Museum Penzberg – Sammlung Campendonk
Penzberg near the picturesque Osterseen lakes – Discover where Heinrich Campendonk found inspiration
The area around the Osterseen lakes that stretches from Lake Starnberg southwards to the undulating foothills around Penzberg, is one of nature’s real treasure troves. The 19 lakes near Iffeldorf present an impressive spectrum of colours, from silver-grey to turquoise green, set against the incomparable panorama of the Alps – a magical landscape that attracted Franz Marc to Sindelsdorf at the beginning of the 19th century. And with him his artist friends Kandinsky, Jawlensky and Münter who often spent time in the summerhouse in his garden. In 1911, at the age of 21, Heinrich Campendonk (1889–1957) came to Upper Bavaria from the Rhineland and became the youngest of the ‘Blauer Reiter’ artists. During his search for motifs for his paintings he was impressed by the mining town of Penzberg with its miners’ houses and pitheads. His paintings from this phase were only the start of his own very independent artistic output which continued into the 1950s. Since 2016 the new Museum Penzberg – Sammlung Campendonk has been home to the largest collection of his work. With his reverse glass paintings in particular he skillfully created artworks of unique beauty and fascination.
Heinrich Campendonk, Liebespaar (Adda und Heinrich), 1912, Museum Penzberg – Sammlung Campendonk © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2024
Tips for excursions
Polling artists’ village
Yesteryear today. Former monastery buildings are home to studios, exhibitions and installations by contemporary artists as well as series of concerts of the highest standard.
Artists’ trail, Sindelsdorf
A walk through this pretty village, the birthplace and home of the ‘Blauer Reiter’ – first and foremost Franz Marc – to where the artists lived and where they found their motifs and created their works.
Mining museum Penzberg
The newly designed mining museum explains coal mining in Penzberg with impressive exhibits, media stations and film documents. True-to-original roadways, together with heavy equipment, mine cars and a simulated blast, convey a realistic picture of working life underground.
Church of Christ the King and the Mosque in Penzberg
The dynamic former mining town offers a varied programme of events. Apart from the museum, a visit to the Church of Christ the King with its Campendonk windows, the Mining Museum and the impressive modern mosque are all a must.
Weilheim
The lively Old Town of Weilheim with its restored patricians’ houses, partly surrounded by the ancient town walls, is an in- viting place to stroll and shop.
Hotels in the region
Marina Hotel and Lakeside Restaurant ****
This resort, right on the shore of Lake Starnberg, is a five-minute walk from the Buchheim Museum and offers 4-star accommodation. A fine-dining lakeside restaurant, bar and event locations are also on site.
Stadthotel Berggeist
The hotel has 45 cosily furnished rooms with telephone, flat-screen TV, minibar and WiFi. Guests can look forward to a varied and extensive buffet breakfast in the morning.
Hotel & Landgasthof Osterseen ***s
Indulgence, nature, and genuine Bavarian hospitality— right on the shores of the Osterseen. Here, sophisticated regional cuisine blends with stylish hotel comfort and a unique location in Upper Bavaria’s Five-Lakes Region.
Hotel Garni Sterff
All rooms, studios and holiday flats are cosily and comfortably furnished. Enjoy our hospitality in a family atmosphere!