Falkenstein, Mountain summit in Pfronten, Germany

Falkenstein is a 1,270 m mountain in the Falkensteinkamm range of the Allgäu Alps, on the municipal territory of Pfronten in the Ostallgäu district. On its summit stand the ruins of Falkenstein Castle, which King Ludwig II planned to rebuild as a palace. Below the peak lie the Burghotel Falkenstein and, a little lower, the Berghotel Schlossanger Alp, reached by a mountain road.

The name Falkenstein comes from medieval times when falcons made nests in the rocky cliffs of the mountain. Early German settlers named the peak based on these birds that lived among its stone formations.

The Falkenstein appears on Pfronten's municipal coat of arms, which shows the mountain. Below the summit stand Burgruine Falkenstein, the castle ruin King Ludwig II planned to rebuild as a palace, and the Burghotel Falkenstein, reached by a mountain road. The Mariengrotte, a grotto on the mountain, is listed by the Bavarian State Office for the Environment as a valuable geotope, number 777H001.

Four marked trails named Heidelbeere, Eibe, Silberblatt, and Esche offer different difficulty levels so walkers can choose what suits them best. The climb to the top typically takes around two hours, so good hiking shoes and plenty of water are essential.

On the summit stand the ruins of Falkenstein Castle, which King Ludwig II planned to rebuild as a castle; the Vilstal valley and the peaks of the Tannheimer Gruppe are visible from there. Below the summit lie Burghotel Falkenstein and, lower down, Berghotel Schlossanger Alp, reached by a mountain road.