Weißkugelhütte

The Weißkugelhütte (Italian: Rifugio Pio XI) is a mountain hut located in the South Tyrolean part of the Ötztal Alps, at an elevation of 2,544 metres above sea level. It sits at the end of the Langtauferer Tal, high above the Langtauferer Ferner glacier, and is accompanied by a small chapel. The hut serves as a base for hikers and mountaineers exploring the surrounding peaks, including the Weißkugel (3,739 m), Weißseespitze (3,526 m), and the Bärenbartkogel summits. Access is typically from the village of Melag to the west, via several trail variants taking about 2.5 to 3 hours. A glacier educational trail, established in 2007, leads from the valley floor to the hut from the east. Built in 1892–1893 by the Frankfurt am Main section of the German and Austrian Alpine Club (DuÖAV), the hut was transferred to the Mark Brandenburg section before World War I. In 1919 it was expropriated and placed under military administration until 1924; in 1925 it was handed over to the Desio section of the Italian Alpine Club (CAI). In 1957, to mark the 100th birthday of Pope Pius XI, who was born in Desio, it was renamed Rifugio Pio XI alla Palla Bianca. In 1999, along with 24 other expropriated huts, it became the property of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano – South Tyrol. The CAI's concession to manage it expired at the end of 2010. In 2011, due to poor structural condition, the provincial government decided to demolish and rebuild the hut. Since 2015, the province has been assisted in managing the hut (leasing to tenants, monitoring operations, renovation measures) by a parity commission that includes the Alpine Association of South Tyrol (AVS) and the CAI alongside public authorities. The hut remains an active refuge, offering accommodation and services to visitors. It is a key waypoint for tours and crossings to other huts such as Brandenburger Haus, Gepatschhaus, Hohenzollernhaus, Rauhekopfhütte, Vernagthütte, Oberetteshütte, and Schöne-Aussicht-Hütte. The surrounding area is popular for summit ascents, with the Schmied (also Adlerkopf) being the local mountain, reachable in about 2 hours. The hut is marked on Alpine Club maps and Tabacco maps.

The Weißkugelhütte was built in 1892–1893 by the Frankfurt am Main section of the German and Austrian Alpine Club (DuÖAV). Before World War I, it was transferred to the Mark Brandenburg section. In 1919, following World War I, the hut was expropriated and placed under military administration until 1924. In 1925, it was handed over to the Desio section of the Italian Alpine Club (CAI). In 1957, on the occasion of the 100th birthday of Pope Pius XI, who was born in Desio, the hut was renamed Rifugio Pio XI alla Palla Bianca. In 1999, together with 24 other huts expropriated by the state, the Weißkugelhütte became the property of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano – South Tyrol. The CAI's concession to manage the hut expired at the end of 2010. In 2011, due to the poor structural condition of the building, the provincial government decided to demolish and rebuild the hut. Since 2015, the province has been supported in the management of the hut (leasing to tenants, monitoring of operations, renovation measures) by a parity commission that includes, alongside public authorities, the Alpine Association of South Tyrol (AVS) and the CAI.

• 2015

  Parity commission established to assist in hut management.

• 2011

  Provincial government decided to demolish and rebuild the hut.

• 2010

  CAI's management concession expired.

• 1999

  Ownership transferred to the Autonomous Province of Bolzano – South Tyrol.

• 1957

  Renamed Rifugio Pio XI alla Palla Bianca.

• 1925

  Hut handed over to the Desio section of the CAI.

• 1919

  Hut expropriated and placed under military administration.

• 1893

  Hut built by the Frankfurt am Main section of the DuÖAV.

A historic alpine refuge offering basic accommodation and a strategic base for mountaineering in the Ötztal Alps.

• Overnight accommodation

• Food and beverage services

• Base for summit tours

1. 1Weißkugelhütte - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
2. 2Weißkugelhütte - Wikidatawikidata.org