The Sonntagshorn, at 1,961 metres above sea level, is the highest mountain in the
Chiemgau Alps.
The international border between
Germany and
Austria, and hence between the states of
Bavaria and
Salzburg, runs over the summit of the mountain, which rises south-southeast of
Ruhpolding
Ruhpolding is the municipality with the biggest area of the Traunstein district in southeastern Bavaria, Germany. It is situated in the south of the Chiemgau region in the Alps and next to the Austrian border.
Ruhpolding has a biathlon track. ...
and south-southwest of
Inzell.
The name Sonntagshorn has nothing to do with the ''Sonntag'' (German for "Sunday"), but is derived from ''Sonnendach'', which means "sun roof".
The summit structure looks like a roof from the southern side which, as a result of its relatively gentle slope, is very strongly irradiated by the sun.
Because the mountain has no cable cars it is a worthwhile destination which, in winter, is especially popular with
ski tourists in the
Bavarian Alps
The Bavarian Alps (german: Bayerische Alpen) is a collective name for several mountain ranges of the Northern Limestone Alps within the German state of Bavaria.
Geography
The term in its wider sense refers to that part of the Eastern Alps that ...
. A comparatively easy climb approaches from the south via the Austrian valley of
Heutal. The northern climb from the German side is more challenging, but also more spectacular and runs through unpopulated natural countryside, initially along a relatively easy
forest track
Forest tracks or forest roads are roads or tracks intended to carry motorised vehicles or horse-drawn wagons being used mainly or exclusively for forestry purposes, such as conservation or logging. Forest tracks may be open to ramblers or mountain ...
, but then over steep fields of scree and, into the high summer, also over fields of old snow. The climb via the middle Kraxenbach requires some climbing (grade II) and has the danger of falling rocks. The normal route runs from
Melleck and through the Steinbachgraben to the Hochalmen and finally to the summit.
References
Mountains of the Alps
Mountains of Bavaria
Mountains of Salzburg (state)
One-thousanders of Germany
Chiemgau Alps
Traunstein (district)
{{Salzburg-geo-stub