We are standing on the east summit of Elbrus, Europe's tallest mountain. The west summit is 5642 meters, we are 21 meters lower. But we still count this summit. After all, we took a long and not standard route, and that route ended at the east summit, while the normal route goes to the west summit.
This is a good example of how arbitrary these successes are. Could we check the tallest mountain in Europe, or not? We decided to do so.
Equally arbitrary is what is considered the high point of a country. In Switzerland we have the Dom (4545 m), but also Dufourspitze (4634 m). The latter is clearly higher, but it is shared between Switzerland and Italy. The Dom is entirely on Swiss ground. You tell me which one to choose (for most Swiss it is the Dom). And for The Netherlands the tallest mountain is overseas, in the Carribean, on the island of Saba. Or do we count Vaalserberg on the border of Netherlands, Belgium and Germany?
And what is a 'country'? Are England, Scotland and Wales separate countries or is the United Kingdom 1 country?
We hope to reach as many high points as possible, mainly in Europe. And for that we use our own, arbitrary, high points list. Another list can be found on Wikipedia.
Below you can find all the European countries in alphabetical (English country names) order. And in the menu above you can also find some summits outside Europe. Green means that one of us or both reached the summit.
Country | Highest point | Hight |
---|---|---|
Albania | Maja e Korabit | 2764 m |
Andorra | Coma Pedrosa | 2942 m |
Austria | Großglockner | 3798 m |
Belarus | Dzyarzhynskaya Hara | 345 m |
Belgium | Signal de Botrange | 694 m |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Maglic | 2386 m |
Bulgaria | Musala | 2925 m |
Croatia | Dinara | 1831 m |
Cyprus | Olympos | 1952 m |
Czech Republic | Snežka | 1603 m |
Denmark | Ejer Baunehøj | 171 m |
Estonia | Suur Munamägi | 318 m |
Finland | Haltiatunturi | 1324 m |
France | Mont Blanc | 4809 m |
Germany | Zugspitze | 2962 m |
Greece | Olympos | 2917 m |
Hungary | Kékes | 1014 m |
Iceland | Hvannadalshnúkur | 2110 m |
Ireland | Carrauntoohil | 1041 m |
Italy | Gran Paradiso | 4061 m |
Kosovo | Velika Rudoka | 2658 m |
Latvia | Gaizinkalns | 312 m |
Liechtenstein | Grauspitz | 2599 m |
Country | Highest point | Hight |
---|---|---|
Lithuania | Aukštojas | 294 m |
Luxembourg | Kneiff or Burgplatz | 560 m |
Malta | Ta' Dmejrek | 253 m |
Moldova | Balane?ti | 430 m |
Monaco | Chemin des Révoires | 163 m |
Montenegro | Zla Kolata | 2534 m |
Netherlands | Vaalserberg | 322 m |
North Macedonia | Korab | 2764 m |
Norway | Galdhøpiggen | 2469 m |
Poland | Rysy | 2499 m |
Portugal | Monta do Pico | 2351 m |
Romania | Moldoveanu | 2544 m |
Russia | Elbrus | 5642 m |
San Marino | Monte Titano | 749 m |
Serbia | Midžor | 2169 m |
Slovakia | Gerlachovský štít | 2655 m |
Slovenia | Triglav | 2864 m |
Spain | Pico de Teide | 3718 m |
Sweden | Kebnekaise | 2104 m |
Switzerland | Dufourspitze | 4634 m |
Ukraine | Hoverla | 2061 m |
United Kingdom | Ben Nevis | 1345 m |
Vatican City | Vatican Hill | 75 m |
Future project.
Official name | Pic de Comapedrosa | |
Other names | ||
Mountain range | Pyrenees | |
Summitted | 19 June 2003 | |
Team | Otto Sluiter & Marja Beukers | |
Route | Normal route from Arinsal |
We did this climb during our road trip to Spain. I can't remember much of it anymore, except for it was a pretty long hike with a steep section at the end. But no technical difficulties.
More information can be found on Summitpost.
Official name | Großglockner | |
Other names | ||
Mountain range | Alps | |
Summitted | 1 August 2001 | |
Team | Otto Sluiter & Robert Steenmeijer | |
Route | Normal route via 'Hofmannsweg' |
Back in 2001 the 'Hofmannsweg' was still a viable option. In those days there was the Hoffmanns Hut from which you could descend to the Pasterze glacier, cross it, and then climb up to the 'Adlersruhe', the Erzherzog Johann Hütte at 3454 m.
