Rifugio Saoseo

Rifugio Saoseo (German: Saoseohütte) is a mountain hut of the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC), Section Bernina, located at 1,985 metres above sea level in the Swiss Alps. It sits in the seven-kilometre-long Val di Campo, a side valley of the Puschlav (Poschiavo) on the southern side of the Bernina Pass, a valley surrounded on three sides by Italy. The hut is operated as a hospitality and basecamp facility for day visitors, families on holiday, hikers, nature lovers, alpinists and ski tourers, and it also features a climbing garden. The building was originally constructed in 1935 as "Casa Lungacqua" (meaning "along the water") for a mountain farming family with 18 cows. From the late 1930s until 1974, part of the house was rented by the SAC Section Bernina. Another part was rented from 1940 to 1957 by the border guard (Grenzwacht), which also served as hut warden and had a telephone. In 1974 the SAC purchased the ground floor and attic under a condominium arrangement, while mountain guide and head of the Pontresina mountaineering school Paul Nigg, who also served as hut warden, bought the two middle floors. In 1976 the house received a water pipeline. In 1980 a local mountain guide took over the SAC portion and, through voluntary labour, renovated the ground floor with a new kitchen and a restaurant. The hut developed into a popular destination for walkers and tourists, with up to 5,000 overnight stays as of 1996. The hut is accessible on foot from Restaurant Sfazù on the southern side of the Bernina Pass via a natural mountain road in 1¼ hours (difficulty T1), or via hiking trail in 2 hours. From La Rösa on the Bernina Pass road it can be reached by hiking trail in 2 hours. In the summer half-year, Val di Campo is served by a PostBus line from Sfazù. The surrounding area offers walks in Val di Campo and to the mountain lakes Lagh da Saoseo and Lagh da Val Viola, as well as alpine peaks including Corn da Mürasciola (2,818 m), Piz Cunfin (2,903 m), Corn da Camp (3,232 m), Piz Paradisin (3,302 m), Scima da Saoseo (3,264 m), Piz Ursera (3,032 m), Piz Val Nera (3,160 m) and Pizzo Zembrasca (3,089 m). Today the hut markets itself as a basecamp for relaxation, hungry stomachs and thirsty throats, and as a starting point for all kinds of tours. It notes that its electrical capacity is unfortunately insufficient to charge e-bikes. The official website provides information on food and drink, sleeping, activities, Val di Campo, arrival and prices.

Rifugio Saoseo was originally built in 1935 as "Casa Lungacqua" (meaning "along the water") for a mountain farming family with 18 cows. From the end of the 1930s until 1974, part of the house was rented by the Section Bernina of the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC). Another part of the house was rented from 1940 to 1957 by the border guard (Grenzwacht), which was also responsible as hut warden and had a telephone. In 1974, the SAC bought the ground floor and attic under a condominium ownership arrangement, while the mountain guide and head of the Pontresina mountaineering school, Paul Nigg, who also served as hut warden, bought the two middle floors. In 1976, the house received a water pipeline. In 1980, a local mountain guide took over the SAC portion and, through voluntary labour (Fronarbeit), renewed the ground floor with a new kitchen and a restaurant. The hut developed into a popular excursion destination for walkers and tourists, with up to 5,000 overnight stays as of 1996. The hut is located at 1,985 metres above sea level in the seven-kilometre-long Val di Campo, a side valley of the Puschlav on the southern side of the Bernina Pass, surrounded on three sides by Italy. It is suitable for day visitors, family holidays, hikers, nature lovers, alpinists and ski tourists, and has a climbing garden. Access to the hut is on foot from Restaurant Sfazù on the southern side of the Bernina Pass via a natural mountain road in 1¼ hours (difficulty T1), or via hiking trail in 2 hours. From La Rösa on the Bernina Pass road, it can be reached by hiking trail in 2 hours. In the summer half-year, Val di Campo is served by a PostBus line from Sfazù. The surrounding area offers walks in Val di Campo and to the mountain lakes Lagh da Saoseo and Lagh da Val Viola, as well as alpine peaks including Corn da Mürasciola (2,818 m), Piz Cunfin (2,903 m), Corn da Camp (3,232 m), Piz Paradisin (3,302 m), Scima da Saoseo (3,264 m), Piz Ursera (3,032 m), Piz Val Nera (3,160 m) and Pizzo Zembrasca (3,089 m). Today, the hut's official website presents it as a basecamp for relaxation, hungry stomachs and thirsty throats, and as a starting point for all kinds of tours. It notes that its electrical capacity is unfortunately insufficient to charge e-bikes. The website provides information on food and drink, sleeping, activities, Val di Campo, arrival and prices.

• 1996

  The hut had up to 5,000 overnight stays.

• 1980

  A local mountain guide took over the SAC portion and renewed the ground floor with a new kitchen and restaurant through voluntary labour.

• 1976

  The house received a water pipeline.

• 1974

  SAC bought the ground floor and attic under condominium ownership; Paul Nigg bought the two middle floors.

• 1940

  From 1940 to 1957, another part was rented by the border guard (Grenzwacht), which also served as hut warden and had a telephone.

• 1935

  Built as "Casa Lungacqua" for a mountain farming family with 18 cows.

• 1930

  From the late 1930s, part of the house was rented by the SAC Section Bernina.

A year-round SAC mountain hut and basecamp in Val di Campo for hikers, families, alpinists and ski tourers, offering food, lodging and access to alpine tours.

• Mountain hut accommodation

• Restaurant and food service

• Climbing garden

• Hiking and ski touring basecamp

1. 1SAC-Hütte auf 1985 m | Rifugio Saoseo | SAC-CAS Berninasaoseo.ch
2. 2Rifugio Saoseowikidata.org
3. 3Rifugio Saoseode.wikipedia.org