Katerloch Stalactite Cave

During the guided tour, which lasts about two hours, visitors climb 135 meters in elevation along a roughly one-kilometer-long trail that winds through serpentine paths, up massive iron staircases, and over 400 steps. Warm clothing and sturdy shoes are required; the temperature inside the cave is 5°C.

Guided tours are offered for groups of 10 or more paying visitors; it is possible to join another group.

• Duration: about 2 hours
• Advance registration by phone is required!

Description of the hiking trail:

Passing through an imposing cave portal, visitors enter the inward-sloping entrance hall with massive sinter columns covered in moss and overgrown with algae. The largest column is 22 meters high and has a circumference of 46 meters. From the “Auslughalle,” the view looks down into the 45-meter-deep abyss of the “Marteldome.”

One of the largest chambers is the “Fantasiehalle,” which is 120 meters long, 85 meters wide, and 20 meters high. Here lies a veritable primeval forest of some 4,000 large stalactite formations with particularly striking shapes: You’ll find delicate limestone corals, wafer-thin white and colored curtains, crystal-clear formations, and sparkling crystal columns. Numerous cave bear bone finds complete the picture of a prehistoric era untouched by humans. Today, the entire cave is easily accessible via a sophisticated system of winding paths, staircases, and steps.

From the “Fantasiehalle,” you can reach the other major discoveries made by the researcher couple Hermann and Regina Hofer in 1955:
The “Zauberreich” and the “Seeparadies,” whose richly varied, bizarre forms are almost impossible to describe in words. At the lowest point, alabaster-white stalagmites and islands of travertine rise from the iridescent turquoise-green waters of a cave lake, framed by magnificent cave walls. As if created by a script of a higher order, the beauty of Austria’s most stalactite-rich show cave reaches its pinnacle here.

The Katerloch is open from May 1 through October 31 . Guided tours can be arranged at any time, but only by prior telephone appointment.

Admission prices:

• €25.00 per adult
• €20.00 per child/teen
• Discounts for group bookings and families
• Guided tours are available for groups of 10 or more paying visitors; it is possible to join other groups.

Tour Dates:

• 900 m trail length
• 135 m elevation difference (for comparison: St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna is 136 m tall)
• 470 steps (natural steps, concrete steps, metal stairs)
• Paved winding paths—gravel, concrete, natural rock, and stalactites
• Continuous handrails or steel cables

Requirements for attendance:

• Advance Registration by Phone
• Guided tours for groups of 10 or more paying visitors
• The minimum age for children is 8 years
• General Physical and Mental Health
• Good, non-slip shoes (e.g., sneakers, hiking boots)
• Warm clothing is recommended (cave temperature: +5°C)
• Sturdy, warm gloves and a hat or beanie (gloves are available for free on-site)

For safety reasons and to protect the cave itself, bags, backpacks, umbrellas, walking sticks, cell phones, cameras, and pets are not allowed inside the cave.
Exceptions: Bags used to carry necessary medications and medical supplies.

Photography & Filming:

• No photography or filming in the cave
• You can take photos in front of the cave entrance.

Traveling by car:

There is free parking for visitors—both cars and buses—right in front of the entrance to the tourist cave. Unfortunately, cell phone reception isn't always reliable, so please make sure you have a working GPS or an alternative directions guide before you arrive.

Public Transportation:

Unfortunately, the Katerloch stalactite cave is not accessible by public transportation. The nearest bus stop or train station is in Weiz. It is approximately 10 kilometers from Weiz, the district capital. You can use the “SAM Sammeltaxi Oststeiermark” for this trip. Please check with SAM in advance and reserve your rides well in advance.