Seehütte

The Seehütte (also known as Neue Seehütte or Höllentaler Holzknechthütte) is a mountain shelter (Schutzhütte) on the Hochplateau of the Rax at 1,643 metres above sea level in Lower Austria, Austria. It is operated by the Sektion Höllentaler Holzknecht of the Österreichischer Touristenklub (ÖTK). The hut is located at the foot of the Trinksteinsattel and west of the Preiner Wand. It offers no overnight accommodation, serving instead as a day refuge for hikers and climbers. The original Seehütte was opened on 15 August 1894 after only one month of construction, prompted by a weather-related accident in which two people died of exposure. It was named after a small lake that once stood beside it but has since dried up. In 1946, the landowner, the City of Vienna, refused to renew the lease in order to protect the spring catchment area of the First Vienna Mountain Spring Pipeline, forcing the hut to be dismantled. A new hut was approved in 1950, built west of the Schröckenfux cross, officially opened in 1954, and practically completed in 1956. This hut, with additions and renovations, remains in use today. The Seehütte is a destination for hikers on the Rax, accessible via several marked trails, including from Preiner Gscheid via Waxrieglhaus and the Göbl-Kühn-Steig (about 2 hours), from the Raxseilbahn mountain station via the Kammweg (about 2 hours) or the Seeweg (about 1.5 hours). It also serves as a waypoint for transitions to other huts such as Waxriegelhaus, Habsburghaus, Karl-Ludwig-Haus, Gloggnitzer Hütte, and Otto-Schutzhaus. The hut's history was documented in a 1994 publication by Helmuth Dobesch marking its 100th anniversary.

The Seehütte was established in response to a tragic weather-related accident in which two people died of exposure. To provide shelter for travelers on the Seeweg, the original Seehütte was built in just one month and opened on 15 August 1894. It was named after a small lake that existed next to the hut at the time, but the lake gradually seeped away. The hut was located on the Seeweg and later became known as the old Seehütte. In 1946, the landowner, the City of Vienna, refused to renew the lease in order to protect the spring catchment area of the First Vienna Mountain Spring Pipeline (I. Wiener Hochquellenwasserleitung). The lease had expired during the war, and the hut had to be dismantled. In 1950, the construction plan for a new Seehütte was approved. The new hut was built on the saddle west of the Schröckenfux cross, officially opened in 1954, and practically completed in 1956. This hut, with subsequent additions, conversions, and extensions, still stands today. It does not offer overnight accommodation. The hut is a base for hikes on the Rax. Ascents include from Preiner Gscheid via Waxrieglhaus and the Göbl-Kühn-Steig (about 2 hours), from the Raxseilbahn mountain station via the Kammweg (about 2 hours), and from the Raxseilbahn mountain station via the Seeweg (about 1.5 hours). It also serves as a transition point to other huts: Waxriegelhaus, Habsburghaus, Karl-Ludwig-Haus, Gloggnitzer Hütte, and Otto-Schutzhaus. The history of the hut was documented in a 1994 book by Helmuth Dobesch, published by the section to mark the 100th anniversary.

• 1994

  100th anniversary book published by Helmuth Dobesch.

• 1956

  New Seehütte practically completed.

• 1954

  New Seehütte officially opened.

• 1950

  Construction plan for new Seehütte approved.

• 1946

  Lease not renewed by City of Vienna; hut dismantled.

• 1894

  Original Seehütte opened on 15 August after one month of construction.

A traditional mountain hut on the Rax plateau, offering shelter and refreshments to hikers and climbers, with no overnight accommodation.

• Neue Seehütte

  Current mountain hut on the Rax plateau, no overnight accommodation.

• Alte Seehütte

  Original hut opened in 1894, dismantled in 1946.

1. 1Seehütte - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Neue Seehütte - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org