Wimbachgrieshütte

The Wimbachgrieshütte is a mountain hut (Schutzhütte) owned and operated by the Munich district of Naturfreunde Deutschland (NFD), located at 1,327 metres above sea level in the municipality of Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden, in the Berchtesgaden Alps within Berchtesgaden National Park, Germany. It sits in the Wimbachgries, the rear section of the Wimbachtal valley, between the Watzmann, Grosser Hundstod and Hochkalter mountains. Because it is easily reachable from Ramsau, the hut is a popular destination for hikers and day visitors, as well as a base for mountaineers undertaking larger tours to surrounding peaks and neighbouring huts. The famous Watzmann crossing (Watzmannüberschreitung) ends at the hut, and the Watzmann circuit (Watzmannumrundung) passes by it. In winter it can be reached with snowshoes or touring skis, and the largest ski tour in the Berchtesgaden area, the Grosse Reibn, ends in the Wimbachtal. The hut offers 19 beds in shared rooms and 28 dormitory places, with pillows and woollen blankets provided; guests are asked to bring a hut sleeping bag. It operates a self-service area with regional products and serves daily hot food until 19:30. Pets are allowed outdoors but not inside or for overnight stays. Payment is cash only, and there is no Wi-Fi. The hut is a Naturfreunde house, so overnight discounts apply exclusively to Naturfreunde members. Reservations are handled through the huetten-holiday portal. The general opening season runs from mid-May to mid-October, depending on weather. The hut is cleaned using EM Chiemgau, environmentally conscious products with effective microorganisms. Historically, the site was leased to the Munich branch of the Naturfreunde in 1919, and a new building was constructed between 1922 and 1924, opening on 8 June 1924. The hut has been expanded and renovated several times, most recently in 2001 with solar panels, a combined heat and power unit, and an advanced sewage treatment system. It remains an active mountain hut and a key infrastructure point in the Berchtesgaden Alps.

The site of the Wimbachgrieshütte has a long history. According to the year carved in the roof ridge beam, the Windachhütte, originally built as a shepherd's hut, stood at this location since 1546; it was demolished in 1922. By government decree of 29 September 1919, the property of the old Griesalm hut was leased for 30 years to the Munich branch of the Naturfreunde. In 1920, Naturfreunde members from Bad Reichenhall and Salzburg repaired it as an emergency shelter. Because the house could no longer accommodate the increasing number of visitors, a complete new building was erected between 1922 and 1924: a small, simple mountain shelter house that was ceremonially opened as the Wimbachgrieshütte on Pentecost Sunday, 8 June 1924. The favourable location between the Watzmann and Hochkalter in the easily accessible Gries led to great demand early on, so that over time several conversions and enlargements were necessary. The most recent major renovation took place in 2001, when the hut was upgraded to the latest environmental standards with solar panels, a supplementary combined heat and power unit, and an elaborate sewage treatment plant. The hut remains owned and operated by the Munich district of Naturfreunde Deutschland and continues to serve hikers, climbers and ski tourers in the Berchtesgaden Alps.

• 2001

  Major renovation with solar panels, combined heat and power unit, and advanced sewage treatment.

• 1924

  The new Wimbachgrieshütte is ceremonially opened on Pentecost Sunday, 8 June.

• 1922

  Construction of a complete new building begins; the old Windachhütte is demolished.

• 1920

  Naturfreunde members from Bad Reichenhall and Salzburg repair the hut as an emergency shelter.

• 1919

  By government decree of 29 September, the old Griesalm hut property is leased to the Munich branch of Naturfreunde for 30 years.

• 1546

  The Windachhütte, originally a shepherd's hut, is built at the site (demolished 1922).

A traditional, environmentally conscious mountain hut in the Berchtesgaden Alps, affiliated with Naturfreunde, offering simple, affordable accommodation and food for hikers and climbers.

• Mountain hut accommodation

  19 beds in shared rooms and 28 dormitory places; pillows and woollen blankets provided, guests bring hut sleeping bag.

• Self-service regional food

  Self-service hut offering a variety of regional products.

• Daily hot meals

  Hot kitchen daily until 19:30.

1. 1Wimbachgrieshütte official websitewimbachgrieshuette.de
2. 2Wimbachgrieshütte - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
3. 3Wimbachgrieshütte - Wikidatawikidata.org