Herzogstand Radio Station

The Herzogstand radio station is a radio transmission facility in the Bavarian Alps at roughly 1,735 meters elevation and was equipped with three large antennas arranged in a fan configuration toward the mountain summit. The antenna system allowed signals to travel across vast distances while the sturdy construction of the facility could withstand the harsh mountain environment continuously.

The transmission station was built in the 1920s as a major communication link between Germany and the Far East using long-wave radio. Operation continued until 1946, with World War II significantly affecting how the facility was used and maintained.

The research facility shaped scientific collaboration among institutions interested in how radio waves worked and traveled through space. Visitors from across the region came to participate in experiments and learn more about wireless communication.

The site sits on a remote mountain elevation, so it helps to visit earlier in the day when weather is most stable. The climb requires good physical fitness and proper mountain gear, especially when weather turns changeable or rough in the mountains.

Specialized cables were made right at the summit location because transporting heavy materials would have overwhelmed mountain logistics. This on-site production process was unusual for radio stations of that era and made the installation one of a kind among major technical projects.