Summit cross on the Großer Löffler: After Sturm reinstalled for summer!

Summit cross on the Großer Löffler: After Sturm reinstalled for summer!

Ginzling, Österreich - On June 18, 2025, a festive occasion for the reconstruction of the summit cross on the Großer Löffler was celebrated in Ginzling. In an impressive ceremony, Pastor Jürgen Gradwohl blessed the freshly restored cross, accompanied by the Federal Music Chapel Ginzling-Dornauberg and numerous restaurants. Last year, due to a violent storm after serious damage, it had to be repaired in many hours of handicrafts. His return to a height of 3,378 meters is still planned for this summer. The mountain guides Stefan and Andreas Wierer, in consultation with the Greiz DAV section, brought the destroyed cross into the valley with a helicopter, where the intensive restoration began.

The outstanding congratulations are due to mountain guide Marcus Wellens, who is directly from the dangerous landslide area. Andreas Wierer took care of the task of disassembling the cross into its individual parts and replacing components that can no longer be found. In a second step, restorer Markus "Krölli" Kröll devoted himself to the restoration of the magnificent Edelweiß, which is emblazoned in the center of the summit cross. The alpine residents and supporters of the Greiz, Rudolf Klausner and Markus Kröll section, were able to look forward to a 1:10 replica of the Löffler Cross, as a sign of gratitude for their tireless efforts.

A look at the story

The original summit cross has a moving story. Klaus Pracht, a 72-year contemporary witness, was already involved in the establishment of the first Löffler cross in 1974 when he and Rudolf Kröll transported the cross with horses to the Greizer Hütte. From there it was carried to the summit under challenging conditions. At that time there were avalanches and columns, but fortunately everyone involved was unharmed. Protection was deeply touched by the closeness to the cross, which means a lot to him and many others.

The meaning of summit crosses in the Alps is impressive. Each cross tells personal stories and historical covers, as the former foreign reporter Hans-Joachim Löwer records in his book "summit crosses-dreams, triumph, tragedies". It leads us through the fascinating stories of 43 summit crosses in Austria and thus illuminates the diverse motifs and fates that stand behind these symbols of faith and memory.

summit crosses are not only signs of faith, but also significant memorial sites for past wars and the roots of alpine culture. Examples such as the cross on the Corno di Cavento, decorated with soldiers' helmets, or the cross on the Schönfeldspitze, which was designed in a "Pietà" form by Anton Thuswaldner, clearly show how deeply rooted these symbols are in the awareness of humans. They all have in common that they are a place of reflection and memory.

The return of the Löffler cross brings fresh shine and gives the entire community the opportunity to connect with nature and traditions of the Alps again. This event makes it clear: when it comes to the mountain, there is something.

Further information about the history of summit crosses can be found on Zillertaler Zeitung , as well as interesting stories about it in an article of SPIEGEL href = "https://www.alpenverein.at/tirol/home/news/kulfelkreuze.php" Target = "_ blank"> Alpenvereins .