Brauneck-Gipfelhaus

The Brauneck-Gipfelhaus (also known as Brauneckhütte) is an Alpine Club hut of the Sektion Alpiner Ski-Club München of the Deutscher Alpenverein (German Alpine Club). It sits on the Brauneck mountain west of Lenggries in the Bavarian Prealps at an elevation of 1,540 metres above sea level, within the municipality of Lenggries, and forms the hamlet of Brauneckhütte. The hut is a well-known destination for hikers, skiers and winter sports enthusiasts, accessible in about ten minutes on foot from the top station of the Brauneck cable car. The idea for a hut on the Brauneck for winter mountaineers was first proposed in 1920 at the general meeting of the Alpiner Ski-Club. The necessary land was purchased the following year, but the inflation of 1923 wiped out the accumulated funds of 5,000 gold marks, delaying the project until 1929. Construction took place from July to September 1930, and the hut was inaugurated on 21 June 1931. Initially it accommodated 35 day guests and 14 overnight guests. The dining room was expanded to 130 seats in 1933, and a further expansion to 70 beds and 180 seats followed in 1937. During the Second World War the Brauneckhaus was requisitioned to house soldiers stationed on the summit as aircraft observers. After the war visitor numbers initially rose, with between 6,000 and 8,000 overnight stays per year. In the early 1950s, however, numbers fell sharply due to increasing long-distance tourism; most mountain hikers turned to peaks served by cable cars. The construction of the Brauneck cable car did little to change this, as it was used mainly by skiers who returned immediately to the valley. In the 1960s the cable car company tried to buy the house and convert it into a restaurant, but the offer was rejected. From 1996 the house was gradually renovated, with particular emphasis on environmentally friendly energy supply and modern sanitary facilities. Today the Brauneck-Gipfelhaus operates as a mountain inn and guesthouse, offering food and drink, overnight accommodation, a mobile sauna, and facilities for weddings and events. It is a member of the German Alpine Club hut network and serves as a base for hikes to nearby peaks such as the Latschenkopf, Achselköpfe and Benediktenwand, as well as for ski tours along the Brauneck cable car slopes and through the Längental valley. It also serves as a stopover on longer hut-to-hut routes, with connections to the Tutzinger Hütte, Neulandhütte, Lenggrieser Hütte and Blomberghaus.

The Brauneck-Gipfelhaus was first conceived in 1920 when the Alpiner Ski-Club München (ASC) decided at its general meeting to build a hut on the Brauneck for winter mountaineers. The land was purchased in 1921, but the hyperinflation of 1923 rendered the accumulated 5,000 gold marks worthless, and the project was shelved until 1929. Construction finally took place from July to September 1930, and the hut was inaugurated on 21 June 1931. At that time it could accommodate 35 day visitors and 14 overnight guests. In 1933 the dining room was enlarged to 130 seats, and in 1937 a further expansion provided 70 beds and 180 seats. During the Second World War the hut was requisitioned by the military to house soldiers serving as aircraft observers on the summit. After the war, visitor numbers recovered, reaching between 6,000 and 8,000 overnight stays annually. However, in the early 1950s the rise of long-distance tourism caused a sharp decline, as most hikers preferred peaks accessible by cable car. The opening of the Brauneck cable car did not reverse the trend, since it primarily served skiers who descended immediately. In the 1960s the cable car operator attempted to purchase the hut and convert it into a restaurant, but the Alpine Club rejected the offer. From 1996 onwards the hut underwent a sustained renovation programme, focusing on environmentally friendly energy systems and modern sanitary facilities. The renovation was completed in time for the hut's 75th anniversary, celebrated in 2006 and documented in DAV Panorama. Today the Brauneck-Gipfelhaus remains a member hut of the Deutscher Alpenverein, operated by the Sektion Alpiner Ski-Club München, and continues to serve hikers, skiers and overnight guests.

• 2006

  75th anniversary celebrated; renovation documented in DAV Panorama.

• 1996

  Start of gradual renovation focusing on eco-friendly energy and modern sanitary facilities.

• 1960

  Cable car company's offer to buy and convert the hut into a restaurant is rejected.

• 1950

  Visitor numbers decline due to long-distance tourism.

• 1939

  Requisitioned during World War II to house soldiers as aircraft observers.

• 1937

  Further expansion to 70 beds and 180 seats.

• 1933

  Dining room expanded to 130 seats.

• 1931

  Inauguration on 21 June; capacity for 35 day guests and 14 overnight guests.

• 1930

  Hut built from July to September.

• 1929

  Construction project resumed.

• 1923

  Inflation renders the accumulated 5,000 gold marks worthless, delaying the project.

• 1921

  Purchase of the land for the hut.

• 1920

  Decision at the general meeting of the Alpiner Ski-Club München to build a hut on the Brauneck.

A traditional, environmentally renovated Alpine Club hut offering hospitality, accommodation and outdoor experiences on the Brauneck summit.

• Overnight accommodation

  Beds in a historic Alpine Club hut at 1,540 m.

• Mountain inn dining

  Traditional food and drinks served in the dining room.

• Mobile sauna

  Sauna facility for guests.

• Weddings and events

  Venue for weddings and other celebrations.

• Guided tours

  Organized hikes and ski tours in the surrounding area.

1. 1Brauneckgipfelhaus official websitebrauneckgipfelhaus.de
2. 2Brauneck-Gipfelhaus - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
3. 3Brauneckhütte - Wikidatawikidata.org