A helicopter lifted the 4.88-meter iron cross from the 2,962-meter peak for restoration work, after years of visitors covering it with stickers.
The cross, made in 1993, has been taken to a workshop in Eschenlohe, where craftswoman Andrea Würzinger will clean it, sand the surface, and reapply gold leaf where needed.
The Zugspitze attracts around 600,000 visitors each year, many reaching the viewing platforms by cable car.
The short climb to the actual summit is popular for photos but often crowded and slippery, leading some people to take risks to leave their mark.
The restored cross is expected to return in time for the beginning of the ski season on November 28.