While the highest mountain of the Berchtesgaden Alps is the Hochkönig () located in the Austrian part, the best known peak is the Watzmann massif, the third-highest mountain of Germany at . The range also comprises the Obersalzberg slope east of Berchtesgaden, known for the former Berghof residence of Adolf Hitler. The picturesque heart is formed by the glacial Königssee lake with the famous St. Bartholomew's pilgrimage church and the smaller Obersee, both part of the Berchtesgaden National Park established in 1978. The range also comprises glaciers like the Blaueis as well as the Steinernes Meer high karst plateau.