Lavarella Mountain Hut

The Lavarellahütte (Ladin: Üćia Lavarella; Italian: Rifugio Lavarella) is a private mountain hut and hospitality brand in the Fanes group of the Dolomites, South Tyrol, Italy. Situated at 2,042 metres above sea level on the Fanes high plateau within the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park, it lies in the municipality of Enneberg (San Vigilio di Marebbe) and forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Dolomites. The hut is a central base for hikers, climbers, mountain bikers and ski tourers, reachable from San Vigilio di Marebbe, Alta Badia and Cortina d'Ampezzo, and is closely associated with the neighbouring Faneshütte. The history of the Lavarella brand begins in 1912, when Mariangelo Frenner of San Vigilio di Marebbe built a first mountain hut used as a barn. In 1919 he began constructing an 'ahead of its time' lodge using materials from abandoned First World War constructions, creating a small one-storey stone-and-wood shelter for the first climbers and mountaineers. In 1934 his son Fritz Frenner renovated and expanded the hut, adding a floor and turning it into a true mountain lodge. The building burned down entirely in 1939 but was reconstructed the same year. After Fritz lost his life in the Second World War, his brother Peter took over, refurnished the lodge and managed it until the late 1970s, when his son Hanspeter and his family assumed responsibility. The hut was modernised in 1997 and renovated again in 2013. Today the Lavarellahütte operates as a mountain lodge offering accommodation, culinary art, wine and beer, a sauna, and the Picia Capela de Fanes chapel dedicated to Saint Josef Freinademetz, completed in 2003. In 2019 the junior hut keeper opened his own microbrewery, which is described as the highest brewery in Europe; its beer, brewed from mountain water, is named Ga.Beer. The lodge is open in both summer and winter seasons, with published opening periods, and accepts availability and booking enquiries through its official website. Its location near the legendary Lé Vërt (green lake) of the ancient Ladin legends of Fanes makes it a destination for trekking, climbing, mountain biking, snowshoeing and ski touring itineraries.

The history of the Lavarella mountain lodge goes back to 1912, when Mariangelo Frenner of San Vigilio di Marebbe built the first mountain hut, serving as a barn. Before the First World War, an alpine hut owned by the Frenner family stood on the site of today's refuge. In 1919, Mariangelo Frenner started the construction of an 'ahead of its time' mountain lodge, utilizing materials from abandoned First World War constructions to build a small one-storey hut made of stone and wood. Here the first climbers and mountaineers could find shelter and a little something to eat and drink. In 1934, Fritz Frenner (Mariangelo's son) renovated the hut, adding one floor and making it a real mountain lodge, which his family and descendants have maintained up to today. The hut burned down entirely in 1939, but it was reconstructed in the same year. Fritz Frenner lost his life in the events of the Second World War. This was when his brother Peter took over the lodge, refurnished it and managed it until the late 1970s. It was then the turn of his own son Hanspeter and his family to run the mountain hut. During the Second World War, the Frenner family erected a new hut, which was modernised in 1997. In 2003, the Picia Capela de Fanes chapel, dedicated to Saint Josef Freinademetz, was completed right next to the Lavarellahütte. In 2013 the hut was renovated, before in 2019 the junior hut keeper opened his own microbrewery, which is the highest brewery in Europe. His beer brewed from mountain water carries the name Ga.Beer. The lodge continues to operate as a family business, welcoming guests in both summer and winter seasons.

• 2019

  The junior hut keeper opens his own microbrewery, the highest brewery in Europe, producing Ga.Beer.

• 2013

  The hut is renovated.

• 2003

  The Picia Capela de Fanes chapel, dedicated to Saint Josef Freinademetz, is completed next to the hut.

• 1997

  The hut is modernised.

• 1939

  The hut burns down entirely but is reconstructed in the same year.

• 1934

  Fritz Frenner renovates the hut, adding one floor and making it a real mountain lodge.

• 1919

  Construction of an 'ahead of its time' mountain lodge using materials from abandoned First World War constructions.

• 1912

  Mariangelo Frenner builds the first mountain hut, serving as a barn.

A family-run, historic mountain lodge and the highest brewery in Europe, offering comfort and well-being amid the pristine nature of the Fanes high plateau, far from traffic and noise.

• Mountain lodge accommodation

• Culinary art and dining

• Wine and beer

• Sauna

• Ga.Beer microbrewery beer

• Guided excursions (summer and winter)

• Climbing and mountain bike services

• Ski touring and snowshoeing

1. 1Welcome | Mountain lodge LAVARELLA 2042 m – San Vigilio di Marebbe – Mountain Hut Fanes Sennes Braies Natural Park – Dolomites – SOUTH TYROLlavarella.it
2. 2The history | Mountain lodge LAVARELLA 2042 m – San Vigilio di Marebbe – Mountain Hut Fanes Sennes Braies Natural Park – Dolomites – SOUTH TYROLlavarella.it
3. 3Lavarellahüttewikidata.org
4. 4Lavarellahüttede.wikipedia.org