Zbojnícka chata

Zbojnícka chata (colloquially Zbojníčka; German Räuberhütte; Hungarian Hosszú-tavi menedékház or Rabló-menedékház; Polish Zbójnickie Schronisko) is a mountain hut and hospitality brand in the Slovak High Tatras. It sits at 1,960 metres above sea level at the upper end of the Veľká Studená dolina (Great Cold Valley), the north-western branch of the Studená dolina, in the Prešov region of northern Slovakia. The hut operates year-round and is a well-known stop on High Tatras hiking and ski-touring routes. The brand's core offering is mountain accommodation and food service. The official website advertises lodging and dining, with advance reservation required for beds, and describes the location as strategically placed for multi-day traverses of the High Tatras. The valley is noted for containing 26 tarns (plesá) of various sizes and characters, and for rich Tatra fauna and flora. Access is typically via the blue-marked trail from Hrebienok (about 2–2.5 hours), reachable by funicular from Starý Smokovec, or by other marked routes from Tatranská Lomnica, Sliezsky dom and Téryho chata. The hut is supplied by porters, with helicopters used only exceptionally for heavy loads. Historically, the site began as a one-room stone hunting lodge built in 1907 by the Hungarian forest administration, which opened it to tourists about three years later. After World War I it became the property of the Club of Czechoslovak Tourists, which carried out expansions from 1924 and installed the first permanent hut warden; the present name, derived from nearby features such as Zbojnícke sedlo and Zbojnícke veže, dates from this period. A major reconstruction began in 1984 and the enlarged hut reopened on 8 November 1986 with more accommodation and dining capacity and central heating. In the night of 14–15 June 1998 the hut burned down in a chimney fire; a military tent and a wooden prefabricated hut were flown in by helicopter to provide an emergency buffet, shelter and mountain rescue station. The rebuilt hut was provisionally reopened on 21 December 1999, inspected on 1 August 2001 and ceremonially opened on 20 October 2001. Today Zbojnícka chata presents itself as a year-round mountain hospitality destination with accommodation (16 beds, linen on request), emergency shelter in the dining room, breakfast and dinner for guests, and a buffet open to all visitors. Its brand identity is tied to the rugged landscape of the Veľká Studená dolina and to the traditions of Tatra mountain tourism.

Zbojnícka chata began as a one-room stone hunting lodge built in 1907 by the Hungarian forest administration (ungarisches Forstärar) in the upper Veľká Studená dolina. After further construction work, it was made available to the tourist public about three years later. Polish mountaineers found it uncomfortable, damp and cold, and gave it the ironic nickname Truparnia ("mortuary"). After World War I the hut became the property of the Club of Czechoslovak Tourists (Klub československých turistů), which from 1924 carried out several building measures and an enlargement, and for the first time appointed a permanent hut warden. It was during this period that the hut received its present name, derived from nearby geographical features such as the Zbojnícke sedlo saddle and the Zbojnícke veže rock towers. The term "robber" (zbojník) in this context referred not to robbers in the modern sense but to poachers (Raubschützen) who had hunting grounds in the Veľká Studená dolina and Javorová dolina valleys. A larger reconstruction began in 1984. On 8 November 1986 the hut was reopened with expanded accommodation and dining capacity and central heating. In the night of 14 to 15 June 1998, Zbojnícka chata burned down in a fire that started from the chimney. Shortly afterwards, a large military tent and a wooden prefabricated hut were flown in by helicopter; the prefabricated hut housed a snack bar, emergency accommodation and a mountain rescue service station until the burned hut could be rebuilt. Shortly after the roof was completed, the hut was provisionally reopened on 21 December 1999. It was officially inspected (kollaudiert) on 1 August 2001 and ceremonially opened on 20 October 2001. The hut is open year-round and is supplied by porters (Lastenträger); helicopters are used only exceptionally, for example for heavy loads. It offers overnight accommodation (16 beds, with linen on request) after prior registration, emergency shelter in the dining room, and breakfast and dinner for guests. A buffet is available to all visitors. It lies on a blue-marked hiking trail from Tatranská Lomnica to Lysá Poľana (near Tatranská Javorina) through the Prielom pass. An ascent from Hrebienok via the red-marked Tatranská magistrála trail is also possible, meeting the blue-marked trail at the junction near Rainerova chata. Other routes lead from Sliezsky dom via a green-marked trail to Poľský hrebeň and the crossing with the blue trail, or from Téryho chata over the Priečne sedlo saddle (green, then yellow trail).

• 2001

  The hut is officially inspected on 1 August and ceremonially opened on 20 October.

• 1999

  On 21 December the rebuilt hut is provisionally reopened.

• 1998

  In the night of 14–15 June the hut burns down in a chimney fire; a military tent and wooden prefabricated hut are flown in by helicopter for emergency use.

• 1986

  On 8 November the hut reopens with expanded accommodation and dining capacity and central heating.

• 1984

  A larger reconstruction of the hut begins.

• 1924

  The Club of Czechoslovak Tourists, now owner, begins several building measures and an enlargement, and appoints the first permanent hut warden.

• 1910

  The lodge is made available to the tourist public after further construction work.

• 1907

  Hungarian forest administration builds a one-room stone hunting lodge in the upper Veľká Studená dolina.

A traditional, year-round High Tatras mountain hut and hospitality stop for hikers, climbers and ski tourers, strategically located for multi-day traverses.

• Overnight accommodation (16 beds, linen on request, advance registration required)

• Breakfast and dinner for guests

• Buffet/snack bar open to all visitors

• Emergency shelter in the dining room

• Mountain rescue service station (historically, during reconstruction)

1. 1Zbojnícka Chata 1960m – Celoročná prevádzkazbojnickachata.sk
2. 2Zbojnícka chata – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Zbojnícka chata – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org