"Leisure pressure" and too many visitors: Operators close the popular Alm on Tegernsee

Created: 05/21/2022, 06:27

By: Gabi Werner

On beautiful days out, numerous visitors crowd the historic Siebenhütten alpine inn.

With the existing infrastructure, say the operators, this can no longer be managed.

© Thomas Plettenberg

Siebenhütten is an indispensable part of the list of excursion destinations on Lake Tegernsee.

But now hikers are faced with closed doors.

The small pasture, it is said, is no longer up to the onslaught.

Wildbad Kreuth

– The Bogner, Sanktjohanser-Lamm and Nagel families have been running the ducal jewel below the Blauberge with their Tegernseer Gastro GmbH for twelve years now.

Whole hordes of day-trippers flock to the idyll behind Wildbad Kreuth on nice weekends - Siebenhütten is easy to reach even with a stroller or walking aid.

The rush of visitors, which has apparently multiplied in recent years, is now pushing the tenants to their limits.

"In the end, Corona made us really aware of that," says Josef Wolfgang Bogner, who also runs the well-known - and also historic - Voitlhof zum Zotzn in Rottach-Egern with his family.

Siebenhütten: Infrastructure has not changed for 100 years

The small alpine pasture with its manageable work areas and storage facilities no longer allows for an operation that is required by the increasing leisure pressure, explains Bogner.

The infrastructure has remained the same for 100 years.

"As the operating company, we can no longer answer to our employees for the current situation as a proper and safe workplace."

Monument authorities do not want any changes to the building

There were already ideas on how to bring the historic Alm up to date.

The tenants suggested an additional basement for the building to create more space for the gastronomic offer - but the project failed because of the authorities.

Bogner reports that the hut, which is a listed building, must not be touched to the extent that this could result in a solution.

And the district office also confirms: From the point of view of the lower monument protection authority, a redesign of the Alm that meets the requirements of the catering trade is “practically impossible”.

New building planned: Reconstructed alpine hut should solve the space problem

So is this the end of Siebenhütten?

The tenant denied.

Together with the ducal Wildbad Kreuth family company as the owner, the municipality of Kreuth, the district master builder as the chief monument conservator in the district and other responsible authorities, another - much larger - solution for the coveted excursion destination is now being worked out: The construction of a historically modeled new building is being considered an area near the current beer garden, where, according to Bogner, there was an alpine hut more than 150 years ago, which belonged to the Siebenhütten ensemble.

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New building in a natural idyll: A sensitive topic at Lake Tegernsee

When asked, the Miesbach district office confirmed that this alternative would also be in the interests of the lower monument protection authority.

What's more, the authority even suggested "the new construction of a monumentally adequately reconstructed alpine hut, which visually resembles one of the four huts that no longer exist", explains a spokeswoman for the district office.

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Josef Wolfgang Bogner, host of Siebenhütten © Thomas Plettenberg

New building in a natural idyll: Those involved seem to be aware that this is a highly sensitive issue, which has been stirring people's minds on Lake Tegernsee in recent times.

"But we are definitely the last ones who want to turn something into an event location - we just want to put the whole thing on a contemporary footing," assures Josef Wolfgang Bogner.

Also, one should not compare Siebenhütten with a remote mountain pasture such as the Königsalm, which is also located in Wildbad Kreuth.

Siebenhütten is well developed and has long been established as an easily accessible excursion destination, which is advertised by the mountaineering village of Kreuth.

Tenants looking for old photographs of Siebenhütten

A site visit to the future of Siebenhütten has already taken place.

Bogner asserts that every further step is now being taken in close consultation with the authorities.

First of all, the tenant tries to bring along old photographs that document the condition of the former Alm ensemble.

They could serve as the basis for a possible new building.

Snack stand at Siebenhütten should serve as an interim solution

It may be some time before that comes.

Until then, the hikers who are drawn to the alpine idyll below the Blauberge should not be left to their own devices.

The Bogners want to set up a snack stand there temporarily, where you can at least buy drinks, coffee, dry cakes and small snacks.

"The visitors would have a contact point this season as well," says the landlord.

Mayor: The area must be developed "very carefully".

An interim solution that would also be very important to the mayor.

"It is important to us that the people there continue to get something to eat and drink," says Josef Bierschneider.

In the case of a long-term solution for Siebenhütten, he assures, "the municipality will contribute constructively".

Bierschneider emphasizes how important Siebenhütten is as a local recreation destination for both locals and guests.

But he also says: The development of the area must be done "very carefully".

Under no circumstances should a new building act as a "disturbing factor".

Siebenhütten: "This is a very special spot.

You can find more current news from the district of Miesbach and the Tegernsee region at Merkur.de/Tegernsee.