Prielschutzhaus

Prielschutzhaus is an alpine refuge hut (Schutzhütte) located at 1,420 metres above sea level in the Totes Gebirge mountain range of Upper Austria. It is owned and operated by the Sektion Touristenklub Linz of the Österreichischer Alpenverein (ÖAV), the Austrian Alpine Club. The hut serves as a key base for hikers and climbers exploring the Priel group, including the Großer Priel (2,515 m), and is a vital stop on long-distance trails such as the Nordalpenweg and the Welser Höhenweg. The history of the shelter begins in the 19th century when a natural rock cave below the Brotfallscharte was used as a rudimentary refuge. In 1875, the Viennese heraldist Karl Krahl had the cave fitted with wooden panelling, a door, benches, and mattresses, creating the first mountaineer accommodation in the area. In 1884, the Windischgarsten section of the Österreichischer Touristenklub (ÖTK) built a small shelter on the Obere Polsteralm, named the Karl-Krahl-Schutzhaus in honour of the pioneer, which opened on 18 August 1884. In 1904, the Linz section of the ÖTK took over the shelter and constructed the present-day Prielschutzhaus between 1905 and 1906. Today, the hut offers around 180 sleeping places, including 52 beds, and is equipped with modern facilities such as a biological sewage treatment plant installed in 1994, one of the first among Austrian Alpine Club huts. It provides infrastructure and cuisine for alpine courses and weeks. The hut is typically reached from Hinterstoder via the Schiederweiher and Polsterlucke, a hike of about three hours. It is a popular starting point for summit climbs and climbing routes, and it maintains a winter room that is open outside the regular operating seasons, offering basic supplies and sleeping space for up to 10 people. The Prielschutzhaus is a commercial operation within the alpine hut system, offering accommodation, food, and beverages to visitors. It is managed by a Hüttenwirt (innkeeper), currently Michael Heinrich, and accepts online reservations. The hut is also listed on platforms such as Bergfex for webcam and weather information, and maintains a presence on social media. Its operations are seasonal, with spring and summer opening periods announced for 2026.

The history of the Prielschutzhaus is closely tied to the growing popularity of the Großer Priel in the 19th century. Before any constructed shelter, climbers occasionally used a natural rock cave below the Brotfallscharte as a makeshift refuge. In 1875, the Viennese heraldist Karl Krahl had this cave equipped with wooden panelling, a door, benches, and mattresses, transforming it into the first dedicated mountaineer accommodation in the Priel region. On 18 August 1884, the Windischgarsten section of the Österreichischer Touristenklub (ÖTK) opened a small shelter on the Obere Polsteralm. It was named the Karl-Krahl-Schutzhaus in honour of the man who had first developed the area for mountaineers. This hut served the growing number of visitors to the Priel group. In 1904, the Linz section of the ÖTK took over the Karl-Krahl-Schutzhaus. Recognizing the need for a larger and more modern facility, the section constructed the present-day Prielschutzhaus between 1905 and 1906. This new building became the primary refuge in the area and has served mountaineers for over a century. Over the decades, the hut has been modernized. In 1994, it was equipped with a biological sewage treatment plant, one of the first Austrian Alpine Club huts to receive such a system. The hut now offers approximately 180 sleeping places, including 52 beds, and provides infrastructure and cuisine for alpine courses and weeks. It remains a key base for climbing the Großer Priel and other peaks, and a vital stop on long-distance trails like the Nordalpenweg and the Welser Höhenweg. The Prielschutzhaus is currently owned and operated by the Sektion Touristenklub Linz of the Österreichischer Alpenverein (ÖAV). It is managed by Hüttenwirt Michael Heinrich. The hut operates seasonally, with announced opening periods for spring and summer 2026. Outside these periods, a winter room with 10 heated places is available for free, providing basic supplies such as drinks, firewood, cooking utensils, blankets, and pillows. The hut also offers online reservations and is listed on Bergfex for webcam and weather information.

• 1994

  The hut is equipped with a biological sewage treatment plant, one of the first among Austrian Alpine Club huts.

• 1906

  Construction of the present-day Prielschutzhaus is completed.

• 1904

  The Linz section of the ÖTK takes over the Karl-Krahl-Schutzhaus.

• 1884

  The Windischgarsten section of the ÖTK opens the Karl-Krahl-Schutzhaus on the Obere Polsteralm on 18 August.

• 1875

  Karl Krahl equips a natural rock cave below the Brotfallscharte as the first mountaineer shelter in the Priel area.

A traditional, high-alpine refuge hut in the Totes Gebirge, offering essential accommodation and services to mountaineers and hikers, operated by the Austrian Alpine Club.

• Overnight accommodation

  Approximately 180 sleeping places, including 52 beds.

• Meals and beverages

  Cuisine and drinks offered to guests during operating seasons.

• Winter room

  Free access outside opening hours; 10 heated places, drinks, firewood, cooking utensils, blankets, and pillows available.

• Online reservation system

  Reservations require a credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard).

1. 1Das Prielschutzhaus im Toten Gebirge - Schutzhütte in der Pyrn Priel Regionprielschutzhaus.com
2. 2Prielschutzhaus - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Prielschutzhaus - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org