Pilgrims rest hut in Frankenmarkt Jakobsweg

Frankenmarkt, Oberösterreich, Österreich

All weather

In 2012 Anton Schönberger single-handedly built a pilgrim's hut on the Way of St. James in Frankenmarkt. The 4x4 meter hut is located directly on the 16th stage of the Way of St. James between Vöcklabruck and Oberhofen am Irrsee, what is also a part of the Panoramaweg.

You can find more information about the Austrian Way of St. James here:
https://www.weitwanderwege.com/wege/jakobsweg/?etappe=16

This was built in the form of a Holzknecht hut in about 3.5 months of construction time: "Nothing cut, everything from logs!" emphasizes Schönberger. When asked how he came up with the idea of building the hut, he answers quite naturally: "I saw it once somewhere and thought it would be ideal for the pilgrims who come here to sleep in it and take a break!
Because there are many pilgrims in Frankenmarkt and there are more and more. On nice days there are about 8 - 10 hikers who pass the Way of St. James in the direction of Salzburg, past the pilgrim hut. Already two pilgrimage books are written out, the third has been started: "It is incredible from where the pilgrims come!" says Schönberger and adds "Many entries in the book are in English - some of them come from Poland!". A few years ago, he also had his own stamp made with the pilgrim's shell including the inscription: "Pilgerrast Unterrain Frankenmarkt" and placed it next to the pilgrim's book.
At pilgrimage time Schönberger provides the hiker, mineral water in the hut. He describes his motivation to provide water to the pilgrims as follows: "If the pilgrims already make the effort to walk this path, cover many meters of altitude and sweat, do they know how happy you are when you then get something to drink?" This feeling is also described by an entry in the pilgrim's book of Thomas and Elisabeth from Zurich: "Thirsty as we were, so grateful we are for the water."
The hut is covered with larch shingles and even so pleasantly cool in summer. Many pilgrims use the floor and also spend the night with the sleeping bag in the Holzknecht hut.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)