Johannishütte

The Johannishütte is a historic alpine mountain hut (Schutzhütte) located at 2,121 metres above sea level in the Hinterbichler Dorfertal valley in East Tyrol, Austria, within the Venediger Group of the Hohe Tauern range. It lies south of the Großvenediger, Austria's highest glacier-covered peak outside the main Alpine ridge, and serves as a key base for mountaineers, hikers, boulderers, mountain bikers and ski tourers. The hut is owned and operated by the Sektion Oberland of the Deutscher Alpenverein (German Alpine Club, DAV), one of the largest alpine clubs in the world. First built in 1857–1858 on the initiative of the geoplast Franz Keil and with the support of the geographer Friedrich Simony and Archduke Johann of Austria, the Johannishütte is one of the oldest alpine shelters in the Eastern Alps. It was named in honour of Archduke Johann, who provided financial backing. Over the decades it passed through several owners, including the German and Austrian Alpine Club (DuOeAV) and its Prague section, before coming into the possession of the DAV's Oberland section in 1993. A comprehensive renovation and expansion in 1999 modernised the hut while preserving its historic character. Today the Johannishütte offers around 50 bright and spacious dormitory places in rooms of 8 and 10 beds, with showers, toilets, central heating and a drying room with boot dryers. It is open seasonally, typically until early October, and reservations are made by telephone. The hut is a stage point on the classic Skiroute Hoch Tirol, a high-alpine ski traverse across the Eastern Alps, and the first stage of the Adlerweg long-distance hiking trail. It is also a popular base for glacier tours to the Großvenediger (3,657 m), the Rainerhorn, the Kleinvenediger and other peaks, as well as for rock climbing, bouldering and mountain biking. The hut is accessible on foot from Hinterbichl in about two hours, by hut taxi, or by mountain bike, and in winter by ski tour or snowshoe. The Johannishütte is a commercial alpine hospitality operation, offering accommodation, half-board and guiding services typical of a DAV mountain hut. It is not a publicly listed company but a non-profit club-owned facility. Its operations are closely tied to the seasonal rhythms of alpine tourism and mountaineering in the Hohe Tauern National Park region.

The Johannishütte was built in 1857–1858 on the initiative of the geoplast Franz Keil, with significant support from the Vienna geographer Friedrich Simony and financial backing from Archduke Johann of Austria, son of Emperor Leopold II. It was named in honour of the Archduke. The hut is considered one of the oldest alpine shelters in the Eastern Alps. In 1870, C.-A. von Steiner acquired the hut, and in 1871 he built a new hut at the same location. In 1876, the hut passed into the possession of the Prague section of the German and Austrian Alpine Club (DuOeAV). In 1929/30, the hut was expanded with a wooden block construction. Since 1993, the Johannishütte has been owned by the Sektion Oberland of the Deutscher Alpenverein (DAV). In 1999, the section undertook a comprehensive renovation and expansion, modernising the facilities while preserving the historic character. The hut remains a key stage point on the Skiroute Hoch Tirol and the first stage of the Adlerweg.

• 1999

  Comprehensive renovation and expansion by the Sektion Oberland.

• 1993

  The Johannishütte becomes the property of the Sektion Oberland of the DAV.

• 1929

  The hut is expanded with a wooden block construction (1929/30).

• 1876

  The hut passes to the Prague section of the DuOeAV.

• 1871

  A new hut is built at the same location by C.-A. von Steiner.

• 1870

  C.-A. von Steiner acquires the hut.

• 1857

  Johannishütte built on the initiative of Franz Keil with support from Archduke Johann and Friedrich Simony.

A historic, club-owned alpine hut offering authentic mountain hospitality and a strategic base for high-alpine tours in the Venediger Group.

• Overnight stays in dormitories (8 and 10 beds)

• Half-board meals

• Hut taxi service

• Guided mountain tours

• Ski touring base

• Bouldering access

1. 1Johannishütte official websitejohannis-huette.at
2. 2Geschichte – Johannishüttejohannis-huette.at
3. 3Johannishütte – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
4. 4Johannishütte – Wikidatawikidata.org