Fraganter Schutzhaus
The place
Fraganter Schutzhaus: Historic Heritage in the Austrian Mountains The Fraganter Schutzhaus is a hut run by the Klagenfurt section of the Austrian Alpine Club (ÖAV). Refurbished and modernised between 2004 and 2005, the hut has been run by Bianca Tiefnig and Ingo Martischnig since 2022. Location The Fraganter Schutzhaus stands at 1,810 metres of elevation in the Großfragant valley, a tributary of the Fragant. The Goldberggruppe is a popular ski-touring area in winter and offers many mountain and family-hiking opportunities in summer. The area's botanical diversity is also a draw. History The Fraganter Schutzhaus traces its origins to a former copper-mining settlement in the Großfragant valley, abandoned in the 1920s by the federal mining administration for economic reasons. In 1927, the Klagenfurt section leased the buildings and land, converting the administrative building into a hut, which opened on 31 July 1927. Two years later, the section acquired ownership of the hut complex and three hectares of land. Alongside the hut, existing buildings were converted into a youth hostel and two single-family houses reserved for section members. As the youth hostel became too small, a new one was built in 1931/32 and named the Dr.-Widder-Jugendherberge in honour of its initiator. After the Second World War, the hut fell into disrepair, neglected in favour of the section's other huts. In 1955, the section even considered selling the property. The old 1917 timber building was beyond repair. So in 1968 the section planned a new hut, which opened on 6 June 1970. The hut was fully renovated between 2004 and 2005. From 2007 to 2019 it was run by the Gastinger family (Peter and Elisabeth), after which management passed to other operators. Since 2022 it has been run by Bianca Tiefnig and Ingo Martischnig. A new youth hostel was built to replace the old one between 2021 and 2023. Integration into the Environment The design and setting of the Fraganter Schutzhaus blend well with the alpine environment, giving it good resilience to the region's extreme weather. Cost and Financing Cost: 7.5 million euros. Financing: Klagenfurt section of the Austrian Alpine Club along with public and private partners. Access and Booking Access: From Außerfragant, 724 m, walking time: 3.5 hours From Grafenberg - Rollweg, 1,740 m, walking time: 1 hour From Innerfragant, 1,096 m, walking time: 2 hours Hiking Routes Großer Sadnig, 2,745 m, walking time: 3 hours Makerni, 2,644 m, walking time: 2.5 hours Hirtenkopf, 2,605 m, walking time: 2 hours Striedenkopf, 2,602 m, walking time: 2 hours Klenitzen, 2,440 m, walking time: 1.5 hours Zeneberg, 2,199 m, walking time: 2 hours Stellkopf, 2,851 m, walking time: 2.75 hours Sources and Map Liselotte Buchenauer, Peter Holl: Alpine Guide to the Ankogel and Goldberg Groups. Rother Verlag, Munich 1986. ISBN 3-7633-1247-1 Freytag & Berndt 1:50,000, Sheet No. 225, Mölltal - Kreuzeckgruppe - Drautal
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Coordinates provided by the ÖAV
