Wiesberghaus

Wiesberghaus is an alpine shelter (Schutzhütte) operated by the Naturfreunde (Touristenverein Die Naturfreunde) on the Dachstein massif in the Austrian Alps. It stands at roughly 1,872 metres above sea level — the hut operator cites 1,884 metres — about six kilometres north-northeast of the Dachstein summit, within the municipality of Hallstatt in Upper Austria. Because of its position it is an important staging point along the Nordalpenweg (Northern Alps long-distance trail) and a base for routes in the Dachstein region. The hut was conceived in the early 1920s by the Floridsdorf and Hallstatt local groups of the Naturfreunde. A decision to build a shelter in the Dachstein area was taken on 13 May 1922, and after reconnaissance walks the Wiesberghöhe was fixed as the building site on 23 July 1923. Construction began in the 1920s, and the Wiesberghaus was ceremonially opened on 10 July 1927. It has been extended several times since: a material cableway was built between 1948 and 1950, an annex followed two years later, and further additions were made from 1970 to 1972 and from 1980 to 1984. Operationally the hut is run by a Naturfreunde local group rather than by a commercial hospitality company. The newly founded Oftering group took over its management at the end of the 1970s, and since 1 January 2004 the Lenzing group has been the operator. The house offers food and drink and overnight accommodation for mountain walkers, alpinists, children and young people, with a breakfast buffet and a kitchen adapted to the possibilities of a hut at high altitude. Because the building has no running water, supplies and operations are organised accordingly. Dogs are welcome, including for overnight stays, subject to booking a room and paying a per-dog nightly fee; they are not allowed in the dormitory. Today the Wiesberghaus presents itself as a summer-season mountain hut with online booking, information on access routes, climbing routes and weather on the Dachstein, and a regularly updated news section. It remains a traditional Naturfreunde refuge rather than a branded hospitality chain, and its identity is tied to the Dachstein landscape and the hiking and climbing community that uses it.

The Wiesberghaus owes its existence to the Naturfreunde, a workers' hiking and nature organisation. On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Floridsdorf local group, a decision was taken on 13 May 1922 to build a shelter in the Dachstein area. On 15 October 1922, Johan Winstey from Floridsdorf and Josef Schnabl from Hallstatt climbed from Hallstatt via the Wiesalm and Zirbengrube to the Simonyhütte, and the upper end of the Zirbengrube was chosen as a suitable building site. On 23 July 1923, during a joint inspection by the Floridsdorf and Hallstatt groups, the Wiesberghöhe was finally fixed as the site and symbolically marked with a stone cairn. The groups agreed on the necessary preparatory work: acquiring the building land, erecting a construction hut, and raising the necessary funds. Work on the construction hut began on 13 August 1923, and 1,300 kg of building material was carried up to the Wiesberghöhe by members of both groups and numerous volunteers from Hallstatt. The hut already served as an emergency shelter the following winter. The first entry in the hut book read: "Mögen alle die dieses Haus betreten sich als wahre Naturfreunde, als freie, gleiche Menschen fühlen; die glücklich sind, dass sie die Müh' und Plag' auf kurze Zeit und wenige Stunden von sich haben werfen können." The construction costs for the shelter were estimated at 50 million Kronen. The necessary wood was felled below the Tiergartenhütte in winter, processed in summer and carried up; a basin and cellar were built at the same time. The Wiesberghaus was ceremonially opened on 10 July 1927. It stands at about 1,872 metres above sea level (the operator gives 1,884 metres) on the Dachstein massif, roughly six kilometres north-northeast of the Dachstein summit, in the municipality of Hallstatt in Upper Austria, and is an important staging point on the Nordalpenweg. After the Second World War the hut was modernised and enlarged. A material cableway was built between 1948 and 1950, and two years later the Wiesberghaus was extended with an annex. Further additions followed from 1970 to 1972 and from 1980 to 1984. Management of the shelter passed to the newly founded Naturfreunde local group Oftering at the end of the 1970s, and since 1 January 2004 the Naturfreunde local group Lenzing has been the operator. In the present day the Wiesberghaus operates as a summer-season mountain hut with online booking and a website providing information on access routes, climbing routes, weather on the Dachstein, food and drink, overnight stays, prices and opening times, and its own history. Its kitchen is adapted to the possibilities of a hut at 1,884 metres, offering a varied and vitamin-rich, balanced cuisine for mountain walkers and alpinists as well as for children and young people, a rich breakfast buffet, and vegetarian, gluten-free or allergy-friendly dishes on request. Because the house has no running water, operations are organised accordingly. Dogs are welcome, including overnight, provided a room is booked and a fee of 15 euros per dog per night (without food) is paid; dogs are not allowed in the dormitory.

• 2004

  Since 1 January the Naturfreunde local group Lenzing has been the operator.

• 1980

  Further additions are made from 1980 to 1984.

• 1979

  At the end of the 1970s the newly founded Naturfreunde local group Oftering takes over management.

• 1970

  Further additions are made from 1970 to 1972.

• 1952

  The Wiesberghaus is extended with an annex.

• 1948

  Construction of a material cableway begins (completed 1950).

• 1927

  The Wiesberghaus is ceremonially opened on 10 July.

• 1923

  On 23 July the Wiesberghöhe is fixed as the building site; construction-hut work begins on 13 August and 1,300 kg of material is carried up.

• 1922

  On 13 May, the Floridsdorf local group of the Naturfreunde decides to build a shelter in the Dachstein area; on 15 October, Johan Winstey and Josef Schnabl reconnoitre from Hallstatt to the Simonyhütte.

Traditional Naturfreunde alpine shelter and staging point for hikers and climbers on the Dachstein, with simple hut food and lodging at high altitude.

• Overnight accommodation in the Schutzhütte

• Breakfast buffet

• Hut meals and drinks for mountain walkers and alpinists

• Vegetarian, gluten-free and allergy-friendly dishes on request

• Dog-friendly overnight stays (fee per dog/night, not in dormitory)

1. 1Wiesberghaus – Wiesberghaus am Dachsteinwiesberghaus.at
2. 2Geschichte – Wiesberghaus am Dachsteinwiesberghaus.at
3. 3Wiesberghaus – Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Wiesberghaus – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org