100 years of the Tyrolean Zugspitze Railway: The "Fascination Zugspitze" adventure museum celebrates

The Tyrolean Zugspitze cable car in Ehrwald will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2026. Just in time for the start of the summer season, the interactive museum located at the mountain station at 2,962 meters has been completely redesigned by glaciologist and astrophotographer Norbert Span. Original historical exhibits and multimedia installations create a unique experience.

The construction of the Tyrolean Zugspitze Railway 100 years ago not only created Tyrol's first cable car, but also marked a milestone in alpine engineering history. The newly redesigned "Fascination Zugspitze" interactive museum celebrates the rich history of the Tyrolean Zugspitze Railway, from its origins to today's "sky-storming" cable car, using state-of-the-art media technology.

“The Tyrolean Zugspitze Railway is the most historically rich mountain railway in Tyrol. Its construction more than 100 years ago was a turning point for the entire region: it opened up the mountains to tourism and thus laid the foundation for economic growth. The redesign of the museum makes this eventful history tangible and will delight visitors of all ages. I congratulate the Tyrolean Zugspitze Railway on its anniversary and thank them for their tremendous commitment to the local tourism industry, which serves as a lifeline for us in Tyrol,” said Mario Gerber, Regional Minister for Economic Affairs, Digitalization and Tourism.

A tour through the museum

With the help of interactive stations and digital installations, the museum, originally built in 2005, was reimagined and given a contemporary presentation by glaciologist, exhibition designer, and astrophotographer Norbert Span. "With this project, we not only want to tell the story of the Tyrolean Zugspitze Railway, but also inspire young people and strengthen their awareness of the importance of technological innovation and regional identity. The exhibition aims to connect tradition, innovation, and education with emotion – as a powerful symbol of Tyrol's future viability," says museum curator and project developer Norbert Span.

Right at the start, visitors are drawn to the history and pioneers of the Tyrolean Zugspitze Railway. Large-scale graphics and state-of-the-art displays illustrate the developments of the last 100 years. In the original cabin No. 5 from 1978, for example, visitors can learn more about the exhibit using a telephone; a "cabin memory game" awaits children there.

The highlight of the exhibition is the unique walk-in kaleidoscope: there, impressions of the Zugspitze are reflected in an oversized sphere. Another central element in the museum is a three-dimensional model of the region around the Zugspitze, which is brought to life through an interactive journey. The digital "head-up" display shows the cable car's journey from 1978 as an animation superimposed on the real landscape. Visitors are thus invited on a journey through time.

In addition to the special exhibition "200 Years Since the First Ascent of the Zugspitze" and the museum's own cinema showing new films about the railway's construction, there are other attractions: An interactive station uses a timeline to reveal the different routes of the railway on a large scale on the wall. At the same time, models of the five cable cars from the last 100 years are on display. In the final room of the redesigned museum, the topics of weather and climate are presented vividly: Visitors can press buttons on a large relief map of the Eastern Alps to see extreme weather conditions on the Zugspitze compared to other mountains. An impression wall depicting weather events on the Zugspitze completes the exhibition. "It was important to us not only to show content, but to make it tangible – through movement, changes in perspective, and interaction, a completely new way of experiencing the Zugspitze is created," explains Span.

The Tyrolean Zugspitze Railway combines history and nature experience

“The redesigned museum offers guests another attraction at the summit of the Zugspitze, featuring impressive images ranging from sunrises and sunsets to the technology and history of the Zugspitze,” says Franz Dengg, Managing Director of the Tiroler Zugspitzbahn. Visitors not only gain insights into the past but also a better understanding of the changes in the Alpine region. At the same time, the Tiroler Zugspitzbahn also invested in modernizing its existing infrastructure. As part of a comprehensive cabin overhaul by the Swiss manufacturer CWA, the two panoramic cabins of the Tiroler Zugspitzbahn received a technical and visual upgrade. The exterior surfaces were painted in an elegant metallic blue, giving the cabins a modern look. The interior of the cabin was also visually refreshed with a new white aluminum paint finish, new flooring, and replaced windows. Furthermore, the door mechanisms and underbody were carefully refurbished to ensure long-term operational reliability. “The Tiroler Zugspitzbahn is a central hub for guests in our region. Through continuous investment, our member businesses ensure a special kind of holiday experience,” concluded Theo Zoller, Chairman of the TVB Tiroler Zugspitz Arena.

Anniversary promotion: 100 years – 100 prizes

To celebrate its anniversary, the Tiroler Zugspitzbahn is hosting a special prize draw. As part of the "100 Years – 100 Prizes" campaign, visitors to the Zugspitze can collect six different stamps during their trip between May 14 and November 8, 2026. Prizes include two nights' accommodation for two adults and two children at the four-star superior Zugspitz Resort, as well as vouchers for a fondue evening or a sunrise breakfast at the panoramic summit restaurant. Entry forms are available at the Tiroler Zugspitzbahn ticket offices and should be completed and placed in the prize box. Winners will then be drawn at random and notified in writing.