Rifugio Contrin

Rifugio Contrin is a historic alpine mountain hut (rifugio) located at 2,016 metres above sea level in the upper Contrin Valley, a side valley of the Fassa Valley, within the municipality of Canazei in the Italian province of Trentino. It sits at the foot of the Marmolada group in the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage site, surrounded by peaks over 3,000 metres including Gran Vernel, Piccolo Vernel, Top Ombretta, Sasso Vernale and Top Man. The refuge is one of the most capacious in the Fassa Dolomites, offering 112 beds, and is typically open from early June to late September. It provides overnight accommodation in both private rooms with linens and toilets, as well as classic dormitory bunks for low-cost stays, along with bar and restaurant service featuring local dishes such as polenta with roe deer and mushrooms, tagliatelle with forest scents, strudel and homemade berry cakes. The hut is a key stopping point on several long-distance hiking trails, including the Alta Via delle Dolomiti n.2, the Monaco-Venice route, the Via Alpina, Sentiero Italia and Sentiero della Pace. It is easily reached on foot from Alba di Canazei, less than 6 km away, via a dirt road, and serves as an excellent starting point for hikes of all levels, from climbing to simple walks through the woods to spot roe deer, deer, chamois and marmots. The refuge is owned by the Associazione Nazionale Alpini (A.N.A.), the Italian Alpini association, and has been managed by them since 1921. Its history dates back to 1897 when it opened as the Contrinhaus – Nürnberger Hütte, built by the Nuremberg section of the German and Austrian Alpine Club. Destroyed in World War I, it was rebuilt in the 1920s and has since been restored and modernised, most recently completed in 2010. The refuge is mentioned in numerous international magazines and publications due to its panoramic 360° views over the Marmolada and Sassolungo groups.

The Rifugio Contrin was established in the late 19th century during the golden age of alpine hut construction in the Dolomites. In 1896, the Nuremberg section of the German and Austrian Alpine Club (DÖAV) acquired building land from the municipality of Pozza di Fassa in the upper Contrin Valley. The hut was opened on 28 July 1897 under the name Contrinhaus – Nürnberger Hütte, situated at the foot of the Gran Vernel. It quickly became a popular base for mountaineers exploring the Marmolada group. With the outbreak of World War I and Italy's entry into the war in May 1915, the hut was requisitioned and used as an Austro-Hungarian sector command post. On 6 September 1915, the Contrinhaus was destroyed by a 70 mm shell fired from an Italian gun under the command of Alpini Captain Arturo Andreoletti, who was the sector commander. The ruins remained until after the war. After the war, the land on which the ruins stood was expropriated by the Italian state and, like many other DÖAV huts, entrusted to the Trentino Alpine Club (SAT). However, the SAT was unable to finance a full reconstruction, and in 1921 the half-rebuilt hut was handed over to the Associazione Nazionale Alpini (A.N.A.), founded in 1919. Arturo Andreoletti, who had become the second president of A.N.A. in 1920, oversaw the rebuilding, which was completed by 1923. The hut was reopened under the name Casa degli Alpini in Val Contrìn (Alpini House in Contrin Valley) at the annual Alpini gathering in late August 1926. In 1929, another hut was built next to the Rifugio Contrin, later dedicated to Efrem Reatto, an Alpini soldier who fell in the Abyssinian War in 1936 and was awarded the gold medal for valour. In 1930, a small chapel was built slightly above the two buildings, dedicated to those who lost their lives in the mountains. In 2003, the Alpini association decided to restore and modernise both buildings. The project, co-financed by the Autonomous Province of Trento, was completed in 2010. Today, the Rifugio Contrin continues to operate as a mountain hut, welcoming hikers and climbers from around the world, and remains an important symbol of the Alpini presence in the Dolomites.

• 2010

  Restoration and modernisation project completed.

• 2003

  A.N.A. decides to restore and modernise both buildings.

• 1930

  Small chapel built above the buildings, dedicated to those who died in the mountains.

• 1929

  Second hut built next to Rifugio Contrin, later dedicated to Efrem Reatto.

• 1926

  Reopened as Casa degli Alpini in Val Contrìn at the annual Alpini gathering.

• 1923

  Rebuilding completed under A.N.A. president Arturo Andreoletti.

• 1921

  Half-rebuilt hut handed over to Associazione Nazionale Alpini (A.N.A.).

• 1915

  Hut destroyed by Italian artillery on 6 September during World War I.

• 1897

  Contrinhaus – Nürnberger Hütte opens on 28 July.

• 1896

  Nuremberg section of DÖAV acquires building land from Pozza di Fassa municipality.

Historic alpine refuge owned by the Alpini association, offering affordable accommodation and traditional cuisine in a spectacular Dolomites setting.

• Overnight accommodation

  112 beds in private rooms and dormitory bunks.

• Restaurant

  Serves local dishes such as polenta with roe deer and mushrooms, tagliatelle with forest scents, strudel and berry cakes.

• Bar

  Bar service for guests.

1. 1Refuge | Refuge Canazei | Refuge Contrin | Canazei | Dolomitesrifugiocontrin.it
2. 2Construction of the Contrin house 1895 | Refuge Canazei | Refuge Contrin | Canazei | Dolomitesrifugiocontrin.it
3. 3Rifugio Contrin - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Rifugio Contrin - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org