Mannheimer Hütte

The Mannheimer Hütte is a mountain hut of the Mannheim Section of the German Alpine Club (Deutscher Alpenverein, DAV), situated at 2,679 metres above sea level on the Brandner Glacier in the Rätikon range of Vorarlberg, Austria. It stands opposite the Schesaplana, its hut peak, and is a protected monument. The hut serves as a base for mountaineers and hikers exploring the Rätikon, offering accommodation and simple meals in a high-alpine setting. It is typically operated together with the nearby Oberzalimhütte by a single tenant. The hut is accessible only on foot, via several marked trails, and is supplied by a material cable car from the Oberzalimhütte. Its remote location and exposure to weather, particularly föhn storms, have shaped its history and maintenance. The Mannheimer Hütte is not a commercial product brand but a trademarked facility brand of the DAV, representing alpine hospitality and tradition.

The Mannheimer Hütte was built between 1903 and 1905 by the Strasbourg Section of the German and Austrian Alpine Club (DuOeAV) as the Straßburger Hütte. Because of the long approach from Brand via the Zalimtal, the section also decided to build the Oberzalimhütte at 1,889 m, halfway along the route. With the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the hut was closed. After the war, Strasbourg was no longer part of Germany, and the section dissolved. Since the then Pfalzgau Section of the DuOeAV had lost its Pfalzgau Hut near Cortina d'Ampezzo, the Mannheim members took over the Straßburger Hütte in 1919 and kept its name. In the early 1930s, the hut welcomed more than 4,000 guests per season. However, after the introduction of the Thousand-Mark Barrier by the Third Reich, only 16 German hikers could be welcomed in 1934. After World War II, the Mannheim section tried to reopen the hut from 1950 but only regained it in 1956. In 1970, the hut was electrified with a 70 kW diesel generator; during the tenure of tenant Wilfried Studer, this was replaced by a rapeseed oil-powered combined heat and power unit. In 2011, the winter room, previously in the main building, was moved to the former Austrian customs hut a few metres higher. The hut was renamed Mannheimer Hütte in 1971. In 2005, the centenary was celebrated together with the Club Alpin Français. The house is heavily exposed to weather, especially föhn storms, due to its high-alpine location near the Panüeler Kopf – Wildberg connecting ridge. Between the unattended seasons of 2016 and 2017, a föhn storm tore off a chimney top. Another such storm in November 2018 removed a large part of the roof. It was patched before winter and completely re-roofed in summer 2020, replacing old zinc sheet with stainless steel plates to also use rainwater due to increasingly difficult water supply as the Brandner Glacier melts. Further renovation work took place in 2021 and 2022. The Mannheim Section always has both huts operated together by one tenant. Tenants since 1969 include Reinhold Konzett (1969–1990), Thomas Beck (1991–1995), Elisabeth Weitlahner (1996), Helmut Gasser (1997–2000), Martin and Anette Wieland (2001–2002), Reinhard Gartenmaier (2003), Wilfried Studer (2004–2011), and currently Andrea Juen and Matthias Schatz.

• 2021

  Further renovation work.

• 2020

  Roof completely re-covered with stainless steel plates.

• 2018

  Föhn storm removed a large part of the roof.

• 2011

  Winter room moved to the former customs hut.

• 2005

  Centenary celebrated with the Club Alpin Français.

• 1971

  Renamed Mannheimer Hütte.

• 1970

  Electrified with a 70 kW diesel generator.

• 1956

  Hut regained by the Mannheim Section after World War II.

• 1934

  Only 16 German hikers due to the Thousand-Mark Barrier.

• 1919

  Taken over by the Mannheim Section and name retained.

• 1914

  Hut closed at the outbreak of World War I.

• 1905

  Construction completed as Straßburger Hütte by the Strasbourg Section of the DuOeAV.

High-alpine refuge for mountaineers and hikers, operated by a DAV section, emphasizing tradition and self-sufficiency.

Product categories. Alpine hut accommodation · Meals and refreshments · Mountain guiding information

1. 1Mannheimer Hütte - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
2. 2Mannheimer Hütte - Wikidatawikidata.org