Altkönig

The Altkönig is a mountain in the Taunus range of Hesse, rising 798 metres above sea level. It stands south of the main ridge, parallel to the Feldberg peaks, with a prominence of over 136 metres. The summit lies within Kronberg im Taunus, near the villages of Königstein and Falkenstein. Three spurs extend from the mountain: White Wall, Hünerberg, and Bürgel. The Maßborn stream rises on its northern flank and flows past the mountain.

Celts settled the summit plateau around 400 BC, building two circular ramparts still visible today. The longer rampart stretches 1,390 metres, the shorter 980 metres. In clear weather the white walls could be seen from 18 kilometres away. A Frankish settlement later occupied the Hünerberg spur. Two temples, Lips Temple and Victoria Temple, offer viewing points across the Upper Rhine Plain and Odenwald Forest.

The lightly wooded summit plateau holds a trig point and benches for visitors. The E1 long-distance path crosses the mountain, which has no roads and fewer visitors than the Feldberg. A memorial stone marks the 1971 plane crash site below the summit. Trails lead from all directions, the nearest main road lying about 1.5 kilometres away.