Kraushöhle
LandlIt’s what's on the inside that counts
Go on the short hike from Gams through Nothklamm Gorge and become a cave explorer! The guides at Kraushöhle Cave are good company and take you through a world of superlatives. To give you an example - Kraushähle Cave was the first illuminated show cave in the world and traces of the old illumination system can still be seen today.
Kraushöhle Cave reaches deep into Annerlbauernkogel Peak. The stone sculptures that seem to be made for eternity are covered in white lime water. Access to the cave is only granted if you are wearing a jacket. If you didn’t bring one along, you can put on one of the mint green or purple ones that the fire brigade of Gams provides for visitors. Then the tour through one of the oldest show caves in Austria can begin and soon superlatives are to be heard all over. Kraushöhle Cave is the largest gypsiferous cave of the German-speaking countries and also the only show cave in Europe where lime and hydrogen sulphide combine to produce gypsum.
Applause for the Kraus!
It doesn’t come as a surprise that Franz Kraus, originally from the suburbs of Vienna, bought a house in Gams in order to become a caveman again. The entrance to the cave has existed since 1881 and a wooden ladder from this time is still conserved, but (surprisingly!) nobody wants to try his or her luck stepping on it. Nowadays, all you need in the cave is a flashlight, a jacket and a helmet.
The Kraushöhle cave is part of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network.