Alte Prager Hütte

The Alte Prager Hütte is a historic mountain hut located at 2,489 metres above sea level in East Tyrol, Austria, northeast of the Grossvenediger. It was built in 1872 by the Prague Section of the German Alpine Club (Deutscher Alpenverein, DAV) but was destroyed by an avalanche just four years later. A second hut was erected in 1877, accommodating 45 people, and underwent renovations in 1923 and 1972. In 1901/03, the Neue Prager Hütte was built higher up, about an hour's walk away. Due to financial pressures, the Prague Section merged with the Oberland Section in 1992, but the hut failed to receive an operating permit in 2009 because of its poor condition. A proposed purchase by the Matrei Section of the Austrian Alpine Club in 2010 fell through. In 2011, the building was placed under heritage protection as one of the few largely unaltered simple Alpine Club huts in high mountains. In 2013, the DAV took over both the Alte and Neue Prager Hütte directly. From 2017 to 2019, the hut was restored to its original state using old plans and converted into Austria's highest museum, which opened on 19 July 2019. The museum is open from mid-June to mid-September and features a glass wall allowing views of the historically furnished interior. The hut also serves as simple accommodation and material storage for research by the Hohe Tauern National Park, and a weather station records data and webcam images twice daily. Access is via the Matreier Tauernhaus, followed by a 3.5- to 4-hour hike through the Innergschlöss. The hut is a starting point for tours to the Grossvenediger and other peaks.

The Alte Prager Hütte was built in 1872 by the Prague Section of the German Alpine Club (DAV) at 2,489 metres above sea level in East Tyrol, Austria. Just four years later, in 1876, it was destroyed by an avalanche. In 1877, the section rebuilt the hut, this time with a capacity for 45 people. The hut underwent renovations in 1923 and 1972. In 1901/03, the Neue Prager Hütte was constructed higher up, about an hour's walk away. To manage the costs of maintaining and further renovating the huts, the Prague Section merged with the Oberland Section in 1992. However, due to its deteriorating condition, the hut was denied an operating permit in 2009. The necessary renovation to meet modern standards would have amounted to a new build. In 2010, the Matrei Section of the Austrian Alpine Club attempted to purchase the hut, but the deal failed. In 2011, the building was placed under heritage protection because it is one of the few simple Alpine Club huts in high mountains that have remained largely unaltered. In 2013, the DAV took over both the Alte and Neue Prager Hütte directly, as the financial burden of maintaining and operating both huts exceeded the capabilities of a section. To preserve the hut, it was restored to its original state from 2017 to 2019 using old plans and converted into Austria's highest museum, which was ceremonially opened on 19 July 2019 by DAV Vice President Roland Stierle, among others. A glass wall in the entrance area allows a view into the historically furnished hut. The museum is open from mid-June to mid-September. The hut also serves as simple accommodation and material storage for research by the Hohe Tauern National Park. A weather station was installed at the hut, recording webcam images twice daily with views of the Schlatenkees and Grossvenediger; temperature data can be accessed in 15-minute intervals via Hydro-Online of the Province of Tyrol. The station also records other research-relevant data.

• 2019

  Museum opens on 19 July as Austria's highest museum.

• 2017

  Restoration to original state begins.

• 2013

  DAV takes over both Alte and Neue Prager Hütte.

• 2011

  Placed under heritage protection.

• 2010

  Attempted purchase by Matrei Section fails.

• 2009

  Operating permit denied due to poor condition.

• 1992

  Prague Section merges with Oberland Section.

• 1972

  Further renovation.

• 1923

  Renovation of the hut.

• 1901

  Construction of the Neue Prager Hütte begins higher up.

• 1877

  Rebuilt with capacity for 45 people.

• 1876

  Destroyed by an avalanche.

• 1872

  Built by the Prague Section of the German Alpine Club.

A heritage-protected historic Alpine hut repurposed as a museum and research facility, offering a glimpse into 19th-century Alpine Club history.

• Museum

  Austria's highest museum, open mid-June to mid-September.

• Research accommodation

  Simple lodging and material storage for Hohe Tauern National Park research.

• Weather station

  Records webcam images and temperature data.

1. 1Alte Prager Hütte - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
2. 2Alte Prager Hütte - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Alte Prager Hütte - Deutscher Alpenvereinalte-prager-huette.at