Fraganter Schutzhaus

Fraganter Schutzhaus is a mountain hut (Schutzhütte) owned and operated by the Sektion Klagenfurt of the Österreichischer Alpenverein (ÖAV), the Austrian Alpine Club. It sits at 1,810 metres above sea level in the Großfragant, a side valley of the Fragant in the Goldberggruppe of Carinthia, Austria. The hut is a hospitality and accommodation brand within the alpine tourism sector, offering food, drink and overnight lodging to hikers, ski tourers and families. The surrounding area is known for its botanical diversity, and the Goldberggruppe is a popular ski touring region in winter and a base for mountain and family hiking in summer. The present hut traces its origins to a copper mining settlement in the Großfragant that was abandoned in the mid-1920s by the Bundes-Montanverwaltung for economic reasons. In 1927 the Klagenfurt section leased the buildings and land, converted the administrative building into a shelter, and opened it on 31 July 1927. Two years later the section purchased the hut complex and about three hectares of land. Additional buildings were repurposed into a youth hostel and two single-family houses rented to section members. A new youth hostel, the Dr.-Widder-Jugendherberge, was built in 1931/32. After the Second World War the hut fell into disrepair and was neglected in favour of other section huts; in 1955 a sale was even considered. The old wooden structure from 1917 was beyond repair, so the section planned a new building. Construction began in 1968 on the "Stille Klause" alpine pasture, and the new Fraganter Schutzhaus opened on 6 June 1970. The hut was fully renovated and modernised in 2004/05. It has been leased to various operators: the Paganini family (Simon and Claudia) ran it in the first season after renovation, the Gastinger family (Peter and Elisabeth) from 2007 to 2019, and since 2022 Bianca Tiefnig and Ingo Martischnig have managed it. Between 2021 and 2023 the youth hostel was replaced by a new building. The hut is a destination for day visitors and overnight guests, accessible by several marked ascents: from Außerfragant (724 m, about 3.5 hours), from Grafenberg–Rollweg (1,740 m, about 1 hour) and from Innerfragant (1,096 m, about 2 hours). It serves as a base for tours to peaks including Großer Sadnig (2,745 m), Makerni (2,644 m), Hirtenkopf (2,605 m), Striedenkopf (2,602 m), Klenitzen (2,440 m), Zeneberg (2,199 m) and Stellkopf (2,851 m). The hut is listed in alpine guidebooks and on maps such as the Freytag & Berndt 1:50,000 sheet no. 225 (Mölltal – Kreuzeckgruppe – Drautal).

The Fraganter Schutzhaus originated from a copper mining settlement in the Großfragant, a side valley of the Fragant in the Goldberggruppe of Carinthia. In the mid-1920s the Bundes-Montanverwaltung abandoned the settlement for economic reasons. In 1927 the Sektion Klagenfurt of the Österreichischer Alpenverein (ÖAV) leased the buildings and land, converted the administrative building into a shelter, and opened it on 31 July 1927. Two years later, in 1929, the section purchased the hut complex and a total of three hectares of land. From the existing buildings, a youth hostel was created out of the sawmill, and two single-family houses (one from the Obersteigerhaus) were rented to section members. The youth hostel soon became too small, so a new youth hostel was built in 1931/32 and named Dr.-Widder-Jugendherberge in honour of its initiator. After the Second World War the hut was in poor condition and was neglected in favour of other huts of the section; in 1955 a sale of the property was even considered. The old wooden building from 1917 could no longer be renovated. The section therefore planned a new building. In 1968 work began on the "Stille Klause" alpine pasture, and on 6 June 1970 the new Fraganter Schutzhaus was opened. In 2004/05 the hut was fully renovated and modernised. In the first season after the renovation it was run by the Paganini family (Simon and Claudia). From 2007 to 2019 the hut was leased and operated by the Gastinger family (Peter and Elisabeth). Since then the lease has been awarded several times. Since 2022 the hut has been managed by Bianca Tiefnig and Ingo Martischnig. In the years 2021–2023 the youth hostel was replaced by a new building. The hut lies at 1,810 m above sea level in the Großfragant. The Goldberggruppe is a popular ski touring area in winter, and in summer the mountains offer many opportunities for mountain and family hiking. The area around the hut is also known for its botanical diversity. Access routes include Außerfragant (724 m, walking time 3.5 hours), Grafenberg–Rollweg (1,740 m, 1 hour) and Innerfragant (1,096 m, 2 hours). Tour options include Großer Sadnig (2,745 m, 3 hours), Makerni (2,644 m, 2.5 hours), Hirtenkopf (2,605 m, 2 hours), Striedenkopf (2,602 m, 2 hours), Klenitzen (2,440 m, 1.5 hours), Zeneberg (2,199 m, 2 hours) and Stellkopf (2,851 m, 2.75 hours). The hut is described in the Alpenvereinsführer Ankogel- und Goldberggruppe by Liselotte Buchenauer and Peter Holl (Bergverlag Rother, Munich 1986, ISBN 3-7633-1247-1) and appears on Freytag & Berndt sheet no. 225, 1:50,000 (Mölltal – Kreuzeckgruppe – Drautal).

• 2022

  Bianca Tiefnig and Ingo Martischnig begin managing the hut.

• 2021

  Replacement of the youth hostel with a new building begins (completed 2023).

• 2007

  The Gastinger family (Peter and Elisabeth) takes over the lease and operates the hut until 2019.

• 2004

  Full renovation and modernisation of the hut begins (completed 2005).

• 1970

  The new Fraganter Schutzhaus opens on 6 June 1970.

• 1968

  Construction of the new Fraganter Schutzhaus begins on the 'Stille Klause' alpine pasture.

• 1955

  A sale of the property is considered due to the hut's poor condition.

• 1931

  Construction of a new youth hostel, named Dr.-Widder-Jugendherberge, begins (completed 1932).

• 1929

  The section purchases the hut complex and three hectares of land.

• 1927

  Sektion Klagenfurt leases the former copper mining buildings and opens the Fraganter Schutzhaus on 31 July 1927.

A traditional alpine club mountain hut offering food, drink and lodging to hikers, ski tourers and families in the Goldberggruppe, Carinthia.

• Fraganter Schutzhaus

  Alpine shelter at 1,810 m offering food, drink and overnight accommodation.

• Dr.-Widder-Jugendherberge

  Youth hostel built in 1931/32, replaced by a new building in 2021–2023.

1. 1Fraganter Schutzhaus – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
2. 2Fraganter Schutzhaus – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3fraganter-schutzhaus.at domain sale pagedomainname.de