Kärlingerhaus, Mountain hut in Schönau am Königsee, Germany
Kärlingerhaus is a mountain hut in the Berchtesgaden Alps near Schönau am Königsee, sitting at around 1,630 meters (5,350 ft) on the shore of Funtensee lake. The building has sleeping rooms and shared dormitory bunks, along with a dining room and an outdoor terrace facing the water.
The hut was built by the German Alpine Club in the late 19th century to shelter hikers crossing the Berchtesgaden Alps. It has been rebuilt and extended over the decades, though it has kept its basic stone character throughout.
The hut sits beside Funtensee lake, and many hikers stop there specifically to see the water after the climb up. The terrace is a natural meeting point where people rest, eat, and trade route suggestions before moving on.
The hut is open from May to October and can only be reached on foot, so good physical condition and proper footwear are recommended. Supplies come in by helicopter and card payment is not accepted, so bring enough cash for your stay.
Funtensee lake, right in front of the hut, is considered one of the coldest spots in Germany during winter, with temperatures recorded below minus 40 degrees Celsius (minus 40 F). In summer that is hard to imagine, as the lake sits quietly among the rocky peaks with no sign of its winter reputation.
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