# Number of sleeping places in mountain huts

A map of a former edition of the Atlas of Switzerland, the national atlas published by ETH Zurich. It opens only in the desktop atlas (version 4) for Windows and macOS, not in the web atlas; see the links below.

- Map: https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/number-of-sleeping-places-in-mountain-huts/
- Short title: Mountain huts: sleeping places
- Map id: 319
- Categories: Tourism and Leisure time › Tourist accommodation › Accommodation
- Keywords: Buildings, Mountains
- Published: 2017-05-10
- Last revised: 2020-01-07
- Content language: English
- Other languages: [Deutsch](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/de/thema/berghuetten-nach-anzahl-der-schlafplaetze.md), [Français](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/fr/theme/nombre-de-couchettes-dans-les-cabanes-de-montagne.md), [Italiano](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/it/tema/capanne-suddivisi-per-numero-di-posti-letto.md)

## Description

Alpine huts first sprang up to provide shelter from bad weather for travellers and working folk such as shepherds, woodsmen and muleteers. At the time the Romans crossed the Alps and, later, with increasing travel possibilities and long-range trading in the High Middle Ages, shelters appeared around the most important Alpine passes. These shelters, described as ‘hostels’ were run by monks and Christian organisations.
The first shelters for tourists appeared in the middle of the 19th century as a result of the increased interest in high Alpine activities. Alpine associations in the various regions recognised the increasing need for accommodation and shelter for walkers, climbers and skiers and started erecting mountain huts that were, at first, spartan. The Grünhorn huts, the first huts belonging to the Swiss Alps Club, were opened in 1863.
Right into the second half of the 20th century innumerable additional huts were erected. Over time, many of them were extended or reconstructed and, today, represent an important element in the economy. Now, as in earlier times, there is a great variety in terms of size and amenities. In most cases it is a question of staffed lodges, in other cases self-service huts which can occasionally be booked while yet others come under the heading of simple emergency bivouaks. Alongside the huts of the Schweizer Alpen-Club (SAC) there is a large number of Alpine shelters with accommodation that are run by private individuals or small organisations.

## Sources

- Feiler (2004): Berghütten. Konstanz: Universität Konstanz

## Data sources

- Associazione Montagne e Vulcani (2015): [Rifugi - Bivacchi. Il portale di chi va in montagna](http://www.rifugi-bivacchi.com)
- AVS, Alpenverein Südtirol (2015): [AVS-Schutzhütten und Biwaks](http://www.alpenverein.it/de/berg-wanderfreunde/avs-h%C3%BCtten/avs-schutzh%C3%BCtten-biwaks-96.html)
- CAI, Club Alpino Italiano (2015): [I rifugi](http://www.cai.it)
- CAI, Club Alpino Italiano / ACS, Alpenverein Südtirol (2015): [Berghütten Norditalien](http://www.cai.it/%20http://www.alpenverein.it)
- DAV, Deutscher Alpenverein (2015): Berghütten Deutschland
- FFCAM, Fédération française des clubs alpins et de montagne: [Réfuges et chalets](http://www.ffcam.fr/125-refuges-a-entretenir.html)
- ÖAV, Österreichischer Alpenverein (2015): [Berghütten Österreich](http://www.alpenverein.at)
- Outdooractive (2015): [Die schönsten Hütten finden](http://www.outdooractive.com)
- SAC (2017): [SAC-Hütten Schweiz](http://www.sac-cas.ch)

## Data owners

- [Atlas of Switzerland (AoS)](http://www.atlasderschweiz.ch/)
- [Österreichischer Alpenverein (ÖAV)](http://www.alpenverein.com)
- [Alpenverein Südtirol (AVS)](http://www.alpenverein.it)
- [Fédération française des clubs alpins et de montagne (FFCAM)](http://www.ffcam.fr)
- [Deutscher Alpenverein (DAV)](http://www.alpenverein.de)
- [Swiss Alpine Club (SAC)](http://www.sac-cas.ch/)
- [Club Alpino Italiano (CAI)](http://www.cai.it)

## Citation

The terms of use ask to name the Atlas of Switzerland and the data owners, and to keep the source references in exports, screenshots and embeds. Cite the map as:

> Atlas of Switzerland (2020): Number of sleeping places in mountain huts. ETH Zürich. Map data © AoS, ÖAV, AVS, FFCAM, DAV, SAC, CAI. https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/number-of-sleeping-places-in-mountain-huts/

## Links

- Map page, with the description and sources and a button that opens the map in the desktop atlas: https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/number-of-sleeping-places-in-mountain-huts/
- Open the map in the desktop atlas (version 4), where it is installed: adsglobe://map/319
- Download of the desktop atlas (version 4) for Windows and macOS: https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/ads4-download/

For the use and citation of maps and data, see the [terms of use](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/terms-of-use/).