Pfaffenberg

Pfaffenberg is a hill in the Spessart range in Lower Austria. It stands 432 metres above sea level and forms part of the municipal territories of Bessenbach and Sulzbach am Main. The Bessenbach stream flows northeast of the peak, while the Sodener Bach runs southwest. Gailbach and Dörrmorsbach lie northwest, and the town of Aschaffenburg’s boundaries reach almost to the summit. About two kilometres southeast is the Hohe Wart hill, where the Hohe Wart Inn offers a place to rest.

The hill is best known for the Sender Pfaffenberg radio transmitter, built by Bayerischer Rundfunk in 1953. The original tubular steel tower reached 181 metres before it was removed in 2010. A new concrete tower now stands at 176.05 metres, joined by a shorter tower added in 2008 for Freeview broadcasts. The site remains a key landmark for broadcasting across the region.

Visitors reach the summit along paths that pass through quiet villages and wooded slopes. The Hohe Wart Inn provides a view of the surrounding valleys and hills. The transmitter itself is fenced off, but the open hilltop offers wide views over the Spessart landscape. The contrast between the modern towers and the old inn gives the place a quiet, practical feel.