Landshuter Europahütte

The Landshuter Europahütte is a mountain hut (Schutzhaus) in the Zillertal Alps, uniquely situated directly on the border between Austria and Italy, with the national boundary running through its guest room. It lies at 2,693 metres above sea level in the Tuxer Kamm, just below the Friedrichshöhe, southeast of the 2,999-metre Kraxentrager. The hut is a well-known destination for hikers, climbers and mountaineers exploring the Pfitschertal and the surrounding peaks. Originally opened in 1899 by the Sektion Landshut of the German and Austrian Alpine Club (DuOeAV), the hut was long known as the Landshuter Hütte. After World War I, the border was drawn through the building, splitting it between Austria and Italy. For decades the two halves had separate fates, with periods of closure and decay. In the 1980s, a cross-border initiative led to joint management by the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI) and the German Alpine Club (DAV), and in 1988 the renovated hut was celebrated as the Europahütte, flying the Tyrolean, Italian and European flags. Today the hut offers 65 sleeping places, Tyrolean cuisine and a 360° panoramic view. It is a key stop on the Tiroler Höhenweg and serves as a base for ascents of the Kraxentrager, Wildseespitze and Wolfendorn. Due to structural instability, the hut has been closed since 2026 for reconstruction, with a new building planned under the auspices of the Stiftung Europahütte, a foundation supported by the Tyrol and South Tyrol regions and the DAV Sektion Landshut. The project aims to preserve over a century of alpine hospitality tradition while creating a modern, safe refuge at the heart of the Alps.

The history of the Landshuter Europahütte begins in the late 19th century. Around 1890, the Sektion Landshut of the German and Austrian Alpine Club (DuOeAV) sought a working area in the Alps. After plans in the Kaisergebirge were shelved in 1894, in June 1896 the section chose the Wolfendorn-Hühnerspiel area due to its favourable access via the Brenner Railway. By the end of that year, the construction of the Landshuter Höhenweg from Sterzing to the Pfitscher Joch was decided, and the hut's location was fixed. Financing proved difficult, so only about half of the originally planned building could be tackled. There were further difficulties, including a strike by construction workers due to the unfamiliar altitude and a cost overrun of 6,000 marks beyond the planned 11,000 Friedensmark. The first hut was inaugurated in August 1899 and finally completed on 6 September 1899. It quickly became very popular, and an initial expansion was decided as early as 1899. Between 1902 and 1903, a significant extension added a guest room, a veranda, a storeroom and staff rooms, bringing capacity to 42 sleeping places (36 beds and 6 dormitory places). In 1905, severe storm damage occurred, and the planned construction of a path from St. Jakob in the Pfitschertal, already envisaged in 1906, took until 1913. With the outbreak of World War I, the hut was unmanaged for about ten years from August 1914. After the war, the International Boundary Regulation Commission drew the border right through the hut. Only the easternmost, newest part remained in Austria and thus with the Sektion Landshut. After some initial renovations in the 1920s, this part was extended by an annex in summer 1930. After World War II, it was not until 1953 that renovations of the Austrian part began again after another period of decay. While this part reopened, the Italian part increasingly fell into ruin. Due to the difficult political situation in South Tyrol, the hut was completely closed again in 1966. In 1972, the Austrian part reopened once more. From the early 1980s, the idea of a cross-border 'Europahütte' gained importance. Initial attempts to include the Italian part in DAV management failed due to the complex legal situation. In 1984, a solution was found in cooperation with the Sektion Sterzing of the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI), and work began that same year. In 1987, joint management by CAI and DAV was contractually regulated, and on 9 and 10 September 1988, the completion of the construction work was celebrated. Since then, three flags fly at the Landshuter Europahütte: the Tyrolean, the Italian and the European. After cracks formed in the building, investigations carried out as part of an Interreg project and published in 2020 found that sustainable renovation was hopeless due to unstable ground, but a new building was possible. Consequently, in 2021 the South Tyrolean provincial government decided to purchase the Italian part of the hut with a view to rebuilding. In 2022, the Stiftung Europahütte (Europahütte Foundation) was established, supported by the Länder Tyrol and South Tyrol and the Sektion Landshut of the DAV, with representatives of the CAI and the AVS also appointed to the foundation board. The foundation's task is to operate the Europahütte and oversee the necessary new construction. In 2025, construction work began to demolish the old hut and erect the new one.

• 2025

  Construction work begins to demolish the old hut and build the new one.

• 2022

  Stiftung Europahütte founded by Tyrol, South Tyrol and DAV Sektion Landshut.

• 2021

  South Tyrolean provincial government decides to purchase the Italian part of the hut.

• 2020

  Interreg project investigations published; sustainable renovation deemed hopeless, new building possible.

• 1988

  Completion of construction celebrated on 9-10 September; three flags fly (Tyrolean, Italian, European).

• 1987

  Joint management by CAI and DAV contractually regulated.

• 1984

  Solution found with CAI Sektion Sterzing; renovation work begins.

• 1972

  Austrian part reopened.

• 1966

  Hut completely closed due to political situation in South Tyrol.

• 1953

  Renovations of the Austrian part begin after decay.

• 1930

  Austrian part extended by an annex.

• 1920

  Post-war border drawn through the hut; only eastern part remains in Austria.

• 1914

  Hut unmanaged for about ten years due to World War I.

• 1905

  Severe storm damage.

• 1902

  Significant expansion begins, adding guest room, veranda, storeroom and staff rooms; capacity reaches 42 sleeping places.

• 1899

  First hut inaugurated in August and completed on 6 September.

• 1896

  Sektion Landshut decides on the Wolfendorn-Hühnerspiel area and the construction of the Landshuter Höhenweg; hut location fixed.

A historic, cross-border alpine refuge offering traditional Tyrolean hospitality and access to the Zillertal Alps, uniquely situated on the Austrian-Italian border.

• Mountain hut accommodation

  65 sleeping places in a historic alpine refuge.

• Tyrolean cuisine

  Hearty Tyrolean dishes served in the guest room.

• Half-board packages

  7-day half-board offers, e.g. spring package at €336.00.

1. 1Europahütte – das Schutzhaus in den Zillertaler Alpeneuropahuette.it
2. 2Landshuter Europahüttewikidata.org
3. 3Landshuter Europahüttede.wikipedia.org