The Tagebau Garzweiler is a large strip mine (Tagebau) in North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany. It is operated by RWE and used for mining lignite. The mine currently has a size of 48 km² and takes its name from the village Garzweiler previously existing in that location.
Mining is taking place in the 66,0 km² area Garzweiler I located east of motorway A 44, and in 2006 the bucket-wheel excavators first touched parts of the 48,0 km² Garzweiler II area. Exploitation is planned from 2006 until 2045.
Motorways A 44 and A 61 crossing the envisaged mine area are also affected. A 44 has been closed in 2005, dismantled in 2006 and the traffic rerouted onto the widened motorways A 61 and A 46. From 2017 onwards A 61 shall be closed and the traffic routed onto a newly built A 44.