The Reisalpe (1,399 m) is the highest mountain in the
Gutenstein Alps
The Gutenstein Alps (german: Gutensteiner Alpen) are a mountain range in the Eastern Alps in Central Europe, and the northeasternmost part of the Northern Limestone Alps, reaching heights over 1,000 m.
Topography
Die Gutenstein Alps are ...
and lies between
Lilienfeld
Lilienfeld () is a city in Lower Austria (Niederösterreich), Austria, south of St. Pölten, noted as the site of Lilienfeld Abbey. It is also the site of a regional hospital Landesklinikum Voralpen Lilienfeld.
The city is located in the valley ...
,
Hohenberg and
Kleinzell
Kleinzell is a town in the district of Lilienfeld in the Austrian state of Lower Austria.
Geography
Kleinzell is the third largest municipality in the district of Lilienfeld with a size of about 93.09km². Kleinzell is situated in the Halbachtal ...
in Lower Austria. It is a popular destination, both for hikers in summer and also for
ski mountaineering
Ski mountaineering (abbreviated to skimo) is a skiing discipline that involves climbing mountains either on skis or carrying them, depending on the steepness of the ascent, and then descending on skis. There are two major categories of equipmen ...
and
snowshoe walks in winter, and is classed as relatively safe from avalanches.
Near the summit stands a Madonna, recently joined by a
summit cross
A summit cross (german: Gipfelkreuz) is a cross on the summit of a mountain or hill that marks the top. Often there will be a summit register (''Gipfelbuch'') at the cross, either in a container or at least a weatherproof case.
Various other form ...
, as well as the Reisalpe refuge hut (''Schutzhaus'') opened on 9 October 1898. A small
Austrian Armed Forces hut is also located in the vicinity of the summit.
Schutzhaus
In October 1898, the Reisalpe Schutzhaus was opened. It had taken three years to build, and seven hundred people attended the elaborate opening ceremony.
[' 'Through Innocent Eyes,' Cynthia A. Sandor p. 121-122] The Reisalpe poem was read out loud:
"Great calm and deep peace is only with you,
when you are on this land.
What is the magic of the forest? Of the trees?
Of the birds and the bees?
Of God's great commands?
The trunk of the great Black Pine still lives,
when it bleeds.
You are in the Alps so high,
are you not dreaming of the Reis'alpine?
Seek friendship with the ones you meet.
Learn to speak so they understand.
Anyone who brings the good towards you,
will be your friend on this mountain grassland."
References
Literature
Sandor, Cynthia A. (2012). ''Through Innocent Eyes'',.
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Gutenstein Alps
Mountains of Lower Austria
Mountains of the Alps
One-thousanders of Austria