Goldberg Group

The Goldberg Group is a sub-range of the Hohe Tauern in the Central Eastern Alps, straddling Salzburg and Carinthia. It rises between the Salzach and Möll valleys, with peaks like the Hocharn at 3,254 m and the Hoher Sonnblick at 3,106 m. The Hoher Sonnblick hosts an observatory, while the Schareck reaches 3,123 m. Names such as Goldbergspitze and Goldzechkopf recall medieval gold mining that once enriched the Archbishops of Salzburg. Gold mining in the Rauris and Gastein valleys began in the High Middle Ages and continued until the 19th century. Even today, visitors can pan for gold in the Rauris. Silver and precious stones like aquamarine and garnet were also extracted, leaving peaks such as Silberpfennig to mark those times. The group’s boundaries follow the Salzach, Gasteiner Ache and Möll rivers, with the Großglockner High Alpine Road on its western edge. The range is divided into smaller groups such as the Sonnblick–Böseck and Gamskarlspitze groups. Hiking trails cross valleys like Hüttwinkl and Seidlwinkl, while the observatory on the Hoher Sonnblick offers scientific insight. The landscape includes high alpine meadows and rugged ridges, with views across the Hohe Tauern’s major groups.