The next morning at 7 am we left the hut and followed the crowds. First across the glacier, and then over rocky blocks (grade I/II). From here it was more like a scramble to Klein Glockner. From Klein Glockner you need to cross an awkward snow bridge to Großglockner. There are waiting queues on both sides. Around 9 am we reached the summit of Austria.
More information can be found on Summitpost.
Future project.
Official name | Signal de Botrange | |
Other names | ||
Mountain range | High Fens | |
Summitted | 11 September 2004 | |
Team | Otto Sluiter & Marja Beukers | |
Route | Normal route from parking lot (2 minutes) |
The highest point in Belgium can be reached by car. It is situated between Eupen and Malmedy, next to the main road. The pole is the official highest point, but they also built an artificial hill, so that one can reach the 700 m mark.
More information can be found on Summitpost.
Official name | Maglic | |
Other names | ||
Mountain range | Dinaric Alps | |
Summitted | 16 September 2016 | |
Team | Otto Sluiter & Marja Beukers | |
Route | From Vucevo plateau above Tjentište |
A bumpy dirt road leads from Tjentište up to the Vucevo plateau, where there is a grassy car park. Opposite the car park a well marked trail follows the border of Bosnia and Montenegro till the foot of the mountain. From here there are some iron cables that lead to a col just below the summit. On the summit there is a beautiful Yugoslavian sign. It took us 3 hours from the car park.
More information can be found on Summitpost.
Future project.
Official name | Dinara | |
Other names | Sinjal | |
Mountain range | Dinaric Alps | |
Summitted | 6 September 2021 | |
Team | Otto Sluiter & Marja Beukers | |
Route | Glavas route |
We started at 6.30 am and reached the summit at 10. It's an easy walk-up, well marked. We took a slightly different route back down, which eventually joined the main route.
More information can be found on Summitpost.
Official name | Olympos | |
Other names | Chionistra | |
Mountain range | Troodos Range | |
Summitted | 1 November 2008 | |
Team | Otto Sluiter | |
Route | Loop around the mountain |
The highest point of Cyprus is a restricted area. It is possible to walk around the Olympos, about 7 kms.
More information can be found on Summitpost.
Official name | Snežka | |
Other names | Sniezka | |
Mountain range | Giant Mountains | |
Summitted | 10 July 2006 | |
Team | Otto Sluiter & Marja Beukers | |
Route | From Pec pod Snežkou via Obrí dul |
Snežka means snow cap, but in Summer there is no snow at all. This summit is on the border of Czech Republic and Poland and can be reached from both sides. We took the Obrí dul trail, which takes some 3 hours to the summit.
More information can be found on Summitpost.
Future project.
Future project.
Future project.
Future project.
Official name | Zugspitze | |
Other names | ||
Mountain range | Alps | |
Summitted | 29 July 2001 | |
Team | Otto Sluiter & Robert Steenmeijer | |
Route | Cable car (haha) |
This one was easy. I took the cable car. 😜
More information can be found on Summitpost.
Official name | Olympos | |
Other names | ||
Mountain range | Alps | |
Summitted | 6 June 2014 | |
Team | Otto Sluiter & Marja Beukers | |
Route | Louki route from Refuge A |
The home of the gods. In winter this mountain is covered in snow. We arrived in early June and there was still a lot of snow just below the summit.
From Prionia (1100 m) it's a 2-3 hour walk to Refuge "A", Spilios Agapitos at 2100 m. We knew that there would be snow, so we brought ice axe and crampons. And we decided to not take the normal route via Skala, but the more demanding Louki route. The refuge warden advised us to take the skala route, because nobody had taken the Louki route this season yet, because of the snow condition. But we were confident that we could manage.
At 6, before the rest of the crowds, we left the hut. And after an hour or so we left the normal route. We had to cross several steep ice fields, crampons were needed, before we reached the start of the Louki route, which goes straight up to the main summit Mytikas. It's a straight forward rock scramble. At 10 we found ourselved in the home of the gods. But the gods were not at home, and the good thing was, the crowds had also not yet reached the top.
More information can be found on Summitpost.
Future project.
Future project.
Future project.
