ルンツ・アム・ゼーの山小屋＆キャビン・トップ17

The Halter-Hütte Brach is located at 1,449 meters in the Ybbstal Alps and offers magnificent views of the Ötscher, the Styrian mountains, and the Gemeindealpe. This cozy alpine hut is easily accessible from Zellerrain (Lower Austria/Styria border). In summer, refreshments are available here, but overnight accommodations are not available. However, the hut is open daily.

Serviced hut in high season in summer.

Serviced alpine hut on the way to the Gemeindedalpe.

From Zellerain (1125 m) to Brachalm (1449 m) "A lot of hiking makes you well-versed." (Peter Sirius, German poet (1858 – 1913)) The shortest route to the alpine pasture is from the pass at Zellerrain, which forms the border with Styria. On Zellerain, there are plenty of parking spaces opposite the now-disused inn! We hike along the forest road to a former, now-disused farm. The Höchbauer farm is located in the middle of a beautiful alpine meadow. Passing the farmhouse to the right, we climb a narrow path uphill along the meadow and are richly rewarded with a magnificent view of the Ybbser mountains. This area is called Brunnstein. Now there is a small forest area for cooling off on the way up to the unserviced Brunnsteinalm. The walk there takes about 45 minutes. Continue on forest paths, across alpine pastures and meadows, to the Halterhütte on the Brach (open from May to September). Before reaching the hut, you have to pass a cow pasture. A tip: Don't pet, feed, or scare the cows, but walk quietly and briskly past them at a safe distance. Once you reach the Brachalm at 1,449 m above sea level, a magnificent mountain world opens up before your eyes! Panoramic views of the Ötscher, Gemeindealpe, and the Styrian mountains are also present. The alpine hut and the couple who run it are very welcoming and friendly! It's worth stopping there for a hearty alpine snack! Long walks, extended hikes – that's balm for soul and body. On the mountain, I feel strength and warmth. (Peter Habeler, Austrian mountaineer (*1942))

The stone alpine house dates back to the 15th/16th century. The alpine pasture is open to the public during the summer months. There is a drinks fountain and culinary delights. You can also spend the night here.

This was our third time at the Vorderötscher Refuge, twice of which we stayed overnight. It is beautifully situated with views of the Gemeindealpe and the Ötscher summit, and its central location between Mariazell/Mitterbach and Lackenhof/Lunz makes it an ideal starting point for day hikes and as a stopover for two-day tours. The hut offers options for all needs, from bivouac sites and dormitories to double and family rooms. However, space is limited and advance reservation online or by phone is absolutely necessary. Those who don't check in at the Ötscher base in Wienerbruck in the National Park but come up via a different route also have the option of doing so here. The rooms are rustic but well-maintained, and the showers and toilets are clean and modern. The Vorderötscher Refuge has been under new management since 2023. The cleanliness is as top-notch as ever, and there was plenty of hot water in the showers. Room prices (e.g., a double room including breakfast and the Wild Wonders Card now costs €60 per person instead of €50) and food prices have increased, although it must be said that the quality of the food has also improved (everything is freshly homemade, there are now some very good vegetarian options, and decent coffee instead of ground coffee). Please note that if you get an included breakfast and request extras such as an egg, you will be charged extra. We were pleased that the 10:00 PM quiet time in the hut is now actually enforced. Some hikers have to get up early to reach their destination early, so it's nice to be able to sleep undisturbed at night. Those who enjoy a stunning starry sky will also be pleased to know that the outdoor lights go out after 10:00 PM. Contrary to other reports, we personally cannot complain about the friendliness of the host and staff – quite the opposite.

The shelter is not recommended! Never again!! We had to wait 1.5 hours for lentils with dumplings. wait! The landlady took the food from the guests and then it has to wait because the chef has to smoke a few Tchicks 🤬 Cold snacks like Brettl Jausen for €18.90 not recommended if you are very hungry and various sandwiches are only available until 5:00 p.m. because it is too much work they said 🙈 Asking for €14.50 for Kaiserschmarrn in Fürn is a joke! Some of the guests then went to the kitchen with a tablet and fetched the soup themselves. Charge your cell phone €3.00 from 10:00 p.m. talk very quietly in the dining room, otherwise the boss will scold you. Breakfast from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. as booked. Error at 7:00 a.m. nobody is there until 8:00 a.m. Just don't take a tea mug for coffee, otherwise there will be a reprimand. They have no clue about gastronomy there. Doomed to fail🙈

Open from April to the end of October.