Kallbrunnalm

The largest alpine pasture in the Berchtesgaden Alps is located just across the border in Austria.

A Jausenstation is a simple mountain eatery, commonly found in hiking areas and on alpine pastures throughout the Bavarian–Austrian border region. In Austria, a light meal or snack is called a Jause. At a Jausenstation, you can enjoy traditional specialties such as a classic Brettljause—a hearty snack platter with regional meats, cheeses, bread, and other local delicacies—as well as other simple Alpine dishes.

Kallbrunnalm's Jausenstation is located in the municipality of Weißbach bei Lofer in Salzburger Land. Historically, however, Kallbrunnalm belonged to the former Prince-Provostry of Berchtesgaden and remains a Bavarian enclave on Austrian soil to this day.

Kallbrunn: The largest alpine pasture in the Berchtesgaden Alps

Throughout the summer, around 350 head of cattle graze on Kallbrunnalm. With an area of 2.5 square kilometers and such a large number of animals, it is by far the largest alpine pasture in the Berchtesgaden Alps and ranks among the largest alpine pastures in the entire Alpine region.

Kallbrunnalm stretches across elevations from 1,200 to 1,650 meters on the southeastern slopes of Hochkranz, surrounded by the imposing massifs of Hocheis, the western foothills of Steinernes Meer, and Leoganger Steinberge. Kallbrunnalm was first documented as early as 1386.

Today, a total of 30 farming families bring their livestock to Kallbrunnalm each summer. Sixteen of them come from the Berchtesgadener Land region, most from the mountaineering village of Ramsau.

Kallbrunn alpine cheese

The farmers of Kallbrunnalm operate their own alpine dairy right on the pasture. In a specially built Kaser, they produce and age Kallbrunn alpine cheese using the milk of the grazing cows. The cheese is ready to enjoy from early August onward. You can buy it directly at Kallbrunnalm or at selected shops in the valley, including the stores of Grassl Distillery.

The herb-rich alpine meadows and the traditional on-site processing of fresh raw milk give Kallbrunn alpine cheese its distinctive flavor. You can choose from plain Alpine cheese, various herb-flavored varieties, Seehorn cheese, Hochkranz cheese, and spicy, aged mountain cheese.

The Dießbachstausee reservoir

A short detour from Kallbrunnalm takes you to Dießbachstausee in a side valley. It was created in 1961 when the Dießbach stream was dammed, flooding the original Dießbachalm that once stood there. From Dießbachstausee, you can reach Ingolstädter Haus in Steinernes Meer via an ascent popular with mountaineers.