Official name | Gran Paradiso | |
Other names | ||
Mountain range | Alps | |
Summitted | 5 August 2001 | |
Team | Otto Sluiter & Robert Steenmeijer | |
Route | Normal route from Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele II |
The highest point in Italy is somewhere on the Monte Bianco. Not the top of Mont Blanc, because the top is entirely in France. And this is exactly the reason why many Italians consider the Gran Paradiso the high point of Italy, because the top is in Italy.
The route starts in Pont and goes via the Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele II (2732 m). After an early start the next day you need to cross some rocky blocks until you arrive at the snow fields. Most parties rope up here, although technically speaking this is just a snow field, the glacier starts further up the mountain. 5 hours after leaving the hut we reached the summit.
More information can be found on Summitpost.
Future project.
Future project.
Future project.
Future project.
Official name | Burgplatz | |
Other names | Burrigplatz, Buurgplaatz | |
Mountain range | Ardennes | |
Summitted | 14 April 2006 | |
Team | Otto Sluiter & Marja Beukers | |
Route | Next to the road |
Well, the real high point of Luxembourg is a spot in a field, called Kneiff. This point is 2 meters higher than the official landmark Burgplatz.
More information can be found on Summitpost.
Future project.
Future project.
Official name | Chemin des Révoires | |
Other names | ||
Mountain range | ||
Summitted | 3 May 2005 | |
Team | Otto Sluiter & Marja Beukers | |
Route |
This high point was hard to find. There are no signs. We just used our GPS and altimeter to establish the highest point in Monaco. Some staircases led to this point.
Official name | Zla Kolata | |
Other names | Kolata e Keq, Kolac | |
Mountain range | Prokletije | |
Summitted | 3 September 2021 | |
Team | Otto Sluiter & Marja Beukers | |
Route | Classical route from Vusanje |
In the old days the Bobotov Kuk (2522 m) in Durmitor was the tallest mountain. But Zla Kolata on the Albanian border is really the highest point of Montenegro. We climbed both; Bobotov Kuk in 2016 and Zla Kolata in 2021.
The trailhead for Zla Kolata is in Vusanje (1060 m). From there we took a track up to some pasture. After the pasture we turned southwards and scrambled/walked to the Preslopit Pass (2130 m). From there it was another awkward hike and/or scramble to the Double Pass, just below the summit. Total time to reach the top for us was some 6-7 hours from Vusanje.
More information can be found on Summitpost.
Official name | Vaalserberg | |
Other names | ||
Mountain range | ||
Summitted | 11 September 2004 | |
Team | Otto Sluiter & Marja Beukers | |
Route | Normal route from car park |
Vaalserberg is the highest point in The Netherlands, at least on the European continent. It is also the point where Netherlands, Belgium and Germany meet.
More information can be found on Summitpost.
Future project.
Future project.
We did climb Glittertind (2464 m), which was Norway's high point for a long time. In winter it can still be higher than Galdhøpiggen, due to the snowcap.
Official name | Rysy | |
Other names | ||
Mountain range | High Tatras | |
Summitted | 8 July 2010 | |
Team | Otto Sluiter & Marja Beukers | |
Route | Normal route from Štrbské Pleso |
We climbed Rysy in 2010, from the Slovakian side. In some 3 hours we made it to the main summit, which lies in Slovakia. There were some iron chains to help with the ascent.
The Polish summit is 4 meters lower than, and only 2 minutes away from the main summit. Of course Rysy can also be reached from Polish side.
More information can be found on Summitpost.
Future project.
Future project.
Official name | Elbrus | |
Other names | ||
Mountain range | Caucasus | |
Summitted | 9 July 2005 | |
Team | Otto Sluiter & Marja Beukers | |
Route | East summit via North Hut |
A lot of people think that Mont Blanc is Europe's highest point. But that is not true. Elbrus in the Caucasus is the highest mountain, some 800 meters taller than Mt. Blanc. Frequently high points are located on borders between countries, because mountain ranges are natural borders. But Elbrus is different. It's a volcano, entirely on the Russian side of the Russian/Georgian border. It has 2 summits, the west summit is the higher one and the one that is ususally climbed from the south via the Priut 11 hut.
