Becherhaus

Becherhaus, known in Italian as Rifugio Gino Biasi, is a high-alpine mountain hut situated at 3,195 metres above sea level on the summit of the Becher, a rise on the south ridge of the Wilden Freiger (3,418 m) in the Stubai Alps of South Tyrol, Italy. It stands above the Übeltalferner glacier and is the highest hut in South Tyrol. Reaching it from Ridnaun in South Tyrol takes roughly seven hours on foot. The hut accommodates about 100 people and includes the heritage-listed chapel 'Maria im Schnee' (Mary in the Snow), one of the highest Marian shrines in the Alps. The hut was conceived in the late 19th century by Karl Arnold, chairman of the Hannover section of the DÖAV (German and Austrian Alpine Club), after he first stood on the Becher summit. Although the DÖAV supported the idea, none of its 118 sections initially dared to take on the bold project; in January 1893 the Hannover section decided to build it itself. Originally named 'Kaiserin-Elisabeth-Schutzhaus', construction began in March 1894 and the hut opened on 18 August 1894, the birthday of Emperor Franz Joseph I. Key figures in the build were Ridnaun innkeeper Stefan Haller, who organised material transport, and Pflerscher master carpenter Johann Kelderer, who designed the hut. The hut was extended in 1900 and 1910. In 1922 the Hannover section was expropriated by the Italian state, and until 1979 the shelter was under military occupation. It was rebuilt and extended in 1987 and 1989 and subsequently operated by the Verona section of the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI). In 1999, together with 24 other state-expropriated huts, Becherhaus passed into the ownership of the Autonomous Province of Bozen – South Tyrol; the CAI's concession to run it expired at the end of 2010. Since 2015 the province has been assisted in managing the hut (leasing to tenants, monitoring operations, renovation measures) by a parity commission that includes the AVS (Alpenverein Südtirol) and the CAI alongside public authorities. The hut underwent a full renovation in 2020 and 2021. Today Becherhaus serves as a base for summit tours to the Sonklarspitze (3 hours), Botzer (3½ hours), Wilden Freiger (45 minutes), Wilden Pfaff (2½ hours) and Zuckerhütl (3½ hours), and for hut-to-hut transitions to the Müllerhütte, Sulzenauhütte, Dresdner Hütte, Nürnberger Hütte, Hildesheimer Hütte, Siegerlandhütte, Teplitzer Hütte and Magdeburger Hütte. It remains a landmark of South Tyrolean alpine hospitality and mountaineering heritage.

The Becher summit was first climbed on 23 August 1886 by C. Langbein with D. and J. Pfurtscheller. Six years later, when Karl Arnold, chairman of the Hannover section of the DÖAV (German and Austrian Alpine Club), first stood on the summit, the idea of a shelter on the Becher rock was born. The project was supported by the DÖAV, but none of the 118 sections of the Alpine Club dared to take on the bold undertaking. Not least because of Arnold's powers of persuasion, the Hannover section decided in January 1893 to undertake the construction itself. With the naming — originally the hut was called 'Kaiserin-Elisabeth-Schutzhaus' — the DÖAV wanted to thank the Prussian and Bohemian sections for their support. The most important people during the construction phase were the Ridnaun innkeeper Stefan Haller, who above all organised the transport of materials, and the Pflerscher master carpenter Johann Kelderer, who designed the hut. The actual construction phase began in March 1894. Despite a winter onset, the shelter was completed in August. The opening took place on the 18th of that month, the birthday of Emperor Franz Joseph I. In 1900 and 1910 the hut was extended. In 1922 the Hannover section was expropriated by the Italian state, and until 1979 the shelter was under military occupation. In 1987 and 1989 the hut was rebuilt, extended and subsequently operated by the Verona section of the Club Alpino Italiano. Together with 24 other state-expropriated huts, Becherhaus passed into the ownership of the Autonomous Province of Bozen – South Tyrol in 1999; at the end of 2010 the CAI's concession to run it expired. Since 2015 the Province of South Tyrol has been supported in the management of the hut (leasing to tenants, monitoring of operations, renovation measures) by a parity commission in which, alongside the public sector, the AVS and the CAI are represented. In 2020 and 2021 the hut was fully renovated.

• 2021

  The full renovation is completed.

• 2020

  The hut undergoes a full renovation.

• 2015

  A parity commission including the AVS and CAI begins assisting the province in managing the hut.

• 2010

  The CAI's concession to run the hut expires at the end of the year.

• 1999

  Becherhaus passes into the ownership of the Autonomous Province of Bozen – South Tyrol together with 24 other expropriated huts.

• 1989

  Further rebuilding and extension; operation passes to the Verona section of the Club Alpino Italiano.

• 1987

  The hut is rebuilt and extended.

• 1922

  The Hannover section is expropriated by the Italian state; the shelter is under military occupation until 1979.

• 1910

  The hut is extended again.

• 1900

  The hut is extended.

• 1894

  Construction begins in March; the hut opens on 18 August as 'Kaiserin-Elisabeth-Schutzhaus'.

• 1893

  In January the Hannover section decides to build the hut itself.

• 1892

  Karl Arnold, chairman of the Hannover section of the DÖAV, first stands on the summit and conceives the idea of a shelter.

• 1886

  Becher summit first climbed on 23 August by C. Langbein with D. and J. Pfurtscheller.

South Tyrol's highest mountain hut and a historic alpine refuge, positioned as a high-alpine base for mountaineering and glacier tours in the Stubai Alps.

• Mountain hut accommodation (approx. 100 beds)

• Chapel 'Maria im Schnee' (heritage-listed)

• Summit tours: Sonklarspitze, Botzer, Wilden Freiger, Wilden Pfaff, Zuckerhütl

• Hut-to-hut transitions: Müllerhütte, Sulzenauhütte, Dresdner Hütte, Nürnberger Hütte, Hildesheimer Hütte, Siegerlandhütte, Teplitzer Hütte, Magdeburger Hütte

1. 1Becherhaus official websitebecherhaus.com
2. 2Becherhaus – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
3. 3Becherhaus – Wikidatawikidata.org