Söldenköpfl

When hiking along Soleleitungsweg-the brine pipeline trail-, a stop at Söldenköpfl is a must. Whether in the cozy dining room or on the spacious terrace with its breathtaking panoramic views, the Söldenköpfl mountain restaurant will treat you to Bavarian delicacies!

The history of Söldenköpfl: from brine pumping station to mountain inn

The Berchtesgaden salt mine was founded in 1517. Dr. Gregor Rainer, Imperial Prelate and Provost of the Augustinian Canons’ Abbey in Berchtesgaden, founded the Berchtesgaden salt mine that year by breaking ground on the Petersberg tunnel. This marked the beginning of a unique 500-year history of uninterrupted salt mining in the depths of the Bavarian Alps. In 1817, after only nine months of planning and construction by Georg von Reichenbach, the brine pipeline was put into operation for the first time. The brine was pumped 356 meters from the Ilsank wellhouse to the Söldenköpfl brine reservoir using a water-column lift, and from there it was routed toward Wachterl and Bad Reichenhall. This system operated for over 100 years without major disruptions. The construction work employed 1,200 workers, which helped improve the living conditions of the poor mountain farmers of Berchtesgaden. On February 25, 1927, the brine pipeline was decommissioned. Since then, the current pipeline has followed the shorter route via Hallthurm to Bad Reichenhall.

Hiking and walking to Söldenköpfl

From Gasthaus Zipfhäusl in the mountaineering village of Ramsau, you can reach Söldenköpfl along the brine pipeline trail with virtually no inclines. The trail is also known as the “Sun Terrace of Ramsau.” From here, you can overlook large parts of the village; to the east, the view extends all the way to the rear of the Wimbachtal valley. From Engedey, a district of Bischofswiesen, a trail—steep in places—leads past the idyllic Bachmann Chapel up to Söldenköpfl.

Both access routes are part of Stage 9 of the SalzAlpenSteig, which runs from Lake Chiemsee through the Berchtesgadener Land region to Hallstätter See. Söldenköpfl is also connected to Toter Mann and Hochschwarzeck by a beautiful trail. Together with the Soleleitungsweg, it makes for a scenic and varied loop hike.