Photo: TVB Ennstal-Ausseerland_Guggenberger

Salzofenhöhle

Grundlsee, Styria

naturführung

The Salzofenhöhle is located at an altitude of about 2,005 m in the western part of the Totes Gebirge, above Lake Grundlsee in Styria. Access to the cave is via a challenging mountain hike that requires sure-footedness and good physical condition. The ascent usually takes place via the Gößler Alm (mountain pasture) and the Längtal; the marked path no. 213 leads to the cave entrance in about 3.5 hours. The cave itself is not publicly accessible, but can be viewed from the outside. The Salzofenhöhle is of great archaeological importance: finds of stone tools, charcoal pieces and strikingly arranged bear skulls prove its use as a hunting station during the last ice age. Radiocarbon dating indicates an age of up to 49,000 years. Some of the discovered artifacts are exhibited in the Kammerhofmuseum in Bad Aussee. The surroundings of the cave offer further alpine experiences: The nearby Salzofen summit is reachable in a short time from the cave entrance and offers an impressive panorama over the Ausseerland.