Berghaus Hochschneeberg

Berghaus Hochschneeberg is a historic mountain hotel situated at 1,800 metres above sea level on the eastern side of the Waxriegel on the Schneeberg massif in Lower Austria. It stands directly at the Hochschneeberg terminus of the Schneebergbahn cog railway, which connects the small Lower Austrian town of Puchberg am Schneeberg with the plateau below the Schneeberg summit. The hotel was built in 1898 by the Imperial-Royal Austrian State Railways (k.k. österreichische Staatsbahnen) to designs by the theatre architects Helmer & Fellner, during the construction of the Schneebergbahn. From its earliest days it boasted a telephone connection and its own post office, which used the stamp 'Hochschneeberg'. Emperor Franz Joseph visited the hotel and the adjacent Elisabeth Church on 18 June 1902. After the Second World War the Berghaus was modernised and remained in the ownership of the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) until 1997, when it was sold to a private individual. The surrounding land belongs either to the City of Vienna — as part of the catchment area of Vienna's First Spring Water Pipeline — or, where used for railway operations, to the Schneebergbahn. Supplies for the hotel are delivered by cog railway. Since the installation of water pipelines on the Schneeberg in 2005/2006, the Berghaus has had a continuous supply of fresh water. Between 2007 and 2009 a new mountain railway station was built directly adjoining the hotel on its south side, opening in 2009. The hotel offers simple rooms with shower and veranda, breakfast included, as well as a Kaiserappartement (Imperial Suite). Room prices are available on request. Its restaurant serves regional specialities such as Tafelspitz with Alpine sorrel and Schneebergkrapfen. The Berghaus is a starting point for numerous hiking routes, including the one-and-a-half-hour circular trail 'Paradies der Blicke' (Paradise of Views), suitable for children, and ascents to the Waxriegel (1,888 m), Klosterwappen (2,076 m), Kaiserstein (2,061 m) and the Zahnradbahn hiking trail to Puchberg am Schneeberg. On clear days the panorama extends over the Puchberg basin, the Leitha and Rosalien mountains, and as far as Lake Neusiedl and the Little Hungarian Plain. A viewpoint on a steep rocky outcrop in front of the hotel is known as the 'Gruselplatz' (Creepy Place). The Berghaus Hochschneeberg remains an active hospitality business, welcoming guests for rest and overnight stays in its distinctive Imperial and Royal ambience.

The Berghaus Hochschneeberg was built in 1898 during the construction of the Schneebergbahn cog railway by the Imperial-Royal Austrian State Railways (k.k. österreichische Staatsbahnen), following plans by the theatre architects Helmer & Fellner. It was equipped from the start with a telephone connection and a post office that used the stamp 'Hochschneeberg'. On 18 June 1902 Emperor Franz Joseph visited the hotel and the Elisabeth Church next to it. After the Second World War the Berghaus was modernised. It remained the property of the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) until 1997, when it was sold to a private individual. The land around it belongs either to the City of Vienna — as part of the catchment area of the First Vienna Spring Water Pipeline — or, where used for railway operations, to the Schneebergbahn. Food and other supplies for the Berghaus are delivered by cog railway. Since water pipelines were installed on the Schneeberg in 2005/2006, the hotel has had a continuous supply of fresh water. From 2007 a new mountain station of the cog railway was built directly onto the south side of the hotel, and it was put into operation in 2009. The hotel continues to operate as a mountain inn and hotel with 55 beds, offering simple rooms and a Kaiserappartement, and serving regional dishes such as Tafelspitz with Alpine sorrel and Schneebergkrapfen. It is a base for hikers on routes including the 'Paradies der Blicke' circular trail and ascents to the Waxriegel, Klosterwappen and Kaiserstein.

• 2009

  New mountain station of the Schneebergbahn put into operation next to the Berghaus.

• 2007

  Construction begins on a new mountain station of the cog railway directly adjoining the hotel's south side.

• 2005

  Water pipelines installed on the Schneeberg (2005/2006), providing continuous fresh water to the Berghaus.

• 1997

  Sold by ÖBB to a private individual after being in state railway ownership.

• 1945

  After the Second World War the Berghaus is modernised.

• 1902

  Emperor Franz Joseph visits the hotel and the Elisabeth Church on 18 June.

• 1898

  Berghaus Hochschneeberg built by the Imperial-Royal Austrian State Railways during construction of the Schneebergbahn, designed by Helmer & Fellner.

Historic mountain hotel with Imperial and Royal ambience, offering rest and overnight stays at 1,800 m directly at the Schneebergbahn terminus.

• Simple rooms with shower and veranda, breakfast included

• Kaiserappartement (Imperial Suite) with breakfast

• Restaurant serving Tafelspitz with Alpine sorrel and Schneebergkrapfen

• Hiking routes: Paradies der Blicke, Waxriegel, Klosterwappen, Kaiserstein, Zahnradbahnweg

1. 1Berghaus Hochschneeberg official websiteberghaushochschneeberg.at
2. 2Berghaus Hochschneeberg – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
3. 3Berghaus Hochschneeberg – Wikidatawikidata.org