The Ballenhaus is Schongau's most striking building, standing on the market square (Marktplatz) in the centre of the Altstadt. The name translates roughly as "bale house" — it was built as a trade warehouse in the early 16th century for storing bales of cloth and other goods in transit along the Alpine trade routes. The building has a distinctive stepped gable facade and was later used as a town hall and is now the local museum.
The Stadtmuseum Schongau inside the Ballenhaus covers the town's history from the medieval trade period through to the 20th century, with exhibits on the Romantic Road, local crafts, and the history of the surrounding Lech valley. The museum is modestly sized but well-presented and worth an hour if the weather is poor.