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Dachstein Caves
The Dachstein Krippenstein cable-car
(Opened from spring 2008)
This
rewarding plateau circular trail is particularly suitable for families
with children fond of hiking. On the recently adapted wide hiking
trail many features arouse curiosity and travelling with baby buggies
is possible all way. To reach the starting point you go up by cable car
(Dachstein-Krippenstein ropeways) and while hovering high above rugged
rock faces and distinctive karst patterns, you might even catch a
glimpse on a chamois. The karst trail starts at the top station and
leads on a well marked route across the massif to the Heilbronner Cross.
A trip to the ‘cattle footprints' is particularly rewarding as they demonstrate that the massif once was the ocean floor of the primeval Tethys sea. Past the Hirzkarkogel and plenty of informative boards you will make your way back to the starting point of the tour. The last and only ascent may also be overcome by cable car (3rd section).
Nature Trail
The recently established Nature trail on the
Dachstein plateau is an important component of the World Heritage
Hiking world. This trail travels across the karst plateau and "lures"
with pristine high alpine scenery. Along the trail karst patterns
highly impress as well as the wide variety of fauna and flora and the
easternmost glacier of the Alps. The convenient Dachstein Nature trail
features catered mountain lodges (locations where both culinary
refreshment and accommodation is offered) within 2 hours walking
distances from each other.
The surrounding nature reserve is part of "Natura 2000", the ecological network in the territory of the EU, and of World Heritage site "Hallstatt-Dachstein-Salzkammergut ". The convenient trail, 8 km long, is suitable for everyone and introduces to distinct local features via informative boards containing texts about geology, fauna and flora common to the plateau.
Heilbronner Circular Trail
This rewarding plateau circular trail is particularly suitable for
families with children fond of hiking. On the recently adapted wide
hiking trail many features arouse curiosity and travelling with baby
buggies is possible all way. To reach the starting point you go up by
cable car (Dachstein-Krippenstein ropeways) and while hovering
high above rugged rock faces and distinctive karst patterns, you might
even catch a glimpse on a chamois. The karst trail starts at the top
station and leads on a well marked route across the massif to the Heilbronner Cross. A trip to the ‘cattle footprints' is particularly rewarding as they demonstrate that the massif once was the ocean floor of the primeval Tethys sea.
Past the Hirzkarkogel and plenty of informative boards you will make your way back to the starting point of the tour. The last and only ascent may also be overcome by cable car (3rd section).
"Five Fingers"-viewpoint
"The ‘Five Fingers" are the absolute highlight of
the newly staged Krippenstein Hiking world. 5fingers-shaped, this
platform is constructed on the edge of a sheer mountain cliff drop-off,
above an abyss, more than 400m deep. This platform consequently ranks
among the most spectacular viewpoints across the Alps. Five stages
(fingers), 4x1m, make for outstanding "insights and outlooks". One
stage is made of glass; another "finger" provides a baroque-like frame
in order to take special World Heritage photos of Hallstatt. A
trampoline - albeit not accessible - on the third stage symbolizes
unlimited mountain freedom.
The forth stage is looped in order to allow the ultimate vertical drop gaze. Finally the fifth finger is provided with a long-glass (free of charge) to enable viewers to behold the splendid Salzkammergut mountain scenery at close range. The platform is illuminated until midnight to then be noticed even from distant places. The convenient 15 minutes walk to the view platform (close to the Pioneer Cross) is suitable for almost all visitors.
Giant Ice Cave
"Weather
hole" was the former name of the cave, because of the remarkable fog
clouds gathering around the entry hole prior to the arrival of a
thunderstorm. Peter Gamsjäger was the first to penetrate further into
the cave in 1910. Flickering matches showed him the way to the cave ice
of Giant Ice Cave which today ranks among the biggest ice caves
worldwide. The cave has been open to the public since 1913, even if
ascent and access to the cave were rather "gruelling" at that time.
Today's
visitors hover conveniently up by cable car. From the
Schönbergalm-terminal a nature trail leads to the cave entrance where
the tours start. Visitors are taken by experienced guides through
subterranean chambers and passages which have been washed out of the
limestone rock in the course of millions of years. Among the highlights
of Giant Ice Cave are "Parsifal Cathedral"- where the ‘Ice sound
concerts' take place - the "Castle of the Grail", "Tristan Cathedral"
and the "Ice Chapel" where the ice is several meters deep. Illumination
installations make for mystic atmosphere on the tour.
Classical Music on Ice
Experience the ‘Ice sound concerts' and come face to
face with ice! These exceptional performances take place in one of the
most remarkable ‘concert halls' of the world, in "swinging Parsifal
Cathedral" and enable the audiences to experience distinct sounds of
varied music genres in crystal-clear atmosphere face to face with
bizarre ice formations. The all-inclusive deal includes cable car,
concert (in well-exceptional concert hall), cave tour and prosecco
welcome-drink. A delicious ‘Ice sound buffet' rounds off this unique
concert experience.
The concerts draw a bow from classical to jazz music and will be designed to attract younger audiences, too. Read more...
Bibi Blocksberg tours
Join us for the popular ‘Bibi Blocksberg tours' and the witch ‘Rabia of Katzenstein' herself will accompany you through Giant Ice Cave. Read more...
Mammut Cave
In
1910 the first Austrian Cave Congress was held at Obertraun in the
course of which several caves of the surrounding area were discovered.
For its large extension one of these newly discovered caves, located in
the ‘Mittagskogel', was named Mammut Cave (Mammoth Cave). Mammut Cave
is an intricate labyrinth of passages extending on more than 60 km with
a difference in altitude of more than 1000m between the highest and the
deepest points.
Mammut
Cave is a karst cave and on the guided tours you will get better
acquainted with such karst formations. One theory says that former
‘Palaeotraun' - precursor of today's Traun river - formed and washed
out these huge subterranean passages. At
Midnight Cathedral an introduction to the world of cave explorers
-venturing multi-day excursions into the eternal darkness - is given.
Cave exploring is considered to be amongst the last adventures on Earth
and on wild cave trekking tours visitors may experience this particular
feeling of being completely cut off from the world.
The Cave Museum
The Dachstein Cave Museum is noted for being among Upper
Austria´s most extraordinary museums for both its special theme and its
special location. You´ll find it at an elevation of 1,350 meters above
sea level at the middle terminal of the Dachstein Cableway. The essence of this Museum is captured in documenting the research and the exploration of the Dachstein Caves. Among the Museum´s most striking and noticeable features is a model depicting the 48 kilometers of explored tunnels within Mammoth Cave.
Schönbergalm
The Adventure restaurant Schönbergalm is
located at 1350 m and is starting point for the trips to Giant Ice Cave
and Mammut Cave. Family cosiness and delicious gastronomy await the
guests, whether young or old. Children are most welcome and may explore
‘dragon hole', ‘crocodile squeeze', ‘cave slide' or ‘Simony gallery'.
In the child cable car the kids may revel while hovering up to the
Dachstein. Choose local dishes and delicacies at the self-service area
and savour organic vegetable products - originating from the ‘Biohof
Achleitner' - at the salad buffet. Schönbergalm-gastronomy contains child specials (children under 1m eat for free) and all inclusive offers and is designed to stave off hunger!
- Informationen zu Preisen und Öffnungszeiten finden Sie hier als PDF zum downloaden (1,31mb)
- Mehr Dachstein gibt es unter: www.dachsteinwelterbe.at