August-Schuster-Haus

The August-Schuster-Haus (also known as Pürschlinghaus) is a mountain hut owned and operated by the Sektion Bergland of the Deutscher Alpenverein (German Alpine Club). It sits at 1,564 metres above sea level on the Pürschling ridge in the Ammergau Alps, near Oberammergau in the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria, Germany. The hut is a popular stop for hikers, sledgers and ski tourers, and lies on the European long-distance footpath E4 (Pyrenees to Neusiedler See) as well as the Maximiliansweg. The site has royal roots: the original Pürschlinghäuser were hunting lodges built for King Maximilian II Joseph of Bavaria (1811–1864), father of Ludwig II. In 1919 the Sektion Bergland of the Deutscher und Österreichischer Alpenverein acquired the hunting lodge and outbuilding and converted them into a mountaineering shelter. After a period of decay, the historic site was completely rebuilt between 1970 and 1972 and renamed August-Schuster-Haus in honour of August Schuster, a founding member of the Sektion Bergland in 1908 who had championed the purchase of the Pürschlinghäuser in 1919. Schuster also founded and ran the Sporthaus Schuster in Munich. Today the hut offers 54 dormitory places and 12 mattress places, running water and other amenities. It is typically open from May to October and closed over winter until May. Access routes include Oberammergau (2.5 hours), Unterammergau (2 hours), Schloss Linderhof (2.5 hours) and the Brunnenkopfhütte (3 hours). Nearby peaks include the Teufelstättkopf (1,758 m), Sonnenberg (1,622 m), Pürschling (1,564 m) and Rosengarten (1,423 m). The hut is a station on the Maximiliansweg, commemorating the royal hunting tradition of the area.

The history of the August-Schuster-Haus begins with the Bavarian kings. King Maximilian II Joseph (1811–1864), an avid hunter, had several hunting lodges built in the Ammergau region, including a hut on the ridge known as the Pürschling. Every June the monarch rode up to the 'most lovingly built hunting lodge' and spent a few days in the spartan accommodation. His son, Ludwig II (1864–1886), who visited him there, also fell under the spell of the Ammergau. The original Pürschlinghäuser were thus royal hunting lodges. In 1919, the Sektion Bergland of the Deutscher und Österreichischer Alpenverein (DuOeAV) took over the hunting lodge and its outbuilding and converted them into a shelter for mountaineers. August Schuster, a founding member of the Sektion Bergland in 1908 and founder of the Sporthaus Schuster in Munich, had advocated for the purchase. Over time, however, the hut fell into disrepair due to ageing. Between 1970 and 1972 the historic site was completely renovated and rebuilt from the ground up. The hut was renamed August-Schuster-Haus in honour of the section's founder. Today it is owned and operated by the Sektion Bergland of the Deutscher Alpenverein. The Maximiliansweg long-distance trail, which passes the Pürschlinghaus on one stage, commemorates the hunting and hiking enthusiast King Maximilian II. The hut has a notable connection to mountaineering history: in 1974 the Sektion Bergland placed a memorial plaque for its most famous member, Hermann Buhl, in the dining room. Since then, the original pennant with the Sektion Bergland logo, which Kurt Diemberger carried when he took the summit photo of Buhl on Broad Peak (8,051 m) in the Karakoram, has also been displayed there. The two had made the first ascent of that eight-thousander in alpine style on 9 June 1957. This summit photo and Buhl's last letter to his comrades in the Sektion Bergland are found in the commemorative publication for the section's 50th anniversary in 1958. Other personal equipment of Buhl is exhibited in Berchtesgaden in the Haus der Berge. Ludwig II had his riding horses painted in front of his mountain huts; the original paintings are displayed in the Marstallmuseum in Nymphenburg Palace, and through this painting the original appearance of the Pürschlinghäuser can be well understood.

• 1974

  A memorial plaque for Hermann Buhl is installed in the dining room, along with the original Sektion Bergland pennant used by Kurt Diemberger on Broad Peak.

• 1972

  Completion of the new building; the hut is renamed August-Schuster-Haus in honour of August Schuster.

• 1970

  Start of complete renovation and rebuilding of the historic site.

• 1919

  Sektion Bergland of the Deutscher und Österreichischer Alpenverein acquires the Pürschlinghäuser hunting lodge and converts it into a mountaineering shelter.

A traditional, non-profit alpine club mountain hut offering simple, affordable accommodation in a historic royal hunting setting, popular with hikers, sledgers and ski tourers.

• Overnight accommodation (54 dormitory places, 12 mattress places)

• Food and beverage service

• Base for hiking tours to Teufelstättkopf, Sonnenberg, Pürschling, Rosengarten

• Transition to Brunnenkopfhütte (3 hours)

1. 1DAV-Sektion Bergland - August-Schuster-Haus/Pürschlinghausdav-bergland.de
2. 2August-Schuster-Haus - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
3. 3August-Schuster-Haus - Wikidatawikidata.org