Silberpfennig

The Silberpfennig is a striking 2,600-metre peak in the Goldberggruppe of the Hohe Tauern range. It stands about 5.5 kilometres west of Böckstein, on the municipal boundary between Bad Hofgastein and Bad Gastein. The mountain’s name recalls its past as a silver-mining site. A steep drop on its north-eastern side is known as the Lange Wand. Roman-era miners reached the workings from the south via a road over the Mallnitzer Tauern. The mountain’s mining history dates back to Roman times. Ore was transported along routes that crossed high Alpine passes. Remains of these routes can still be traced today. The Silberpfennig’s dramatic profile made it a landmark for travellers and prospectors alike. Its slopes are cut by narrow valleys that guide walkers toward the summit ridge. A visitor finds a rugged Alpine landscape of rock faces and high meadows. The summit offers wide views across the Hohe Tauern’s peaks. The route from Böckstein follows old mining paths and crosses streams fed by melting snow. On clear days the Grossglockner and other giants of the range appear in the distance. The air is thin at the top, and the wind carries the sound of distant waterfalls.