Pfitscher-Joch-Haus

The Pfitscher-Joch-Haus (Italian: Rifugio Passo di Vizze) is a summer-operated mountain hut located at 2,276 metres above sea level on the main crest of the Zillertal Alps, directly on the border between Italy (South Tyrol) and Austria (Tyrol). It is the oldest private mountain hut in South Tyrol, established in 1888 by Alois Rainer, the great-grandfather of the current owner. The hut has been run as a family business for five generations and remains a popular destination for hikers, mountaineers, and mountain bikers exploring the Pfitscher Joch and the surrounding Zillertal Alps. The hut offers typical alpine refreshments and accommodation, with a dining room, rooms with showers and toilets, and a bio-sauna with panoramic views. It serves as a base for numerous tours and is surrounded by mountain lakes. The Pfitscher-Joch-Haus is also a stage point on the Munich–Venice Dream Path (Traumpfad). Access is via hiking trails from both the Italian and Austrian sides, and in summer a shuttle bus runs from the Pfitscher Valley up to the hut. The history of the hut reflects the turbulent 20th century in South Tyrol. It was closed during both World Wars, confiscated by Italian authorities, used as a customs and border station from 1945 to 1996, and was the target of a bomb attack in 1966 during the South Tyrol unrest. Rebuilt in the 1970s, it has been continuously modernised, most recently with a major renovation in 2012 that added modern facilities while preserving its historic character. Today, the Pfitscher-Joch-Haus remains a family-run business, now in its fifth generation under Leopold Volgger, who took over in 2008. It is a member of the network of alpine huts and continues to attract visitors seeking an authentic mountain experience in a spectacular border setting.

The Pfitscher-Joch-Haus was established in 1888 by Alois Rainer, the great-grandfather of the current owner and innkeeper of the Knappenhof in St. Jakob in Pfitsch. The first hut opened in 1890 with 28 sleeping places. An initial extension was completed in 1897 and remains largely unchanged today. In 1910, the hut was significantly enlarged by an annex. During World War I (1914–1918) the hut remained closed. In the interwar period, only the wooden part of the house was accessible to guests, as the annex was confiscated by the Italian military. The Italian military also upgraded the path from Pfitsch to a road between 1934 and 1937. The hut was closed again from 1943 to 1945 during World War II. From 1945 to 1996, part of the house was used by the Italian Finance Guard (Guardia di Finanza) as a customs and border station. Due to the unrest in South Tyrol starting in the early 1960s, the Pfitscher-Joch-Haus was occupied by the Italian military from 1963 to 1970. In May 1966, a bomb attack during the South Tyrol terrorism destroyed the wooden part of the house completely and killed a border guard officer, Bruno Bolognesi. The house was quickly renovated but remained under military occupation until 1969. In the years 1971–1976, Stephan Volgger and Paula Rainer, the innkeepers of the Knappenhof, rebuilt the house. Since 1973, the hut has been managed again, initially only for day visitors, and since 1977 also for overnight stays. Since 1977, Josef Volgger and Priska Rainer have been the innkeepers at the Joch. In 1992, the Pfitscher-Joch-Haus was one of the first private mountain huts to be connected to the public sewage system of the municipality of Pfitsch. This required laying a 3.3 km long sewer pipe from the hut (2,276 m) down to Stein (1,460 m). At the same time, a medium-voltage power line was laid alongside the sewer, providing electricity from a private power plant in the valley. The diesel generator that had previously supplied power now serves only as an emergency backup. In the summer of 2012, the Pfitscher-Joch-Haus underwent a fundamental renovation and expansion. The roof, windows, heating, and sanitary facilities were renewed, the dining room was enlarged, and some rooms with shower and WC were added for overnight guests. A bio-sauna with a view was installed, and a lockable bike room with space for about 30 mountain bikes and its own workbench was set up, combined with the boot room. In 2008, Leopold Volgger, son of Josef and Priska, took over the family business in the fifth generation. The hut continues to operate as a summer mountain hut, welcoming hikers and mountain bikers.

• 2012

  Major renovation and expansion, including bio-sauna and bike room.

• 2008

  Leopold Volgger takes over the family business in the fifth generation.

• 1992

  Connected to public sewage system and medium-voltage power line.

• 1977

  Overnight stays resume; Josef Volgger and Priska Rainer become innkeepers.

• 1973

  Hut reopens for day visitors.

• 1971

  Stephan Volgger and Paula Rainer begin rebuilding the house.

• 1966

  Bomb attack destroys the wooden part of the house; a border guard officer is killed.

• 1963

  Italian military occupies the hut due to South Tyrol unrest.

• 1945

  Part of the house becomes a customs and border station, used until 1996.

• 1943

  Hut closed during World War II.

• 1934

  Italian military upgrades the path from Pfitsch to a road.

• 1914

  Hut closed during World War I.

• 1910

  Hut significantly enlarged by an annex.

• 1897

  First extension completed.

• 1890

  The hut opens with 28 sleeping places.

• 1888

  Alois Rainer builds the first Pfitscher-Joch-Haus.

Historic, family-run alpine hut offering authentic mountain hospitality at the Italian-Austrian border, the oldest private Schutzhütte in South Tyrol.

• Overnight accommodation

  Rooms with shower and WC, and dormitory beds.

• Dining

  Traditional Tyrolean dishes and drinks served in the dining room.

• Bio-sauna

  Sauna with panoramic views, added in 2012.

• Mountain bike storage

  Lockable room for about 30 bikes with workbench.

1. 1Official websitepfitscherjochhaus.com
2. 2Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3German Wikipediade.wikipedia.org