Kneifelspitze, Mountain summit in Berchtesgadener Land, Germany
The Kneifelspitze is a forested, flat-topped 1,189 m forepeak of the Untersberg massif in the Berchtesgaden Alps, about 3 km north-northeast of Berchtesgaden's centre. Its southeast spur is the Kiliansberg. A steep but easy trail climbs from the Maria Gern pilgrimage church to the summit, where the managed Paulshütte and a summit cross stand.
The sources document no 19th-century shepherd trails; the summit's recorded feature is the managed Paulshütte with its summit cross, which serves hikers on the route from the Maria Gern pilgrimage church. The mountain is the southeastern spur of the Untersberg massif in the Berchtesgaden Alps, and its southeastern extension is the Kiliansberg. One of six pseudolite transmitters of the Galileo GATE test environment stands on the mountain.
The Kneifelspitze is reached by a light but steep trail from the pilgrimage church of Maria Gern, which stands below the summit and gives the route its starting point. The summit cross and the managed Paulshütte belong to the mountain itself, and the hut is where walkers stop.
The hike begins at the Maria Gern parking area and follows a marked route that takes about two and a half hours to complete. It is wise to bring sturdy footwear and plenty of water, as the path becomes steep and offers little shade.
On the summit stands one of six transmitter installations that serve as pseudolites in the Galileo Test and Development Environment (GATE), simulating navigation satellites for the European Galileo system. The Paulshütte inn with its summit cross stands beside it, and the view reaches as far as Salzburg.
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