Buchsteinhaus

The Buchsteinhaus is a mountain hut (Schutzhütte) operated by the Ortsgruppe Bad Ischl of the Naturfreunde Österreichs (NFÖ). It sits at 1,571 metres above sea level in the Ennstaler Alps, in the area known as Krautgartl at the tree line, below the south-west face of the Großer Buchstein and high above the river Enns. The hut lies within the Gesäuse National Park in the municipality of Weng im Gesäuse, district of Liezen, Styria, Austria. Its official address is Gstatterboden 31, 8913 Weng im Gesäuse. The house is a traditional alpine refuge offering simple accommodation and food to hikers and climbers. It is the only base for ascents of the Großer Buchstein and the Admonter Frauenmauer, and it is a staging point on routes through the Gesäuse. The hut is open seasonally, typically from May to October, depending on snow conditions. It has two guest rooms (Gaststuben), large mattress dormitories, and a panoramic terrace; the kitchen uses regional products. The Buchsteinhaus was opened on 10 August 1924 as the Naturfreundehaus auf dem Großen Buchstein, after years of construction that required 200 helpers to carry materials—including 258 larch trunks, wagonloads of wood, and hundreds of kilograms of bricks and cement—up to the site. Over the decades it passed between Naturfreunde local groups: from the St. Pölten group to the Steyr group in 1979, and since 2021 it has been owned by the Naturfreunde Ortsgruppe Bad Ischl. A severe winter in 1979 damaged the foundations, prompting renovation. The construction of the Pfannl-Maischberger via ferrata in the south face of the Großer Buchstein brought a surge in visitors, and in 2006 a long-desired material cable car was built. After a corner of the house sank, it was demolished and rebuilt between 2008 and 2010 at considerable cost. The current building is the result of that reconstruction. The Buchsteinhaus is a commercial hospitality operation within the non-profit Naturfreunde organisation, and it is a well-known destination in Austrian alpine tourism. It is not a listed company and does not trade on any stock exchange.

The Buchsteinhaus was built by the Naturfreunde Österreichs and opened on 10 August 1924 as the Naturfreundehaus auf dem Großen Buchstein. The idea of a refuge in this area had been promoted by Heinrich Heß, known as the "father of the Gesäuse", who wrote about the magnificent view at the Hohen Krautgartl. Several applications for a building permit failed before one was granted in 1921. Construction started from the former Pichlmayeralm on the Brucksattel, from which a serpentine access path was built. Over three years, 200 helpers carried vast quantities of building material to the site, including 258 larch trunks, whole wagonloads of wood, and hundreds of kilograms of bricks and cement. In 1979 the hut passed from the St. Pölten Naturfreunde group to the care of the Steyr group. That same year, a severe winter so damaged the foundations that the house threatened to collapse. During the renovation, a somewhat larger kitchen was created and spacious washing and work rooms were built under the terrace. The construction of the Pfannl-Maischberger via ferrata in the south face of the Großer Buchstein brought an unexpectedly strong stream of visitors. Supplying the hut by chain vehicle became increasingly difficult, so in 2006 the long-desired material cable car was built. After a corner of the house sank shortly afterwards, the building was demolished and rebuilt between 2008 and 2010 at considerable cost. The new Buchsteinhaus has two guest rooms, large mattress dormitories, and a panoramic terrace; the kitchen processes regional products. Since 2021 the Buchsteinhaus has been owned by the Naturfreunde Ortsgruppe Bad Ischl. The hut is the only base for climbing the Großer Buchstein and the Admonter Frauenmauer. Access is from the Ennstal via the Gesäuse Straße (car park at the National Park Pavilion) over the Brucksattel (1,117 m) in about three hours, or more laboriously from the former Gasthaus Eisenzieher in the municipality of St. Gallen through the Große Billbachtal in about five hours. All transitions to other huts involve descending into the valley.

• 2021

  Ownership transferred to the Naturfreunde Ortsgruppe Bad Ischl.

• 2010

  Reconstruction completed; new hut with two guest rooms, mattress dormitories, and panoramic terrace.

• 2008

  Demolition and start of reconstruction after a corner of the house sank.

• 2006

  Material cable car built to supply the hut.

• 1979

  Hut transferred from the St. Pölten Naturfreunde group to the Steyr group; severe winter damaged foundations, leading to renovation.

• 1924

  Buchsteinhaus opened on 10 August as the Naturfreundehaus auf dem Großen Buchstein.

• 1921

  Building permit granted after several failed applications.

A traditional alpine refuge and hospitality point in the Gesäuse National Park, operated by the Naturfreunde, serving hikers and climbers with simple accommodation and regional food.

• Mountain hut accommodation

  Overnight stays in large mattress dormitories.

• Alpine food and drinks

  Meals prepared with regional products, served in two guest rooms.

• Panoramic terrace

  Outdoor terrace with views over the Gesäuse.

1. 1Buchsteinhaus – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
2. 2Buchsteinhaus – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Großer Buchstein » Aussicht genießen im Buchsteinhausabendzeitung-nuernberg.com
4. 4Über uns: die Redaktion der Abendzeitung Nürnbergabendzeitung-nuernberg.com