The world of "flora and fauna"

As the highest point in the whole of the Bavarian-Bohemian border region, Großer Arber’s summit reaches the tree line. Even trees like spruce and rowan are seldom seen at this height. However, mountain pines are thriving.

A few specialist plants have adapted to survive in this extreme climate and terrain (cold, rocky, low levels of nutrients).

If you’re lucky, you might just catch a glimpse of some rare animals. The Alpine accentor is one of the Arber summit’s ice age relics, while the breeding pairs of water pipits, as well as three-toed woodpeckers and peregrine falcons, make this Bavarian Forest summit even more special.

Alongside these rare birds, lynx and wood grouse have also found a refuge in the Arber region.

Großer Arber was also covered in ice until the end of the last ice age, around 10,000 years ago. Plenty of rare plant species developed on the Arber summit, which have been dubbed ‘ice age relics’. The climate changes after the ice age meant that these plants couldn’t spread any further – so they’re rare and endangered!