The starting point is the Matreier Tauernhaus.and we follow the road towards Gschlößtal. The Tauernbach flows to the left of us, we hike slightly uphill, pass the Wohlgemuthsalm and pass through partly forest and open mountain landscape, through the Hohe Tauern National Park to Aussergschlöß, with a mountain house and alpine pasture, on the Gschlößbach. With the absolutely most beautiful dream view of the Großvenediger, Aussergschlöss is centrally located in the heart of the wildly romantic Gschlösstal (only 2.2 km from the parking lot) and approx. 700 meters from the “Felsenkapelle in one of the most beautiful valleys of Austria. Right in the middle between the Aussergschlöß and Innergschlöß lies the chapel carved into natural rock and dedicated to St. Mary. We finally reach Innergschlöß with the Venediger house. Now continue along the valley floor along the Gschlössbach to the bridge. Once we have crossed the mountain stream, we are partly on the route of the glacier path to Schlatenkees, the largest valley glacier in East Tyrol (9km²), which is melting more and more as the decades progress. Between 1988 and 2018 the glacier retreated by 470m, including 180m in the years 2014 to 2017 alone. This path is wonderful and offers a variety of attractions like moraines, bogs, glacier ice, glacial grinding, pioneer plants, the salt bottom lake, the eye of God.  For the glacier path, turn left over the bridge and head straight towards the unmissable waterfall.Not far away, the idyllic Salzbodensee, 2137 m, invites you to take a break.Not far away, the idyllic Salzbodensee, 2137 m, invites you to take a break. The further descent into the valley The further descent into the valley  then cross the bridge opposite over the Schlatenbach to the “Eye of God”, a special photo opportunity. In this triangular eye, an island of cotton grass rivals the reflection of the surrounding ice-crowned mountain peaks. After ascending to an altitude of approx. 2200 m, we experience the colorful, ice-cut rock slab world of the glacier cuts. Continuing over very steep terrain with steps past the roaring waterfall, you reach a small plateau with a wonderful view of the Schlatenkees, as well as the Black Wall, Hoher Zaun and Kleinvenediger. We continue over rock worn by ice until it joins the normal path, which first takes us to the Old Prague Hut (drinks are available) at 2,489m. It was decommissioned in 2009 and dismantled into a museum. Since 2019 it has been a great example of the original Tyrolean refuge of this type, from the construction period at the end of the 19th century. The interior has also been restored to its original style and in the summer months you can view the historical flair through a glass wall. From the Old Prager Hütte you have a beautiful view of the Schlatenkees and the Venediger group. 

We continue over slabs and rock without difficulty to the New Prague Hut. The history of Prague Huts dates back to 1873. Not far from the current location of the Old Prague Hut, the first mountaineering base was created on the east side of the Großvenediger. On the occasion of a “Venice trip” on August 20, 1871, Johann Stüdl from Prague had the idea of ​​building a hut on the southern slopes of the Vorderen Kesselkopf. Shortly after completion, it was destroyed by avalanches in 1877 and 1923 and was later rebuilt on its current site, but was soon no longer able to cope with the increasing tourist traffic. It was also Johann Stüdl who suggested a new building and also chose the location, which was higher up on the slopes of the Inner Kesselkopf, 1 hour closer to the Großvenediger. Construction work began in 1902, high above the Schlatenkees, and the New Prager Hütte on the east side of the Großvenediger was inaugurated in 1904. Optionally we could climb the Innerer Kesselkopf that is just 30 minutes away from the hut.

We spend the night at Neue Prager Hütte. The second day after recharging breakfast we go for our second day tour in Höhe Tauern. It is a hut crossing that offers great landscape impressions of the glacial world of the Venediger Group and a wonderful summit with lake views!