Plattenhausenriegel

The Plattenhausenriegel is a long, narrow ridge straddling the border between Germany and the Czech Republic in the Bavarian Forest. It lies between the Grosse Rachel and the Lusen, two of the range’s highest peaks. The summit reaches just over 1,370 metres and is marked by a small rocky outcrop about five metres high. The ridge sits inside the core zone of the Bayerischer Wald National Park, where nature is allowed to develop without human interference. For most of the year the area is closed to walkers, but between mid-July and mid-November a single unmarked footpath crosses the border along the ridge. The mountain first appears on Philipp Apian’s 1568 map of Bavaria as Plattenhausen, showing how long it has been recognised on official records. In June 1963 two Czechoslovak MiG-15 jets crashed on the German side west of the ridge, killing both pilots. The site remains a quiet place, far from settlements, where the only sounds are wind in the spruce and the occasional call of a capercaillie. Visitors who come during the permitted months follow an unmarked trail that leads to the low summit block. From the top there are wide views across the forested plateau and, on clear days, to the peaks of the Bohemian Forest on the Czech side. The ridge itself is covered in mossy rocks and ancient spruce, giving the impression of a primeval landscape. Because the path is not waymarked, walkers need a good map and compass to find their way safely through the quiet valleys and gentle slopes.