Dachsberg

The Dachsberg stands 902 metres above sea level in the Bohemian Forest, a range that straddles the border between Austria and the Czech Republic. It lies within two large protected areas: the 9,350-hectare Europe-wide Natura 2000 site called Böhmerwald-Mühltäler and the 22,302-hectare Important Bird Area Böhmerwald and Mühltal. The mountain’s slopes drain into four streams—the Frauenbach, Hartmannsbach, Maurerbach and Peternbach—all of which feed the Danube basin. The Dachsberg’s geology is dominated by coarse-grained gneiss, giving the rock a glittering appearance when the light strikes it. The steep sides support only a few plant species, mainly beech woods that cling to the thin soils. The area is recognised for its quiet, unspoilt character rather than any spectacular flora. Visitors find a broad, rounded summit with wide views across the Bohemian Forest. The surrounding plateau is crossed by forest tracks that lead to smaller peaks and viewpoints. On clear days the Alps appear to the south-west while the gentle hills of Upper Austria roll away to the north-east. The silence is broken only by the wind in the beech leaves and the occasional call of a raptor circling above the treetops.