Füssener Hütte

The Füssener Hütte is a private alpine mountain hut (Berghütte) located at 1,520 metres above sea level in the Raintal valley, within the Tannheim Mountains subgroup of the Allgäu Alps, in the municipality of Musau, Tyrol, Austria. It is a traditional, family-run hospitality business rather than a large corporate chain, and it operates seasonally, typically from mid-May to early October. The hut is known for its rustic, honest and cosy character — described on its own website as 'Urig • Ehrlich • Gmiatlich' — and it serves hearty regional dishes such as roast pork from the wood oven, Tiroler Gröstl, vegan schupfnudeln with vegetables, and homemade Kaiserschmarrn, alongside cakes and daily changing specials made with fresh, regional ingredients. Overnight accommodation is available with 50 sleeping places in four-bed rooms and shared dormitory-style Lagerräume for three to seven people, plus warm-water showers. The site has deep historical roots. The Sennalpe (alpine dairy pasture) at Raintal existed from 1837, and over the following decades the hut changed tenants several times. In 1938 it was converted into a Jägerhütte (mountain troops' hut) used by the Gebirgsjäger until the end of the war in 1945, after which it has been run as a mountain hut. The land itself is described as 'unvordenklicher Besitz' (immemorial property) of the town of Füssen, with origins tied to a forest ban granted by Emperor Heinrich IV to the Bishop of Augsburg in 1059, and later to the pledging of the free imperial city of Füssen to Bishop Friedrich of Augsburg in 1313. Although the hut lies in Tyrol, Austria, the historic property belonged to Swabia because it lay west of the Lech river. After expropriation in 1955 under the Austrian State Treaty, the property was returned in 1962. Today the Füssener Hütte is a destination for hikers and nature lovers, accessible via several routes: from Musau (821 m) on a small mountain path to the Achsel with views over the Lechtal, then forest roads via the Musauer Alm and Sababach (about 2 to 2.5 hours); from Grän (1,138 m) in the Tannheimer Tal over the Füssener Jöchl (1,818 m), optionally shortened by cable car (about 2.5 hours without, about 1 hour with); or from Vils (826 m) via the Vilser Alpe (1,225 m) and the secured Vilser Scharte (1,815 m) for sure-footed hikers (about 3.5 hours). From the hut, guests can climb nearby peaks such as the Große Schlicke (2,059 m), Schartschrofen (1,968 m), Rote Flüh (2,111 m), Gimpel (2,176 m), Gehrenspitze (2,164 m) and the highest in the Tannheim Mountains, the Kellenspitze (2,238 m). The hut also serves as a base for transitions to other mountain huts including the Bad Kissinger Hütte, Tannheimer Hütte, Gimpelhaus, Otto-Mayr-Hütte and Willi-Merkl-Gedächtnis-Hütte. The Füssener Hütte remains a privately operated, seasonal mountain hut with a strong focus on Tyrolean hospitality, regional cuisine and outdoor recreation. It accepts bookings for the following season from November, and its website provides information on current news, tours, history, jobs, food, accommodation and prices, contact and booking, and a gallery.

