Schneefernerhaus

The Schneefernerhaus is a research station near Garmisch-Partenkirchen located at 2650 meters elevation below the Zugspitze summit. The facility houses laboratories and measurement equipment for studying climate, atmosphere, and biological processes in alpine altitudes.

The site began in the 1930s as a hotel and railway terminus before being transformed into a scientific research center in 1999. This conversion reflects a shift from tourism to systematic study of high-alpine environments.

The facility functions as an international research hub where scientists study climate changes and high-altitude effects on human physiology. Visitors can observe how different universities and institutes collaborate on shared scientific work here.

Access is via a dedicated research cable car from Zugspitzplatt, and lodging is available for researchers in 15 rooms. Visitors should prepare for extreme weather conditions and thin air when traveling to this high-altitude location.

The facility spans twelve floors and is Germany's highest permanently occupied scientific installation. Specialized terraces continuously measure atmospheric parameters that provide crucial data to climate researchers worldwide.

Location: Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Inception: January 20, 1931

Elevation above the sea: 2,656 m

Operator: Betriebsgesellschaft UFS GmbH

Website: http://schneefernerhaus.de

GPS coordinates: 47.41660,10.97960

Latest update: December 20, 2025 11:35