It was back during the late Tertiary period when the Tennengebirge mountains were first formed. Known as the Würm glaciation period, much of the Austrian Alps were formed, including that of the Eisriesenwelt cave. With each passing year, as the melting snows trip into the cavern and then froze the following year, the Eisriesenwelt was slowly eroded away over hundreds of thousands of years.

Eisriesenwelt caves, Austria by eisriesenwelt.at

Anton Posselt, who was a scientist from Salzburg back in 1879, is credited with having first discovered the Eisriesenwelt Caverns. Up until this point in time, only the locals in the area knew anything about the cave. It is interesting to note, that Anton Posselt only took the time to explore the first several hundred meters of the cave, as he believed that the cave itself was an entrance to Hell.

It was not until 1912 when further expeditions into the cave would occur. Alexander von Mörk who was a speleologist from Salzburg spent much of the next two years dedicated to mapping out the internals of the cave network. However, as a result of World War I, his expeditions ceased due to the fact that he was killed as a result the bombings.

Eisriesenwelt Caves, Austria by eisriesenwelt.at

Shortly after the end of the First World War, the Eisriesenwelt started to develop into a popular terse destination in the region. As a result, a number of cabins and walking paths up to the cave were constructed. However the more than three decades the only option to access the Eisriesenwelt caves was to walk on foot more than 90 minutes. In 1955 a cable car was constructed in the region, which allow people to access the Eisriesenwelt caves in less than three minutes.

It is important to remember, that the Eisriesenwelt Caves are composed entirely of ice and therefore the temperatures inside are well below freezing level. As a result, it is important to make sure that you bring the proper clothing, no matter what time of year you choose to visit them. At the same time you must keep in mind that flash photography within the caves are strictly prohibited.

Eisriesenwelt Caves, Austria by eisriesenwelt.at

In order to get the most out of your trip to the caves it is important to take the time to sign up to a tour. This will allow you to get the most amount of relevant information about the caves, as well as their formation, and the various monuments and designations that can be found throughout the geological formation.

The caves are closed during the winter and basic admission is €20. For more information check the official site of Eisriesenwelt Caves: eisriesenwelt.at.

Pictures were used upon eisriesenwelt.at approval. Thank you!

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Photo by seegrotte.com

In the past, up to 1800, the cave was used for making red and white plaster. During World War II the cave housed also the factory for the production of combat aircraft. The first jet fighter in the world (Heinkel He162) was constructed right here.

The underground lake was explored in the 30′s of last century, and later open to the public. There are 9 °C in the cave and the tour lasting 45 minutes includes a boat trip. Seegrotte is now great tourist attraction with about 250,000 visitors a year. It is open every day, all year-round. The basic adult admission is €9 or €6 for children.

Open:
1st April – 31 October from 9.00 to 17.00
1st November – 31 March from 9.00 – 12.00 and 13.00 – 15.00

Seegrotte is one of the most impressive natural attractions in the world. Being also a cultural monument it should be definitely included in your list of places to visit when travelling to Austria.

For further information visit Seegrotte official site.

View The Hinterbrühl Seegrotte in Austria in a larger map

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