Untersberg
Encyclopedia
The Untersberg is a mountain
massif
of the Berchtesgaden Alps
that straddles the border between Berchtesgaden
, Germany
and Salzburg
, Austria
.
The mountain is popular with tourists due to its proximity to the city of Salzburg: less than 16 km (10 mi) to the north and within easy reach by bus, for example Salzburg city bus 21 to Glanegg, which runs every 15 minutes on weekdays. Trails lead to the top, but most people use the cable car
that lifts passengers over 1300m to the Geiereck peak.
The first recorded ascent was in the first half of the 12th century, by Eberwein, a member of the Augustinian
monastery at Berchtesgaden.
The mountain lends its name to an 1829 opera, Der Untersberg, by Johann Nepomuk (1783–1865), Baron of Poissl, and has inspired a series of works by German artist Stephan Hess.
runs from the 'St Leonhard' station in the town of Gartenau to the station at the Geiereck peak. Constructed over a period of over two years, and opening in April 1961, the eight and a half minute journey lifts passengers from the base at 456m to an altitude of 1776m, transporting them a horizontal distance of almost 2.5 km during the ascent.
) is asleep inside Untersberg, taken care of by the "Untersberger Mandln", small dwarf-like creatures. His beard is said to be growing longer and longer around a round table and to have grown round two times. Myth says that when the beard has grown three times around the table the end of world has come. Every hundred years he awakes and when he sees the ravens still flying around the Untersberg he sleeps for another century. When Frederik leaves the mountain, the last great battle of humankind will be fought on the Walserfeld. This is a field at Wals, west of Salzburg. There is a similar legend
for the Kyffhäuser
Mountain in Thüringen
. Other legends say that it is Karl der Große Charlemagne
waiting inside the Untersberg
There are also legends about the cave system below the mountain. There is a lake in 930 meters depth.
An expedition in August 2008 revealed that its lowest point had not yet been reached.
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
massif
Massif
In geology, a massif is a section of a planet's crust that is demarcated by faults or flexures. In the movement of the crust, a massif tends to retain its internal structure while being displaced as a whole...
of the Berchtesgaden Alps
Berchtesgaden Alps
The Berchtesgaden Alps are a mountain range of the Northern Limestone Alps, named after the market town of Berchtesgaden located in the centre...
that straddles the border between Berchtesgaden
Berchtesgaden
Berchtesgaden is a municipality in the German Bavarian Alps. It is located in the south district of Berchtesgadener Land in Bavaria, near the border with Austria, some 30 km south of Salzburg and 180 km southeast of Munich...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
.
The mountain is popular with tourists due to its proximity to the city of Salzburg: less than 16 km (10 mi) to the north and within easy reach by bus, for example Salzburg city bus 21 to Glanegg, which runs every 15 minutes on weekdays. Trails lead to the top, but most people use the cable car
Aerial tramway
An aerial tramway , cable car , ropeway or aerial tram is a type of aerial lift which uses one or two stationary ropes for support while a third moving rope provides propulsion...
that lifts passengers over 1300m to the Geiereck peak.
The first recorded ascent was in the first half of the 12th century, by Eberwein, a member of the Augustinian
Augustinians
The term Augustinians, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo , applies to two separate and unrelated types of Catholic religious orders:...
monastery at Berchtesgaden.
The mountain lends its name to an 1829 opera, Der Untersberg, by Johann Nepomuk (1783–1865), Baron of Poissl, and has inspired a series of works by German artist Stephan Hess.
Peaks
- Berchtesgadener Hochthron: 1972 m
- Rauheck: 1892 m
- Gamsalpkopf: 1888 m
- Salzburger Hochthron: 1853 m
- Mitterberg: 1840 m
- Geiereck: 1805 m
Cable car
A cable carAerial tramway
An aerial tramway , cable car , ropeway or aerial tram is a type of aerial lift which uses one or two stationary ropes for support while a third moving rope provides propulsion...
runs from the 'St Leonhard' station in the town of Gartenau to the station at the Geiereck peak. Constructed over a period of over two years, and opening in April 1961, the eight and a half minute journey lifts passengers from the base at 456m to an altitude of 1776m, transporting them a horizontal distance of almost 2.5 km during the ascent.
Legend
According to legend Emperor Frederick Barbarossa (of the Holy Roman EmpireHoly Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
) is asleep inside Untersberg, taken care of by the "Untersberger Mandln", small dwarf-like creatures. His beard is said to be growing longer and longer around a round table and to have grown round two times. Myth says that when the beard has grown three times around the table the end of world has come. Every hundred years he awakes and when he sees the ravens still flying around the Untersberg he sleeps for another century. When Frederik leaves the mountain, the last great battle of humankind will be fought on the Walserfeld. This is a field at Wals, west of Salzburg. There is a similar legend
Legend
A legend is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude...
for the Kyffhäuser
Kyffhäuser
The Kyffhäuser is a range of hills located on the border of the German state of Thuringia with Saxony-Anhalt. It stands on the southern edge of the Harz. The range has a length of and a width of . It reaches its highest point at the Kulpenberg , situated in Thuringia...
Mountain in Thüringen
Thuringia
The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
. Other legends say that it is Karl der Große Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
waiting inside the Untersberg
There are also legends about the cave system below the mountain. There is a lake in 930 meters depth.
An expedition in August 2008 revealed that its lowest point had not yet been reached.
External links
- untersberg.net
- Outlook from Untersberg
- Salzburg Tourist Office – salzburg city tourist board website.