Kenzenhütte

The Kenzenhütte is a privately operated mountain hut (Berghütte) and restaurant located at 1,294 metres above sea level in the Ammergau Alps, within the municipality of Halblech in the Ostallgäu district of Bavaria, Germany. It sits at the centre of the Ammergebirge nature reserve, nestled between the Kenzenkopf, Hasentalkopf and Grubenkopf peaks, with the prominent Hochplatte (2,082 m) to the south. Locals refer to the hut simply as 'die Kenzen'. The hut is a popular destination for hikers, mountain bikers and day-trippers, reachable on foot via easy trails, by mountain bike, or by the seasonal Kenzenbus from the valley town of Halblech. It also lies on the Maximiliansweg and the Via Alpina (E4) long-distance trails. The Kenzenhütte serves traditional hut cuisine with regional specialities. Its kitchen operates daily from 11:00 to 18:00, with Brotzeit (cold snacks) available from 10:00 to 20:00. The hut is open daily from 10:00 to 22:00 during the summer season, which runs from the beginning of May to mid-October, and closes for the winter without offering a winter room. There is no Wi-Fi and mobile phone reception is poor; card payments are not accepted, so guests must bring cash. Overnight bookings are handled exclusively through Hütten Holiday, with bookings for the following season opening in January. The Kenzenhütte is a private mountain hut owned by the Waldkörperschaft Buching-Trauchgau (the Buching-Trauchgau forest corporation). It is not part of the German or Austrian Alpine Club hut network. The current building dates from 1939, when the former royal hunting lodges on the site were demolished and one of the buildings, the so-called Branntweinbrennerhütte, was replaced by the present structure. The only surviving remnant of the original royal buildings is a horse stable, now used by the Bergwacht (mountain rescue service). The site has a royal history: the Bavarian royal house leased the Kenzen area for royal court hunting from 1799, and King Max II of Bavaria had simple hunting lodges built there. His son, the later King Ludwig II, replaced one of these in 1871 with a Königshäusl (little royal house), which he visited regularly each July. The hut is also a base for numerous hiking and climbing tours in a relatively undeveloped part of the Ammergau Alps, including routes to the Hochplatte, the Geiselstein (1,884 m) with climbing routes from UIAA grade II to VII, and the Grubenkopf (1,839 m). Nearby is the Wankerfleck, one of the most scenic spots in the Ammergau Alps, with alpine meadows and the steep Geiselstein.

The Kenzen area in the Ammergau Alps was leased by the Bavarian royal house for royal court hunting from 1799. At the site of today's Kenzenhütte, King Max II of Bavaria had several simple hunting lodges built. One of these buildings was replaced in 1871 by his son, the later King Ludwig II, with a so-called Königshäusl (little royal house). Ludwig II visited this hut regularly once a year in July. Despite being well preserved, the buildings of this mountain residence were demolished in 1939. One of the buildings, the so-called Branntweinbrennerhütte (brandy distiller's hut), was replaced by the present-day building. The only remaining part of the original complex is a horse stable, which is now used by the Bergwacht (mountain rescue service). The Kenzenhütte is a privately operated mountain hut at 1,294 m above sea level in the Ammergau Alps, in the Ostallgäu district. It lies at the centre of the Ammergebirge nature reserve, embedded between the Kenzenkopf, Hasentalkopf and Grubenkopf. To the south of the hut is the prominent Hochplatte (2,082 m), and somewhat below it are the Kenzen-Jagdhaus (Kenzen hunting lodge) and a former customs hut, which is now used by the Bergwacht Bayern. The hut is owned by the Waldkörperschaft Buching-Trauchgau, a forest corporation, making it a private hut rather than a club hut. The hut is reachable via several approach routes. The most comfortable is the regularly running Kenzenbus from the valley town of Halblech. It can also be reached via the Maximiliansweg, the Via Alpina (E4), and the hiking trail in the Halblech valley. The hut is a popular and ideal starting point for countless hiking and climbing tours in a part of the Ammergebirge that is still little developed for tourism. Tour options from the hut include the route to the Hochplatte (2,082 m) via the 'Fensterl' and back over the Kenzensattel (5 hours), the Kesselrunde over extensive mountain meadows (3 hours), the Geiselstein (1,884 m) with climbing routes from UIAA grade II to VII (1½ hours), and the Grubenkopf (1,839 m) (2 hours). In the present day, the Kenzenhütte operates as a seasonal mountain restaurant and guesthouse. It is open daily from 10:00 to 22:00 from the beginning of May to mid-October, closing on Kirchweih-Sunday (the parish fair Sunday), which in 2026 falls on 18 October. The kitchen serves from 11:00 to 18:00, with Brotzeit from 10:00 to 20:00. In winter the hut is closed and offers no winter room. There is no Wi-Fi and poor mobile reception, and card payments are not accepted. Overnight bookings are handled exclusively through Hütten Holiday, with bookings for the 2027 season opening in January 2027. The hut is run by Franzi and the Kenzen team, and gift vouchers can be ordered by email. The hut is also a starting point for excursions to the Wankerfleck, one of the most beautiful spots in the Ammergau Alps, with idyllic alpine meadows and the steeply rising Geiselstein.

• 2026

  Season closes on Kirchweih-Sunday, 18 October 2026.

• 1939

  The royal mountain residence buildings are demolished; the Branntweinbrennerhütte is replaced by the present-day Kenzenhütte building.

• 1871

  King Ludwig II replaces one of the hunting lodges with a Königshäusl, which he visits regularly each July.

• 1799

  The Bavarian royal house leases the Kenzen area for royal court hunting.

• Bookings for the 2027 season open in January 2027.

A traditional, cash-only, off-grid private mountain hut in a protected alpine landscape, known for regional hut cuisine and as a base for hiking and climbing in the Ammergau Alps.

• Hüttenküche (mountain hut cuisine)

  Regional specialities served daily from 11:00 to 18:00.

• Brotzeit

  Cold snacks available from 10:00 to 20:00.

• Overnight accommodation

  Bookable exclusively via Hütten Holiday; bookings for the next season open in January.

• Gift vouchers

  Can be ordered by email.

1. 1Startseite - Kenzenhütte Allgäukenzenhuette.de
2. 2Kenzenhütte - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Kenzenhütte - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org