A Köte (also Köthe) is the term used in the Harz Mountains of central Germany for a charcoal burner's hut (Köhlerhütte). A Köte was occupied by a charcoal burner in order to look after a nearby wood pile (Kohlenmeiler). The charcoal burner prepared the necessary charcoal for the smelting of ores. [1]
Today, Köten are used for tourism purposes as shelters and rest stops for hikers.
There are replicas of Köten in the Harz, for example at these places: