Welcome to the Mountain Hotel Malta at the kölnbrein-dam

 The Mountain-Hotel-Malta with Panorama Restaurant Hochalm is located directly by the Kölnbrein dam. The hotel lies at the end of the Malta Alpine Road, amidst the nature of the Hohe Tauern. Far away from the hustle and bustle, bedded in a fascinating landscape, the hotel is situated next to the Kölnbrein reservoir.

A wonderful world of mountains in the national park for all that wish to relax in peace. At the same time, the area around the Kölnbrein offers ideal opportunities for hikes with varying grades of difficulty, climbing tours and sporting activities.

Even the journey to the Berghotel Malta over one of Austria’s prettiest alpine roads, with its impressive rock tunnels surrounded by waterfalls, fantastic view over the Galgenbichl reservoir and imposing Kölnbrein dam before the last curve, is an experience in itself.

As early as the 1970s, the Berghotel Malta was built in the heart of the Hohe Tauern mountains. Situated at an altitude of 1,933 metres above sea level, the building originally served as accommodation for workers and engineers involved in the construction of the Kölnbrein Dam, Austria’s highest dam.

The hotel was designed as a distinctive circular building constructed from wood-cement formwork blocks and featuring a light-coloured façade. In 2010, the building underwent extensive renovation and modernization and was architecturally redesigned through a series of extensions and structural modifications. In addition to renewing almost the entire building services infrastructure, the façade was thermally refurbished and newly clad in natural slate.

The renovation was designed and carried out by architects Andrea and Herwig Ronacher.

A bridge structure connected to the hotel houses the VERBUND Energiewelt Malta exhibition. It provides visitors with fascinating insights into the construction of the Kölnbrein Dam and the generation of electricity from hydropower.

The bridge structure is topped by a spacious terrace that culminates in a pointed viewing platform. From here, visitors can enjoy spectacular views over the reservoir and the surrounding mountain landscape. The terrace serves both as a viewing point and as the outdoor area of the Berghotel Malta’s Hochalm panoramic à-la-carte restaurant.

The lower two floors of the extended original building accommodate parts of the VERBUND Energiewelt Malta exhibition, as well as the hotel’s restaurant and its adjoining seminar rooms. The four tower floors above contain a total of 35 guest rooms.

In 2024, the Ronacher family of architects was commissioned once again to further develop the Berghotel Malta. As part of the redevelopment, the exhibition area on the lower floor of the hotel was reorganized and reduced in size to make room for a new wellness area. A sauna and fitness room were added, both offering direct views of the impressive Kölnbrein Dam.

The shop, which had previously been located inside the hotel, was also redesigned and relocated directly to the dam. Its approximately eight-metre-high glass façade provides an expansive view of Austria’s highest dam, creating a unique experience of the interplay between architecture, engineering and the surrounding alpine landscape.

The fifth floor of the hotel is dedicated to monitoring the Kölnbrein Dam and is staffed 365 days a year. From here, the dam inspectors use the hotel lift to reach their workplace inside the dam.

Together, the Kölnbrein Dam and the Berghotel Malta form an exceptional architectural and engineering ensemble and rank among Austria’s most impressive achievements in both fields. The combination of the alpine landscape, sophisticated engineering and contemporary architecture makes this a truly unique place in the Maltatal – where the story of the Berghotel Malta continues to evolve to this day.