Freiburger Hütte

Freiburger Hütte is a mountain hut (Schutzhütte) of the Sektion Freiburg-Breisgau of the Deutscher Alpenverein (German Alpine Club, DAV), located at 1,918 metres above sea level on the Formarinsee in the Lechquellengebirge of Vorarlberg, Austria, directly opposite the Rote Wand. Built in 1912 by the Freiburg section of the DAV, it has served for more than a century as a base for mountaineers, a shelter in the high mountains, and a family-friendly destination for hikers and nature lovers. The hut markets itself as standing on "the most beautiful place in Austria" — a title awarded to the Formarinsee in 2015 — and offers self-cooked hut cuisine, warm beds ranging from quiet twin rooms to classic mattress dormitories, and a terrace with views over the lake and the Rote Wand. The hut's history is one of steady expansion and modernisation. It was first enlarged in 1932 and again in 1958, when additional sleeping and common rooms were added. A comprehensive modernisation followed between 1975 and 1977. In 1993 the hut installed a solar power system — pioneering work for an Alpine Club hut at the time — and a combined heat and power unit (Blockheizkraftwerk) supplies electricity and heat. In 2017 the Freiburger Hütte received the sustainability award "i luag druf" in the Tourism & Gastronomy category. Access logistics also evolved: until 1958 goods were transported by mule through the Schmiedtobel; a material cable car then operated until it was dismantled in 1979 after a road west of the Formarinsee was completed in 1975. The hut is a key waypoint on long-distance routes. It is reached from Dalaas via the Schmiedetobel (about 3 hours), from Inner- or Außerbraz, from Lech via the Formarin-Alpe (25–45 minutes), and from the Großwalsertal via several longer ascents. It is also a staging post on the Transalp mountain-bike routes: the Heckmair Route has passed the hut since 1989, and the Joe Route since 1995, both ending at Lake Garda. Transitions lead to the Göppinger Hütte, the Ravensburger Hütte and the Fraßenhaus. Today the Freiburger Hütte is operated by the DAV's Freiburg-Breisgau section with a stated goal of sustainable management and guest satisfaction. It closes for the winter season — the 2026 summer season ends on 20 September 2026 — and its online reservation portal reopens in mid-December. The hut remains a meeting point for people who want not just to see the mountains but to feel them.

The Freiburger Hütte was built in 1912 by the Sektion Freiburg of the Deutscher Alpenverein (German Alpine Club) at the Formarinsee in the Lechquellengebirge, as a reliable base for mountaineers and a shelter in the high mountains. It stands at 1,918 metres above sea level, directly opposite the Rote Wand. Growing visitor numbers made the first major expansion necessary in 1932. A further expansion in 1958 created additional sleeping and common rooms for guests who wanted to stay longer. Until 1958, goods were transported to and from the hut by mule through the Schmiedtobel. From then on a material cable car operated, with its valley station near the Formarinalpe. After a road west of the Formarinsee was completed in 1975, the material cable car was dismantled in 1979. Between 1975 and 1977 the hut was comprehensively modernised in several stages. In autumn 1993 a solar power system was installed — pioneering work for an Alpine Club hut at the time — and a combined heat and power unit (Blockheizkraftwerk) provides electricity and heat. In 2017 the Freiburger Hütte received the sustainability award "i luag druf" in the Tourism & Gastronomy category. The hut has long been a staging point on long-distance routes. Since 1989 it has been visited on the Heckmair Route, a Transalp mountain-bike crossing of the Alps, and since 1995 also on the Joe Route; both routes end at Lake Garda. The hut is also a base for mountaineering training by the DAV and describes itself as family-friendly. Today the Freiburger Hütte is operated by the DAV's Sektion Freiburg-Breisgau. Its stated goal is to manage sustainably and make guests happy, treating people and nature with respect. The 2015 designation of the Formarinsee as "the most beautiful place in Austria" is a point of pride. The hut closes for the winter season; the 2026 summer season ends on 20 September 2026, and the online reservation portal reopens in mid-December.

• 2026

  Summer season ends on 20 September 2026; online reservation portal reopens in mid-December.

• 2017

  Freiburger Hütte receives the sustainability award "i luag druf" in the Tourism & Gastronomy category.

• 2015

  The Formarinsee is voted "the most beautiful place in Austria".

• 1995

  The hut is also served by the Joe Route, another Transalp mountain-bike route ending at Lake Garda.

• 1993

  Solar power system installed in autumn — pioneering work for an Alpine Club hut at the time.

• 1989

  The hut becomes a waypoint on the Heckmair Route, a Transalp mountain-bike crossing of the Alps.

• 1979

  Material cable car dismantled after the road made it unnecessary.

• 1975

  Road west of the Formarinsee completed; comprehensive modernisation of the hut begins (1975–1977).

• 1958

  Further expansion adds sleeping and common rooms; mule transport through the Schmiedtobel ends and a material cable car begins operation.

• 1932

  First major expansion due to growing visitor numbers.

• 1912

  The Sektion Freiburg of the Deutscher Alpenverein builds the Freiburger Hütte at the Formarinsee as a base for mountaineers and a shelter in the Lechquellengebirge.

A family-friendly, sustainability-minded German Alpine Club mountain hut at one of Austria's most scenic spots, serving hikers, mountaineers and Transalp cyclists.

• Overnight accommodation

  Quiet twin rooms and classic mattress dormitories at 1,918 m.

• Hut kitchen (Speis & Trank)

  Self-cooked hut cuisine served warm.

• Terrace

  Terrace overlooking the Formarinsee and the Rote Wand.

1. 1Freiburger Hütte · Am schönsten Platz Österreichs · Formarinseefreiburger-huette.at
2. 2Die Hütte · Geschichte & Haltung · Freiburger Hüttefreiburger-huette.at
3. 3Freiburger Hütte – Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Freiburger Hütte – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org