Giant Ice Cave
In 1910, first icy parts of the Gigantic Ice Cave were discovered. Two years later, tourism was initiated in the region. Simultaneously, several cave explorers from the Austrian-Hungarian monarchy arrived to investigate further these natural phenomena.
The greatest touristic change did not take place until 1951, when the Dachstein cable car until the Schönberg Alp was constructed and opened. Since that time, the number of visitors is about 80,000 to 180,000 a year.
A new age began for the Dachstein Cave and Hiking World with the summer season of 2007 with comprehensive projects and installations. The Linz University of Arts – the Institute of Space and Design Strategies – gave the three show caves a totally new face. The additional great reconstructions of the first two stages of the Dachstein-World Heritage cable cars and constructions to make the zone valley station – middle station more attractive had been finished by May 2008.
Mammut Cave
The Western entrance to the Mammut Cave has been used as a cellar for centuries. Even poachers have found an ideal hiding place for their prey in the cave.
In 1910, the exploration of the endless seeming corridors of the Mammut Cave started from the Western side. At the Eastern side, which is situated in the direction of the ice cave, several entrances were known which were not connected with the Western part until 1914.
World War One interrupted all explorations.
After the end of the war, the army built a path through the Mammut Cave which was constantly improved during the following decades.
Nowadays, over 60 km of the Mammut Cave are explored. The impressive size of its corridors and the explorers’ hope to have found one of the longest caves of Europe presented the reasons for its name.
With the summer season of 2007 more attractions had been added to the Mammut Cave: new artistic settings. Since 2008, the Dachstein Cave and Hiking World present itself totally new to the visitor.
Koppenbrüller Cave
As long ago as in 1820, a travel guide mentioned the Koppenbrüller Cave as a ‘famous show cave’. We can suppose that the indigenous population of that time, which consisted mainly of miners, led tourists into the Koppenbrüller Cave for money. Uncanny stories, such as the one of the ghost of the deceased Hofer Sepp, were part of the guides’ treasure box of attractions.
Only in 1910, the cave was opened to tourists offering paths and regular guided tours. In the following decades, legendary guides, such as Sepp Schilcher and Alois Schenner, contributed to the extension of the Koppenbrüller Cave.
Nowadays, the Koppenbrüller Cave is a popular destination for families and well-known for its adventurous cave trekking tours.
This cave offers interesting artistic installations since 2007, too.
General Information
In order to be able to make excursions into the interior of the mountain a unique adventure and experience this primeval landscape exceptionally, some safety regulations have to be followed, too. For the visit of the caves which is only allowed under the guidance of well-trained guides, we recommend solid shoes and adequate clothes. Precisely in the Gigantic Ice Cave, the temperature hardly rises over the freezing point and even in the other caves it is often extremely cold compared to exterior temperatures.
Thanks to an excellent infrastructure, the caves can be visited by children of all ages. Even dogs equipped with a muzzle can be taken on such underground excursions. In order to revive body and soul after the guided tours, the adventure restaurant on the Schönberg Alp offers a comprehensive choice of specialties.
