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A ''Matratzenlager'' ("mattress room"), sometimes called ''Massenlager'' or ''Touristenlager'', is the simplest and cheapest type of sleeping accommodation offered in
mountain hut
A mountain hut is a building located high in the mountains, generally accessible only by foot, intended to provide food and shelter to mountaineers, climbers and hikers. Mountain huts are usually operated by an Alpine Club or some organization ...
s. It generally consists of a large room with mattresses usually placed very close together.
[Bourne, Grant and Körner-Bourne, Sabine (2007). ''Walking in the Bavarian Alps'', 2nd ed., Cicerone, Milnthorpe, p. 20. .]
The ''Matratzenlager'' is usually found in the
attic of the hut and can consist of about 10 to 100 bedspaces. Large ''Matratzenlagers'' are divided into rooms with a maximum of 20-30 bedspaces in order to ensure a reasonable night's sleep. Often there are also smaller rooms for
families
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Ideal ...
.
The
mattresses
A mattress is a large, usually rectangular pad for supporting a lying person. It is designed to be used as a bed, or on a bed frame as part of a bed. Mattresses may consist of a quilted or similarly fastened case, usually of heavy cloth, contain ...
usually do not lie on the floor, but on a large wooden frame and each bedspace is given its own pillow and up to two woollen blankets (''Alpenvereinsdecken'' or "Alpine club blankets"). At the head or the foot are small storage areas.
At
Alpine club hut
Alpine club huts (german: Alpenvereinshütten) or simply club huts (''Clubhütten'') form the majority of the over 1,300 mountain huts in the Alps and are maintained by branches, or sections, of the various Alpine clubs. Although the usual English ...
s the use of hut
sleeping bags is mandatory.
References
{{Climbing-stub
Mountain huts