Großer Arber is the highest peak in the Bavarian Forest, and the striking white radar dome of the RRP 117 installation has become one of its most recognisable landmarks. This is a place where cutting-edge military technology meets raw alpine wilderness – and the views from the summit make every step of the climb worthwhile.

From the top, sweeping panoramas unfold across the rolling ridges of the Bavarian Forest and the Bohemian Forest on the Czech side of the border. Spring brings wildflowers to the alpine meadows, summer offers a welcome coolness, autumn sets the forests ablaze with gold and crimson, and winter transforms the area into a snow-covered wonderland – though trails can be demanding in icy conditions. The great white radome looms above the treeline like a sentinel, giving the summit an almost otherworldly character.

• Bayerisch Eisenstein (cable car station parking) – marked trail to the summit, approx. 1.5–2 hours, moderate difficulty
• Lamer Winkel – approach from the western side, alternative route, moderate difficulty

• A gondola lift (Arberschneehaus) serves the summit area, making it accessible for visitors of all fitness levels
• Best photography conditions in the early morning, when clear skies offer views deep into both Czech and German territory
• In winter the summit can be snow-covered and trails icy – check conditions before you go

The RRP 117 radar dome is part of Germany's air defence network – one of eight such systems in operation across the country since 1998, each housed under a radome to shield it from the weather. Standing on the trail and gazing up at that gleaming white sphere, it is hard not to wonder what it sees.