Albignahütte

The Albignahütte (Romansh: Capanna da l'Albigna) is a mountain hut owned and operated by the Sektion Hoher Rohn of the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC). It sits at 2,332 metres above sea level on the eastern side of the Albigna reservoir in the Bernina Alps, within the Bregaglia valley of the Swiss canton of Graubünden. The hut serves as a base for numerous climbing routes and is a stage point on the Sentiero Alpino Bregaglia, a long-distance hiking trail. The first hut was built in 1910 by the SAC Sektion Hoher Rohn after the Sektion Bregaglia's plan to build a hut in the upper Albigna valley could not be realised due to lack of funds. That original structure had 16 places and stood approximately at the height of today's dam wall. In 1955, due to the construction of the Albigna dam by the Elektrizitätswerke Zürich (EWZ), a new, larger hut was built at the present, higher location and completed in 1956. The dam itself was finished in 1959, and since then the Pranzaira power-plant cable car has been in operation, significantly shortening the ascent to the hut. In 1994 the second hut was considerably expanded and a power line was laid, providing electricity. Thanks to these upgrades, the hut now offers modern infrastructure and is considered one of the modern SAC huts. Access to the hut is typically from the village of Pranzaira north of Vicosoprano: a hiking trail leads to the Albigna dam (about 3.5 hours), or a cable car can be used for that section. From the dam, the hut is reachable in 40 minutes on foot. The hut is also a waypoint on the Sentiero Alpino Bregaglia. The Albignahütte continues to operate as a mountain refuge, offering accommodation and meals to mountaineers and hikers, and it occasionally hosts culinary events in the valley, such as the October 2024 evening at Pontisella in Stampa.

The history of the Albignahütte begins in the early 20th century. In the summer of 1907, the then president of the SAC Sektion Hoher Rohn, together with the well-known mountain guide Christian Klucker, undertook several tours in the Albigna valley. This established contact between the SAC Sektion Hoher Rohn, which would become the owner of the Capanna da l'Albigna, and the Bregaglia region. Around 1909, the SAC Sektion Bregaglia intended to build a hut in the upper Albigna valley. However, lacking financial means, the hut with its 16 places was financed by the Sektion Hoher Rohn and built in 1910, approximately at the height of today's dam wall. In 1955, due to the dam project of the EWZ (Elektrizitätswerke Zürich), a new, larger hut was built at the present, higher location, replacing the previous one. It was completed in 1956. During the same period, the Albigna dam was built by the EWZ and finished in 1959. Since then, the Pranzaira power-plant cable car has been in operation, significantly shortening the ascent to the Capanna da l'Albigna. In 1994, the Capanna da l'Albigna was considerably expanded again. Additionally, a power line was laid, providing the hut with electricity. Thanks to the structural expansion and electrification, the present hut offers modern infrastructure and is thus counted among the modern SAC huts. The hut remains an active mountain refuge, serving climbers and hikers, and is a stage point on the Sentiero Alpino Bregaglia.

• 1994

  Hut significantly expanded and electrified with a new power line.

• 1959

  Albigna dam completed by EWZ; Pranzaira power-plant cable car begins operation, shortening the ascent.

• 1956

  Second Albignahütte completed.

• 1955

  Construction of a new, larger hut begins at the present higher location due to the EWZ dam project.

• 1910

  First Albignahütte built by SAC Sektion Hoher Rohn with 16 places, near the height of today's dam wall.

• 1909

  SAC Sektion Bregaglia plans to build a hut in the upper Albigna valley but lacks funds.

• 1907

  President of SAC Sektion Hoher Rohn and mountain guide Christian Klucker tour the Albigna valley, establishing contact with the Bregaglia region.

A traditional yet modern SAC mountain hut in the Bregaglia valley, serving climbers and hikers with contemporary infrastructure.

• Mountain hut accommodation

  Overnight stays for climbers and hikers, with 16 places in the original hut and expanded capacity after 1994.

• Meals and refreshments

  Food and drinks served at the hut, featuring mountain herbs and local specialties.

1. 1Capanna da l' Albigna SAC Hütte – Albignahütte SACalbigna.ch
2. 2Geschichte – Capanna da l' Albigna SAC Hüttealbigna.ch
3. 31. Oktober 2024 im Pontisella, Stampa: Albigna Ru(p)ft Pontisellaalbigna.ch
4. 4Albignahütte – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
5. 5Albignahütte – Wikidatawikidata.org