We decided to take another approach. Because everyone takes the normal route via Priut 11, our assessment was that it would be crowdy. Instead, we took a 4-day trekking to the north side of the mountain. Here is a small, but very quiet, hut on 3700 m., no crowds. The only disadvantage is the altitude, because for the summit push we had to ascend almost 2000 meters in 1 day.
After 1 day of acclimatization, we left the hut at 3.30 in the morning, some 2 hours before sunrise. At 2 pm we reached the East Summit. No one else on the summit. And, as expected, te West Summit was pretty crowded. 4 hours later we were back in the North Hut.
More information can be found on our Elbrus website, but also on Summitpost.
Official name | Monte Titano | |
Other names | ||
Mountain range | Apennines | |
Summitted | 30 August 2024 | |
Team | Otto Sluiter & Marja Beukers | |
Route | Staircase 2nd tower |
This was not really a climb. It was more an attempt to reach the highest point of this small country, which is built on the Monte Titano. The highest point that can be reached is the top of the so called Second Tower. To get to this tower, we had to walk (uphill) a bit, till the entry gate of the Second Tower, also known as Cesta. In the tower we climbed some stairs untill we were at the very top.
More information can be found on Summitpost.
Future project.
Official name | Gerlachovský štít | |
Other names | Gerlach | |
Mountain range | High Tatras | |
Summitted | 11 July 2010 | |
Team | Otto Sluiter & Marja Beukers | |
Route | Martin's Route |
There are no trails to the summit of Gerlach. And a guide is compulsary, unless you are member of an UIAA mountaineering club. We are members but we decided to use a guide anyway, because we wanted to take another route than the normal route. Without a guide it would have been impossible to find Martin's route (Martinova cesta).
At 5 in the morning our guide took us with his jeep to Sliezsky Dom, 600 meters higher. From there we hiked the trail in the direction of Litvorové sedlo. At some point we turned left to a couloir, where there was some grade II-III climbing. From there it was only grade I scrambling on the NE-ridge to the top, which we reached around 9 am. The way back we used the normal route via Batizovský Pleso.
More information can be found on Summitpost.
Official name | Triglav | |
Other names | ||
Mountain range | Alps | |
Summitted | 15 July 2006 | |
Team | Otto Sluiter & Marja Beukers | |
Route | Tominškova Pot (2006) & Bambergova Pot (2013) |
We climbed Triglav on 2 occasions. Both times we started from the Vrata valley.
In 2006 we used the Tominškova Pot (some via ferrata sections) to the Triglavski dom na Kredarici (2515 m), where we spent the night. Because of the beautiful weather we decided to go directly to the top in late afternoon, instead of the next morning.
In 2013 we took another approach. Again starting from Vrata valley we hiked to the Luknja saddle first, a very steep ascent, which took us 2 hours. There the long via ferrata 'Bambergova Pot' starts, all the way to the top. Five hours later we reached the summit. After descending we decided to not stay overnight in Triglavski dom na Kredarici this time, but in a smaller hut 1 hour further: Dom Valentina Stanica pod Triglavom. The next day, after a short hike to a nearby summit, we took the Tominškova Pot back to Vrata valley.
More information can be found on Summitpost.
Official name | Pico de Teide | |
Other names | Teide | |
Mountain range | ||
Summitted | 31 October 2002 | |
Team | Otto Sluiter & Marja Beukers | |
Route | Trail via Montaña Blanca |
Teide is the tallest mountain of Spain, but is located on the Canary island of Tenerife. Mulhacén in Sierra Nevada is the tallest mountain on mainland Spain. We climbed both.
There is a cable car almost going to the top, but we took the hiking trail. We parked the car at the trailhead (2480 m) at 6.30 am. The sun was just rising. At 10.30 we reached the top station of the cable car (3555 m). From here it is only some 250 m to the top. But a permit (for a particular timeslot) was required, which could only be obtained in Santa Cruz, the capital of Tenerife. Fortunately we knew this, and had the permits with us. So after the checkpoint we could continue to the top, where we arrived at 11.30. Same way back.
More information can be found on Summitpost.
Future project.
Future project.
Future project.
Official name | Ben Nevis | |
Other names | ||
Mountain range | Grampian Mountains | |
Summitted | 1980 | |
Team | Otto Sluiter | |
Route |
During a cycling trip with school friends in Scotland, we also climbed Ben Nevis. Not much I can remember anymore, except for it didn't rain that day.
More information can be found on Summitpost.