The history of the Füssener Hütte is closely tied to the town of Füssen and its historic alpine property in the Raintal. According to the official website, the site is 'unvordenklicher Besitz' (immemorial property) of the town of Füssen, with origins in the forest and woodland ban (Forst- und Waldbann) granted by Emperor Heinrich IV to Bishop Heinrich of Augsburg on 5 February 1059. At the latest in connection with the pledging of the then free imperial city of Füssen to Bishop Friedrich of Augsburg on 1 June 1313, the town received permission to clear land to create summer pastures. The pledging was carried out by Emperor Heinrich VII to finance his coronation journey to Rome; Bishop Friedrich of Augsburg provided 400 marks of silver and 10 armoured riders with horses for one year. The pledge was never redeemed and Füssen lost its status as a free imperial city. The property did not belong to the County of Tyrol but to Swabia, as it lay west of the Lech. A ruling letter of 15 October 1520 established a path 'three Werkschuh wide to the Achsel', which was widened to six Werkschuh by contract on 4 November 1588 — a description that still appears in the land register today. In 1955 the entire Füssen property was expropriated in favour of the Republic of Austria in the course of the Austrian State Treaty. It was returned in 1962 after the then mayor, Dr. Enzinger, presented the history of the property's origins. The Sennalpe (alpine dairy pasture) in the Raintal existed from 1837. From 1860 David Rietzler appears as Alp tenant. From 1875 to 1878 Josef Doser of Musau was Alphirt, and from 1882 the Anselm family, later Albert Kiechle, leased the hut. After several changes of owner, the hut was converted in 1938 into a Jägerhütte (mountain troops' hut) for the Gebirgsjäger, who used it until the end of the war in 1945. Since then it has been used as a mountain hut (Berghütte). In the post-war period and into the present, the Füssener Hütte has operated as a private alpine hut offering food and accommodation to hikers. It lies at 1,520 m in the Tannheim Mountains subgroup of the Allgäu Alps, in the municipality of Musau, Tyrol. The hut is a starting point for numerous hikes and peak ascents, and it maintains connections to neighbouring huts such as the Otto-Mayr-Hütte and Willi-Merkl-Gedächtnis-Hütte. The official website presents the hut as traditionally managed, with a seasonal opening period (for example, season start 14 May 2026 and season end 10 October 2026, closed on Sunday 11 October), and bookings for the following year accepted from November. The site also highlights a YouTube video of the hike to the hut and lists sections for news, the hut, tours/arrival, history, jobs, food, accommodation/prices, contact/booking and gallery.

• 2026

  Season start 14 May 2026; season end 10 October 2026; closed Sunday 11 October.

• 1962

  Property returned after Mayor Dr. Enzinger presented its history.

• 1955

  Entire Füssen property expropriated in favour of the Republic of Austria under the Austrian State Treaty.

• 1945

  End of war; hut begins use as a Berghütte (mountain hut).

• 1938

  Hut converted into a Jägerhütte for the Gebirgsjäger, used until 1945.

• 1882

  Anselm family begins leasing the hut; later Albert Kiechle.

• 1875

  Josef Doser of Musau serves as Alphirt until 1878.

• 1860

  David Rietzler appears as Alp tenant.

• 1837

  Sennalpe (alpine dairy pasture) in the Raintal established.

• 1588

  Contract widens the path to six Werkschuh; description still in land register.

• 1520

  Ruling letter establishes a path 'three Werkschuh wide to the Achsel'.

• Emperor Heinrich IV grants the forest ban to Bishop Heinrich of Augsburg, origin of Füssen's property rights in the Raintal.

• Free imperial city of Füssen pledged to Bishop Friedrich of Augsburg; town receives permission to clear land for summer pastures.

Traditional, rustic, family-run alpine hut offering authentic Tyrolean hospitality, regional food and simple mountain accommodation for hikers and nature lovers.

• Mountain hut accommodation

  50 sleeping places in 4-bed rooms and shared Lagerräume for 3 to 7 people, with warm-water showers.

• Regional cuisine

  Fresh roast pork from the wood oven, Tiroler Gröstl, vegan schupfnudeln with vegetables, homemade Kaiserschmarrn (Thursday to Sunday 11:00–15:00), cakes, and daily changing dishes with fresh regional ingredients.

• Hiking and tour services

  Information on tours and arrival, guided base for peaks such as Große Schlicke, Schartschrofen, Rote Flüh, Gimpel, Gehrenspitze and Kellenspitze.

1. 1Füssener Hütte - Berghütte im Raintal in Tirolfuessener-huette.at
2. 2Historie - Berghütte im Raintal in Tirolfuessener-huette.at
3. 3Füssener Hütte - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Füssener Hütte - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org