Giant Dachstein Ice Cave

Giant Dachstein Ice Cave is located high above the valley of the Traun River and is within easy walking distance from the Schönbergalm. The ice is formed by infiltrating surface water, seeping through the cracks and crevices of the surrounding bedrock into the cave. When the surface temperature is above the freezing point, the infiltrating water freezes inside the cave where the cold cave air remains in place.  Magic grand ice formations are the result.  The warm summer surface water, seeping into the cave, may melt a portion of the cave ice, but still the ‘ice growth rate’ will remain positive as more ice keeps forming in periods of thaw than melts in summer raining periods. Giant Ice Cave consequently continues to guarantee rewarding nature experience.

Journey into the ice

50 minutes tours allow the public to dive into this nature wonder world and experience the magic ice scenery.  Visitors are taken by trained guides across ice free entrance passages and the “Stalactite Hall” down to “King Arthur’s Cathedral”. In this chamber, with studding huge rocks on the cave floor, bones of cave bears worked by human hand were found.

Ascending the steps up through the steep and narrow ‘Keye’, you will arrive at the upper level of the cave where fantastic ice formations form a dramaturgic highlight. Across the “Ice palace” you will enter the “Parsifal Cathedral” with its dominating huge “Ice Mountain”, an ice stalagmite, more than 9 m high.
Higher up a huge ice bell, the “Castle of the Grail” features ice illumination, producing an array of bright colours ranging from white to dark blue.

A passageway leads onto the ponded water ice masses, 25 m thick, of the “Tristan Cathedral”, from where you will descend into the “Great Ice Chapel”. This extraordinary ice formation, located at the bottom of the cave ice, will leave a most compelling impression of underground beauty. Past the ice precipice, the overcoming of which was the most difficult obstacle to the cave explorers, the exit is close showing gorgeous views on Krippenstein Mountain and lake Hallstättersee.

Breathing cave and “Klettermax” (Climbing Max)

In addition to consisting nature-made highlights of Ice Cave, the Linz University of Art is creating installations such as “Breathe – the breathing cave” and “Klettermaxe” (‘Climbing Max’) to provide new attractions and elements of surprise.

Liebe Gäste!

Aufgrund der hoch alpinen Lage unserer beiden großen Schauhöhlen am Berg, Rieseneis- und Mammuthöhle, muss die Betriebsleitung aus betriebsrechtlichen Gründen unter Umständen, diese bei entsprechenden Witterungsverhältnissen (z.B. Schneefall bzw. Schnee auf den Wegen zu den Höhlen) kurzfristig aus Sicherheitsgründen sperren. Wir ersuchen um Ihr Verständnis.