Let´s go and see the bergdoktor

Two mid-forties from Hamburg are sitting in the AlmErlebnisBus, eagerly discussing exciting love affairs, mysterious illnesses, a stunning doctor and the beautiful mountains. This combination makes me prick up my ears and I eavesdrop on the interesting conversation. Soon I realize that the two are fans of the “Bergdoktor“ (the “Mountain Doctor“ television series). Curiously, I interrupt their conversation and they look at me incredulously with big eyes. Didn’t I know that the “Bergdoktor“ was filmed on the Litzlam with Hans Sigl aka Martin Gruber and that up there the hut, called “Uncle Ludwig’s Alm“ in the series, can be found? “You have such wonderful mountains here! Every “Bergdoktor“ episode is like a short holiday for us and draws us to Austria again and again!“ the two enthuse as they set off to search for the said hut, but I see in their eyes that it’s not only the mountain peaks that have conquered their hearts…..

The hut owner tells all

Eight “kaser“, small huts belonging to dairy farmers, are situated on the Litzlalm between 1300 and 1500 metres above sea level above Weißbach and eight farmers share the pasture above the Litzlalm restaurant. In the Reithkaser, the highest situated hut, filming took place for “Bergdoktor“ last year. For this, the rustic “kaser“ transformed into “Uncle Ludwig’s Hut“ and in several episodes of the last season, pictures of the Naturpark Weißbach flickered across the screens. I hear this firsthand from Richard Fernsebner, the owner of the Reithkaser. “After a phone call, my wife Cornelia showed the set designer the alm area and our hut. For the filming, a few things were redecorated and our things cleared away, but after shooting was finished, we received our hut back in its perfect original condition. Since the broadcast, some die-hard fans have been coming to the Litzlalm to see where “Uncle Ludwig“ lives. In the past, our hut was also used as a filming location – namely for the “Alpenklinik“ with Erol Sander. The “Bergdoktor“ team is super straightforward and highly professional – we look forward to further episodes being filmed here“, says Richard Fernsebner, enthusiastic about the filming.

Curiosity is my middle name, so I also asked the “Bergdoktor“ team for a short interview and they were delighted to tell me about the filming in the Naturpark Weißbach:

How was the Reithkaser transformed into “Uncle Ludwig’s Hut“? What requirements did the alm have to meet?

Cordula Kerner – Set Designer

We needed a new motif with an impressive mountain backdrop which is logistically easy to use and which we could access permanently. A few years ago I happened to see a photo of a restaurant (later, I found out that this was the Litzlalm) and immediately saved it – you never know! However, there was neither a name nor a location. As I began to look around for “Ludwig’s Hut“, I remembered the photo and began to do some intense detective work! In the end, we met up with Cornelia, the owner of the hut, who guided us through the extensive local area. And so it happened that we drove around a bend and my set designer heart began to beat faster as I found eight huts in total – each one more impressive than the next! The decision was ultimately made to go with the Reithkaser because it was the last hut in this “chain of houses“. There it was easier to portray the isolation and loneliness. The majestic mountain, which is located directly behind the house, makes it possible to show all the important elements in one frame (mountain – house – actor) so that in a picture, all motif-relevant aspects are shown. The filming logistics also function really well because our team can be catered for in the nearby huts.

How was the shoot?

Christian Ronning – Production Manager: The filming days (there were 6 days in total) were very varied. We were visited by hikers; had intensive scenes with the Gruber family and experienced almost all seasons.