Würzburger Bergbund-Hütte

The Würzburger Bergbund-Hütte is a mountain shelter (Schutzhütte) owned and operated by the Sektion Bergbund Würzburg of the Deutscher Alpenverein (German Alpine Club). It sits at an elevation of 835 metres above sea level on the south-eastern slope of the Himmeldunkberg in the Bavarian Rhön, a low mountain range in Germany. The hut is a self-catering facility, offering 45 sleeping places in mattress dormitories, a communal hall and a communal kitchen; drinks are sold at the house. It is reachable only on foot, with the shortest approaches taking 30 to 45 minutes. The section "Bergbund Würzburg" was founded on 23 July 1948. In autumn 1957 the section purchased the plot of land, and half a year later the first sod was turned for the shelter. Construction used local materials where possible, including a foundation of basalt boulders. The hut was inaugurated in July 1959. Since then it has been repeatedly improved and extended: from 1961 it was substantially walled in, followed by interior work, better windows, a staircase, water installation and improved cooking facilities. In 1974 adjacent plots, meadows and forest were acquired; the spring was renovated, the building was thermally insulated and a photovoltaic system was installed. A further expansion began in 2005. The hut continues to be modernised while retaining the character of a simple mountain hut. The Würzburger Bergbund-Hütte is a membership facility of the German Alpine Club, not a commercial hotel chain. It serves hikers and nature lovers in the Rhön and is documented in regional hut guides, including a 2008 commemorative publication marking 50 years of the hut (1958–2008) and Christopher Pfaff's Rhön hut guide.

The Würzburger Bergbund-Hütte owes its existence to the Sektion Bergbund Würzburg, a local section of the German Alpine Club (Deutscher Alpenverein) founded on 23 July 1948. In autumn 1957 the section bought the plot of land on the south-eastern slope of the Himmeldunkberg in the Bavarian Rhön, and half a year later the first sod was turned for the shelter. Construction was carried out with considerable effort, using building material from the nearby surroundings wherever possible; the foundation, for example, was assembled from basalt boulders. The hut was inaugurated in July 1959. Since then it has been improved and extended several times. From 1961 it was substantially walled in, and in the following years interior work was undertaken: better windows and a staircase were installed, along with a water installation and better cooking facilities. In 1974 adjacent plots, meadows and forest were purchased. The spring was renovated, the building was thermally insulated, and a photovoltaic system was installed. A further expansion began in 2005. To this day the Bergbund-Hütte is continually modernised without giving up its character as a simple mountain hut. The hut is documented in a 2008 publication by the DAV Sektion Bergbund Würzburg marking 50 years of the Würzburger Bergbundhütte in the Rhön (1958–2008), and it appears in Christopher Pfaff's Rhön hut guide (2nd edition, 2013).

• 2008

  50th anniversary publication '50 Jahre Würzburger Bergbundhütte in der Rhön 1958–2008' issued.

• 2005

  Further expansion begins.

• 1974

  Adjacent plots, meadows and forest purchased; spring renovated, thermal insulation and photovoltaic system installed.

• 1961

  Hut substantially walled in; interior work follows in subsequent years.

• 1959

  Hut inaugurated in July.

• 1958

  First sod turned for the shelter half a year after land purchase.

• 1957

  Section purchases the plot of land in autumn.

• 1948

  Sektion Bergbund Würzburg of the German Alpine Club founded on 23 July.

Simple, self-catering mountain hut for hikers in the Bavarian Rhön, operated by a German Alpine Club section.

• Mountain hut accommodation

  45 sleeping places in mattress dormitories.

• Communal hall

  Shared indoor space for guests.

• Communal kitchen

  Self-catering kitchen for guests.

• Drinks service

  Drinks are offered at the house.

1. 1Würzburger Bergbund-Hütte – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
2. 2Würzburger Bergbund-Hütte – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Sektion Bergbund Würzburg – Hütte Anfahrtbergbund-wuerzburg.de