#2 of 278 · Things to do in Salzburg Austrian Alps
Untersberg
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About
Untersberg is a limestone plateau massif less than 16 kilometres south of Salzburg city centre, at the northern end of the Berchtesgaden Alps. About two-thirds lies in Germany, with its northern edge in Austria.
Why go
- Berchtesgadener Hochthron is Untersberg’s highest peak at 1,973 metres.
- Schellenberg Ice Cave, at 1,570 metres, has welcomed visitors as a show cave since 1925.
- Untersberg features in the opening and closing mountain scenes of the 1965 film The Sound of Music, filmed on its German side.
- A small colony of griffon vultures lives on the cliffs, descended from birds that escaped from Salzburg Zoo.
The trail
- Via ferrata
- Berchtesgadener Hochthronsteig; C/D; about 400 m wall; ends at Berchtesgadener Hochthron, a few minutes from Stöhrhaus
- Walking route
- From Glanegg, take trail 417 or 460 via Zeppezauerhaus to Geiereck and the cableway’s upper station.
- Walking route
- From Großgmain, go via Vierkaser-Almen to Berchtesgadener Hochthron or Salzburger Hochthron.
- Climbing
- Numerous climbing routes cross the steep south faces of both Hochthron peaks.
What you see
- Untersberg rises beside the Salzburg Basin and the Salzach Valley.
Photo spots
- Toni-Lenz-HütteThe hut belongs to the Schellenberg Ice Cave association.Beside Schellenberg Ice Cave
- StöhrhausJust below Berchtesgadener Hochthron.Just below Berchtesgadener Hochthron
- ZeppezauerhausJust below Salzburger Hochthron.Just below Salzburger Hochthron
History
Legends place Emperor Frederick Barbarossa asleep inside Untersberg until his resurrection, or Charlemagne inside, watched over by the Untersberger Mandln. The Untersberg Wild Hunt, an Alpine Perchten tradition, has been revived. Marbles from local mills were shipped worldwide, with annual exports reaching 60,000–80,000 pounds. In the 1850s, the Almbach valley had 40 ball mills, with another 90 in the surrounding region. One still operates, mainly as a tourist attraction.
- 12th c.Eberwein, a member of the Berchtesgaden Augustinian monastery, made the first recorded ascent.
- 803Charlemagne held a synod in Salzburg and met Bishop Arno.
- 1306A Salzburg archbishop’s deed recorded the name Vndarnsperch, meaning “Noon Mountain.”
- 1683Marble ball mills were established in Marktschellenberg.
- 1829Johann Nepomuk von Poißl composed an opera inspired by Untersberg.
Show all
- 1845Kolowrat Cave was discovered; its entrance dome is 300 metres high.
- 1921The last Untersberg marbles were sent to London.
- April 1961The Untersbergbahn cable car opened.
- Summer 2007The Berchtesgadener Hochthronsteig via ferrata opened.
How to get there
- 8 minCable carTake the Untersbergbahn from Sankt Leonhard to the Geiereck spur. The ascent takes 8.5 minutes.
- BusBuses serving Grödig and Großgmain provide access to the mountain.
Shorts
-
Climbing the Untersberg mountain in Austria, Part IIIpatrickandtheworld
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Salzburg / Зальцбург / Grödig / Untersberg / Austria / Австрия / Moun…de Venus
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Untersberg, Austria - Cable car ride and view of the AlpsDon Porco
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Climbing the Untersberg mountain in Austria, Part Ipatrickandtheworld
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Cable Car Untersberg | Salzburg | Austria | Highest peak Berchtesgade…كتاب و فنجان
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Großer STOLZ - Jungfernfahrt der neuen Gondel am UntersbergSpurensuche im SalzburgerLand
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Untersberg | Salzburg | Austria【SCENIC WALK】A Y
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Untersberg, AustriaHere To Travel
Sources: Untersberg - Wikipedia · Untersberg - Wikipedia · checked 24 Sep 2026
Where
Dr.-Friedrich-Ödl-Weg 2, Salzburg Austrian Alps
Nearby places
Plan from here: Evening walk →
Questions and answers
How far below the surface is the cave lake?
A cave lake lies 930 metres below the surface. An expedition in August 2008 had not reached the cave system’s lowest point.
Which cave on Untersberg is described as a visitor attraction?
Schellenberg Ice Cave is a show cave at 1,570 metres.
How many passengers can an Untersberg cable-car gondola carry?
Each of the two gondolas holds 50 people.
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