Clarahütte

Clarahütte is a mountain hut (Berghütte) located in the Umbaltal valley within the Hohe Tauern National Park in East Tyrol, Austria. It is owned and operated by the Essen Section of the German Alpine Club (Deutscher Alpenverein, DAV Sektion Essen). At an elevation of 2,036 metres, the hut serves as a base for mountaineers, hikers, and climbers exploring the surrounding three-thousand-metre peaks and glaciers. The hut was built in 1872 on the initiative of Johann Stüdl, then chairman of the Prague Section of the DuOeAV (the predecessor of the German and Austrian Alpine Club). It is the oldest alpine hut in East Tyrol. It was named after Clara Edle von Ratzenbeck, whose husband, Prokop, a wholesale merchant in Prague, financed the original construction and later donated the hut to the Prague Section in 1895. Over its long history, Clarahütte has been damaged by avalanches in 1914, 1926, and 2012. After the German Alpine Club was banned in 1945, the hut remained closed until 1958. It was expanded between 1969 and 1974. Between 2013 and 2015, a comprehensive renovation costing one million euros was carried out, including a new extension with several double rooms and one four-bed room, bringing the total capacity to 30 guest beds. The hut is now largely self-sufficient in energy, using a water wheel driven by the Isel river, a photovoltaic solar array, a small water turbine, and buffer batteries. In spring 2025, the sewage treatment plant was expanded to meet environmental standards, and an educational trail with information boards was established around the hut. Clarahütte is a popular starting point for glacier tours and challenging mountain climbs, with nearby peaks including the Rötspitze (3,495 m), Dreiherrnspitze (3,499 m), Daberspitze (3,402 m), Malhamspitzen (3,373 m), Quirl (3,251 m), Simonyspitzen (3,488 m), Hohes Kreuz (3,156 m), and Ahrner Kopf (3,051 m). It also serves as a waypoint on long-distance routes such as the Alpenkönigroute and the Gletscherweg Umbalkees, and offers connections to other huts including the Neuen Reichenberger Hütte, Essener-Rostocker Hütte, and Lenkjöchlhütte.

Clarahütte was built in 1872 on the initiative of Johann Stüdl, then chairman of the Prague Section of the DuOeAV (Deutscher und Oesterreichischer Alpenverein). It is the oldest alpine hut in East Tyrol. The hut was named after Clara Edle von Ratzenbeck; her husband, Prokop, a wholesale merchant in Prague, financed the original construction and later donated the hut to the Prague Section in 1895. The hut suffered major avalanche damage in 1914, 1926, and 2012. After the German Alpine Club was banned in 1945, the hut remained closed until 1958. It was expanded between 1969 and 1974. Between 2013 and 2015, a comprehensive renovation costing one million euros was carried out, including a new extension with several double rooms and one four-bed room, bringing the total capacity to 30 guest beds. The renovation also included a self-sufficient energy system using a water wheel driven by the Isel river, a photovoltaic solar array, a small water turbine, and buffer batteries. In spring 2025, the sewage treatment plant was expanded to meet environmental standards, and an educational trail with information boards was established around the hut.

• 2025

  Sewage treatment plant expanded; educational trail established.

• 2013

  Comprehensive renovation begins (until 2015), costing one million euros.

• 1969

  Expansion begins (until 1974).

• 1958

  Hut reopened.

• 1945

  German Alpine Club banned; hut closed.

• 1914

  Major avalanche damage.

• 1895

  Hut donated to the Prague Section by Prokop Edler von Ratzenbeck.

• 1872

  Clarahütte built on the initiative of Johann Stüdl, Prague Section of DuOeAV.

Historic alpine hut and base for high-alpine tours in the Hohe Tauern National Park

• Mountain hut accommodation (30 beds)

• Food and beverage service

• Alpine information and trail access

1. 1DAV Sektion Essendav-essen.de
2. 2Clarahütte - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3Clarahütte - Wikidatawikidata.org