Summit cross
The golden symbol of Zugspitze
The summit cross over the course of time
August 1851
First transportation and erection of a summit cross initiated by Pastor Christoph Ott.
August 1882
Renovation after numerous lightning strikes - new location on the eastern summit.
October 1993
Erection of a replica due to severe damage caused by storms, hail, snow, thunderstorms and gunfire during World War II. The original cross, including bullet holes, is now on display in the Werdenfels Museum.
July 2025
Space for viewing, photos and stickers at the summit cross is limited and guests are exposed to alpine dangers on the way there. A replica is therefore set up in the exhibition at the summit station. This allows visitors to reach the summit cross without any risky climbing and leave their mark on it with stickers.
Background information on the summit cross replica in the exhibition
The space for viewing, photos and stickers at the summit cross is limited and guests are exposed to alpine dangers on the way there. The replica is intended to enable guests to visit the summit cross without any risky climbing and to leave their mark on it with stickers.
The replica is located next to the “90 years of the cogwheel train” exhibition in the summit station on Zugspitze (floor E1).
The summit cross has emotional value for many visitors. In our exhibition, guests have the opportunity to learn more about the history of the summit cross.
The replica was designed and made by artist Bernhard Rieger from Wallgau, who has worked with the Bayerische Zugspitzbahn for many years.
Information about the original summit cross
The first ascent of the Zugspitze by Lieutenant Joseph Naus in 1820 marked the beginning of the development of Germany's highest mountain. On August 12, 1851, a summit cross was transported to the former western summit for the first time, initiated by the then pastor Christopher Ott.
- In 1881/1882, the original summit cross was damaged by 14 lightning strikes and had to be renovated.
- After the summit cross suffered severe damage due to the weather and gunfire during World War II, the opportunity to replace the summit cross with a true-to-original model was seized in 1993 as part of the construction of the new Gletscherbahn cable car.
- In 2017, the summit cross was damaged during construction work on Cable car Zugspitze and brought down to the valley for repair, where it was regilded.
- In 2019 & 2024, part of the aureole broke off due to exceptionally strong storms. First at the bottom right in 2019 and then at the bottom left in 2024. After the parts were recovered from the deep snow, they were carefully reattached to the summit cross.
Due to severe damage caused by the weather and also by gunfire during the World War II, a replica, 4.88 meters high and weighing 300 kilograms, was erected in 1993. Today, the original, complete with bullet holes, can be viewed in the Werdenfels Museum.
In 1851, 28 men carried the 300-pound (136 kilogram) cross on a three-day expedition to the former western summit.
