GROßER ARBER Photos just moving around

Großer Arber is the highest peak of the Bavarian Forest (Bayerischer Wald) and the highest mountain in the German part of the Šumava range. Rising to 1,456 metres above sea level, it dominates the landscape of eastern Bavaria near the German-Czech border. Its prominent position makes it visible from great distances, while the summit offers extensive views across both Germany and the Czech Republic.

The history of Großer Arber is closely connected with the broader history of the Bavarian Forest. For centuries, the surrounding region was sparsely populated and heavily forested. The forests provided timber for local communities and for the glassmaking industry that developed throughout the Bavarian and Bohemian borderlands. Mountain settlements, roads and trade routes gradually emerged, but the area remained relatively remote well into the nineteenth century. As railways expanded and interest in mountain tourism increased, Großer Arber became a popular destination for hikers and visitors seeking panoramic views of the Bavarian and Bohemian landscapes.

During the twentieth century, however, the mountain acquired a significance that extended far beyond tourism and recreation. Its geographical characteristics – particularly its height, isolated summit and proximity to an international border – made it an ideal location for military observation and surveillance. Following the Second World War, the German-Czech border became part of the wider frontier separating the Western and Eastern blocs. Bavaria belonged to the Federal Republic of Germany and was integrated into NATO, while neighbouring Czechoslovakia became part of the Warsaw Pact and the Soviet sphere of influence. As Cold War tensions intensified, monitoring airspace became an essential component of European security. Elevated locations capable of providing wide radar coverage were highly valued, and Großer Arber proved exceptionally suitable for this purpose. The mountain’s strategic importance increased as NATO developed an integrated air defence network designed to detect and track aircraft approaching Western European airspace.

The most visible reminder of this period is the radar station located near the summit. Construction of the modern installation began in the late twentieth century, and the facility became an important component of the West German and NATO air surveillance system. The distinctive white radar domes, often referred to as radomes, protect sensitive radar equipment from harsh weather conditions while allowing uninterrupted operation. Their striking appearance has become one of the defining visual features of the mountain.