Althochdeutsch
"Berchtesgaden", Upper Bavaria (Achental), earlier "Perchterscadmen", "Perhtersgadem", "Berchirchsgadem", "Berchtoldesgadem"; the word underwent a Latin distortion of Old High German "parach", Romance "bareca" 'hay shed'. After the basic meaning was forgotten, they added a variant word of Old High German "gadem" 'room, one-room hut', implying the same meaning: 'hay shed'. Cf. Old High German "muosgadem" 'spice room'.