Berchtesgadener Hochthron

The Berchtesgadener Hochthron, at 1,972 metres, is the highest summit of the Untersberg massif in the Berchtesgaden Alps — officially in Bavaria, yet geographically and culturally inseparable from Salzburg. The Untersberg is one of the most legend-laden peaks in the Alps: folk tradition holds that Emperor Charlemagne sleeps inside the mountain, and the massif conceals one of Central Europe's largest cave systems, drawing speleologists from across the continent. On clear days the summit commands a sweeping panorama stretching from the domes of Salzburg's old town to the Königssee and as far south as the Dolomites. Experienced hikers can reach the top via several marked trails, while the Untersbergbahn cable car on the Austrian side offers a lower-effort approach to the massif.