Jagdhausalm 2.009 m

The Jagdhausalmen are nestled in a picturesque natural setting at 2.009 meters above sea level at the back end of the Defereggental. The mountain village consists of 16 stone houses, as well as the Maria Hilf chapel, and is among the oldest alpine pastures in Austria. As early as 1212, there is evidence of six alpine huts existing here, which were referred to in the local language as "Schwaighöfe." Since the settlement is located above the tree line and therefore hardly any timber was available, the houses were almost entirely built from locally available stones.

Over the centuries, vast alpine pastures have emerged high above the tree line, grazed by livestock and maintained by diligent farmers. Located at 2.000 m above sea level and nestled between rocks and grass mats, they are often referred to as “Little Tibet” of the Alps. Just a few decades ago, the herdsmen lived an archaic life here.

As finds from the 7th millennium B.C. show, the region around the nearby Klammjoch was already a popular camping site for hunters and gatherers in the Early Stone Age. The houses of the Jagdhausalm today mostly serve as stables, storage rooms, and shelters for the herdsmen. Even today, despite some modernization, one feels transported back to times long past.

A particular feature is the nearby Oberhauser Zirbenwald, the largest contiguous stone pine forest in the Eastern Alps. A popular photographic motif is the so-called "Pfauenauge" (Peacock Eye), hidden just a few minutes' walk behind the Jagdhausalmen.


The Jagdhausalm is also managed during the summer months.