ringbus line to the Ortsmitte stop in Burgberg and continue on foot from there. Timetables may change, so check current connections before travelling. If you are looking for a hotel in Burgberg in the Allgäu, it helps to first organise your plans around your main interests: mining and history, hiking trails or downhill mountain biking. That way, you can choose where to stay based on the experiences that matter to your trip.

More destinations in the wider Oberallgäu travel region

If you look beyond Burgberg to the wider Oberallgäu travel region, other towns offer their own highlights. Oberstdorf has 200 kilometres of hiking trails and nature trails. Visitors can also see the Heini-Klopfer ski flying hill; the tower lift takes them to the viewing platform on the hill's tower. In Immenstadt-Bühl, the Nagelfluhkette Nature Park Centre is located right by Lake Alpsee. Its free-admission interactive exhibition explores animals, plants, their habitats and the special features of the protected area. These examples offer a broader view of the region and are separate from the attractions described in Burgberg.

Discover more destinations: Waltenhofen, Oberstaufen, Sonthofen, Fischen in the Allgäu, Wiggensbach, Weitnau, Obermaiselstein, Rettenberg

Back to the wider travel guide: Oberallgäu.