The Berliner Hütte is a true icon of the Zillertal Alps - the oldest and most famous mountain hut in the range, and since 1997 a protected historic monument. With over 180 beds, it feels less like a simple refuge and more like an alpine palace steeped in history.

Perched at 2042 m at the head of the Zemmgrund valley, the hut is surrounded by three-thousand-metre peaks and the remnants of the Hornkees and Waxeggkees glaciers. The grand stone buildings, dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, still carry traces of old Prussian elegance, set against a backdrop of glaciated high mountains. In summer it's a lively base for hikers and climbers tackling nearby summits, while in winter it serves ski tourers, though avalanche-prone terrain requires safer alternative approaches.

How to get to the hut

• Gasthaus Breitlahner near Ginzling (bus stop) - via a road and then alpine trail through the Zemmgrund, around 3 hours, moderate difficulty
• In winter and spring, access via the Schwarzensteinsattel from the east or Nöfessattel from the south due to avalanche danger on the valley route

Practical information

• Elevation: 2042 m
• Over 180 beds in rooms and dormitories
• A stage on the Berliner Höhenweg (70 km trail through the Zillertal Alps)
• Listed as a protected historic monument since 1997

Until 2013, it was the only mountain hut in Austria to hold official monument status - a fascinating stop for anyone curious about alpine history as much as alpine views.