Hochganghaus

Hochganghaus is a private mountain hut (Schutzhaus) and hospitality brand located at 1,839 metres on the southern slope of the Texelgruppe in the municipality of Partschins, South Tyrol, Italy. Situated directly on the Meraner Höhenweg high-altitude trail within the Texelgruppe Nature Park, it has operated as a family-run refuge since its founding in 1909. The hut offers simple traditional mountain fare, overnight accommodation in a dormitory, and a family-friendly environment focused on nature, rest, and environmental responsibility. The brand is closely tied to its historic building, which was placed under heritage protection by the South Tyrolean provincial government in 2013, and to its long tradition of private ownership and operation. The Hochganghaus was built by Marlinger farmer Josef Menz, who completed the first refuge on the site in 1909 and passed it to his son Anton Menz, who opened it as a tourist house in 1910. Because it was privately owned, it was not expropriated after World War I like the huts of the Alpine associations. From 1947 to 1979 it was leased by the Meran section of the Alpenverein Südtirol (AVS), and since then it has been privately run again. A new building next to the old refuge has been in operation since 2010. The old building was listed as a historic monument in 2013. Today the Hochganghaus is run by the Erlacher family, specifically Annelies Wolf Erlacher, and continues to serve hikers on the Meraner Höhenweg. It is a starting point for routes to the Sattelspitze, the Taufenscharte, the Mutspitze, the Hochgangschartl, the Spronser Lakes, the Spronser Rötelspitze, the Tschigat, and the Lazinser Rötelspitze. The hut's offering includes warm mountain dishes, Brettljausen (cold platters), a dormitory, table games, and self-catering options. The brand emphasizes simplicity, relaxation, and environmentally friendly practices, and maintains a strict no-smoking policy inside the hut. It also provides information on local house and wild animals, and features cup-marked stones found on site that attest to settlement before the time of Ötzi. The Hochganghaus is a quintessential South Tyrolean mountain hut brand, combining hospitality, tradition, and outdoor recreation.

The Hochganghaus was built by Marlinger farmer Josef Menz, who completed the first refuge on the site in 1909. He then handed it over to his son Anton Menz, who opened the building as a tourist house in 1910. Because it was in private ownership, it was not expropriated after World War I, unlike the huts of the Alpine associations. Since the nearby Lodnerhütte had been handed over to the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI) in 1923, the Meran section of the Alpenverein Südtirol (AVS), founded after World War II, sought a replacement for its members and was able to lease the Hochganghaus from 1947 to 1979. Since then it has been privately run again. In 2010, a new building next to the old refuge went into operation. In 2013, the old building was placed under heritage protection by the South Tyrolean provincial government. The hut is located at 1,839 metres on the southern slope of the Texelgruppe in the municipality of Partschins. The house, past which the Meraner Höhenweg leads, and its surroundings are in the Texelgruppe Nature Park. The house is a starting point for a path to the west to the Sattelspitze and to the east over the Taufenscharte to the Mutspitze. Directly above the house one reaches the Hochgangschartl. From here one can reach the Spronser Lakes, to the east the Spronser Rötelspitze and to the west the Tschigat and further over the Halsljoch the Lazinser Rötelspitze.

• 2013

  The old building is placed under heritage protection by the South Tyrolean provincial government.

• 2010

  A new building next to the old refuge goes into operation.

• 1979

  The lease ends and the hut returns to private operation.

• 1947

  The Meran section of the Alpenverein Südtirol leases the Hochganghaus.

• 1910

  Anton Menz opens the building as a tourist house.

• 1909

  Josef Menz completes the first refuge on the site.

Family-friendly, traditional, environmentally conscious private mountain hut on the Meraner Höhenweg.

• Mountain hut accommodation

  Overnight stays in a dormitory (Bettenlager) at 1,839 m.

• Traditional mountain food

  Warm hut dishes and Brettljausen (cold platters).

• Self-catering

  Self-catering facilities available for guests.

1. 1Schutzhaus Hochgang am Meranerhöhenweg Textelgruppe Meran Südtirolhochganghaus.it
2. 2Hochganghaus - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Hochganghaus - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org