Geraer Hütte

The Geraer Hütte is a mountain hut (Schutzhütte) of the Landshut section of the German Alpine Club (Deutscher Alpenverein, DAV), situated at 2,324 metres above sea level in the Zillertal Alps in the Austrian state of Tyrol, south-east of Vals at the end of the Valser Tal. It serves as a base for hikers, climbers and mountaineers exploring the surrounding peaks such as the Olperer (3,476 m), Schrammacher (3,410 m) and Großer Kaserer (3,263 m). The hut offers food, accommodation and information for alpine tours, and is a key stop on long-distance routes including the Zentralalpenweg. The hut was built in 1895 by the Gera section of the German and Austrian Alpine Club (D.u.OeAV) and has been extended and modernised over the decades. After the Second World War, it was confiscated by the Allied powers and handed to the Austrian state; in 1956 it was entrusted to the Landshut section, which became its legal owner in 1973. Since 1990, when the Gera section was re-established, the two sections have cooperated through a hut sponsorship. The hut is currently closed, and the operators, Arthur and Kathrin with the hut team, have announced their farewell after 20 years of running the Geraer Hütte. The website provides information about food, sleeping, access routes, the surrounding mountains, and the history and philosophy of the hut.

The Geraer Hütte was built by the Gera section of the German and Austrian Alpine Club (Deutscher und Österreichischer Alpenverein, D.u.OeAV), which had been founded in 1879. On 6 June 1890, the section decided to erect a shelter in the rear Valser Tal at 2,324 metres above sea level, supported by the alpine pasture owners, the municipality of Vals/St. Jodok am Brenner and its inhabitants. On the recommendation of master builder Michael Kelderer from Sterzing, a wooden construction was chosen. The ground floor was planned with a dining room, kitchen, three rooms and a covered veranda; the upper floor had five more rooms and a bunk room. The hut was completed in July 1895, furnished with high-quality materials such as horsehair mattresses and handmade wooden furniture from Steinach am Brenner. The opening celebration took place on the evening of 4 August 1895 at the Gasthaus zum Wilden Mann in Steinach am Brenner, and the next day guests were served dumplings and venison at the hut by hut keeper Hans Fröhlich. Just below the hut, a stone utility building was erected, which is still used today as winter quarters and storage for guests. The serpentine path from the valley to the hut was completed in 1899 and served to transport material and provisions by mule. Thanks to its excellent reputation and comfortable furnishings, 1,000 visitors were counted as early as 1911. During the First World War from 1914 to 1918, the hut remained closed because the hut keeper had to serve at the front. The decision to restore the hut in the post-war period was made. In 1934, due to rising visitor numbers, the hut was extended. After the Second World War, the Geraer Hütte, like all huts of the DAV located in Austria, was confiscated by the occupying powers and handed over to the Austrian state. Since the East German sections were dissolved in 1945 by the Soviet occupation authority and re-establishment was not possible during the GDR era, the Landshut section took over the hut initially in trust upon its return in 1956, and from 1973 as legal owner. After the Gera section was re-established in 1990, the two sections have cooperated through a hut sponsorship. The hut is currently closed, and the operators Arthur and Kathrin with the hut team have announced their farewell after 20 years of running the Geraer Hütte.

• Gera section of the D.u.OeAV decides to build a shelter in the rear Valser Tal at 2,324 m.

• Hut completed with high-quality furnishings.

• Opening celebration held at Gasthaus zum Wilden Mann in Steinach am Brenner.

• Serpentine path from the valley to the hut completed for mule transport.

• 1,000 visitors counted, reflecting the hut's excellent reputation.

• Hut closed during World War I as the hut keeper served at the front.

• Hut extended due to rising visitor numbers.

• After World War II, hut confiscated by Allied powers and handed to the Austrian state.

• Landshut section takes over the hut in trust upon its return.

• Landshut section becomes legal owner of the hut.

• Gera section re-established; cooperation with Landshut section via hut sponsorship.

A traditional, historic mountain hut offering shelter and hospitality to alpinists in the Zillertal Alps, operated by a German Alpine Club section.

• Overnight accommodation

  Rooms and bunk beds in a historic mountain hut.

• Food and beverages

  Traditional Tyrolean meals and drinks served to guests.

• Alpine information

  Information on access routes, transitions, tours and peaks.

1. 1Danke - Geraerhüttegeraerhuette.at
2. 2Geschichte & Philosophie - Geraerhüttegeraerhuette.at
3. 3Geraer Hütte - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
4. 4Geraer Hütte - Wikidatawikidata.org