Schellenberger Eishöhle

Ice Cave of Schellenberg

Useful Information

Location:	Near Marktschellenberg. A10 (the Austrian continuation of the German A8) exit Salzburg Süd, S160/B305 to Marktschellenberg at the Austrian border. 3 h walk from Marktschellenberg or Parsturm. Untersberg-Seilbahn (cable car) from the Austrian side. (47.713515, 13.003933)
Open:	Cave: JUN to SEP (weather depending) daily 10-16 every hour on the full hour. OCT (weather depending) daily 10-15 every hour on the full hour. Untersbergbahn: DEC to FEB daily 9-16. MAR to JUN daily 8:30-17. JUL to SEP daily 8:30-17:30. OCT to 8:30-17. Closed 23-MAR to 03-APR, 19-OKT to 18-DEZ. [2020]
Fee:	Adults EUR 8, Children (6-16) EUR 4, Guest Card EUR 7.50, Family (2+*) EUR 18. Groups (8+): Adults EUR 7, School Pupils EUR 4, Students EUR 5, Seniors EUR 5. [2020]
Classification:	Karst cave ice cave, Dachsteinkalk
Light:	carbide lamps and magnesia
Dimension:	L=2,000 m, VR=55 m, A=1570 m asl. Portal: H=4 m, B=20 m. GR: B=40 m, L=70 m, H=8 m. Ice: VR=30 m, Age=3,000a.
Guided tours:	L=500 m, D=45 min, V=10,000/a [200?].
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:	Fritz Glück (1925): Die Schellenberger Eishöhle im Untersberg, Schellenberg, 1925
Address:	Verein für Höhlenkunde Schellenberg e.V., K. Seißmeier, Dr.-Berkmann-Straße 13, 83487 Marktschellenberg, Tel: +43-6246-72477, Fax: +43-6246-7247775. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1800	discovered by sheperds and hunters.
1826	mentioned in a map as Eisloch (ice hole).
1863	mentioned in a map as Eisloch (ice hole).
1874	first exploration.
1925	development.

Description

The Schellenberger Eishöhle is the only ice cave in Germany, which is open for tourists. It is also th biggest ice cave of Germany. The ice inside has an approximate surface of 60,000 square meters and a depth of up to 30 meters.

Ice caves are caves formed in rocks, which contain huge amounts of ice. This ice may be thousands of years old. Ice caves are generally located in areas where the average yearly temperature lies around 0 °C. In Central Europe it is higher (around 8 °C), such low temperatures are found at a heights of about 1,500 to 2,000 m asl.

The Schellenberger Eishöhle has a typical morphology, the cave is going down continually from the entrance. This works as a cold trap, as cold air flows in during winter, as it is colder than the warmer air in the cave. In summer the heavier cold air is not able to leave the cave again, it is trapped. This phenomena is used by supermarket fridges, which keep the content cool although their top lap is open. The water from the surrounding rocks is warmer, especially the meltwater during snow melt, but when it enters the cave with its cool air, it freezes. During the summer the temperature may rise above zero, and some of the ice may melt. But ice caves are so close at the zero degree border, that at least a remains of the ice lasts all year.

Because of the change between melting and freezing, the shape of the ice changes from year to year. Some parts of the ice have some kind of year rings, similar to trees. Some figures of ice close to the entrance vanish completely during summer, but similar sculptures reappear in the next winter. Every spring 800 to 1,200 hours of work are necessary to rebuild the paths on the changes ice surface.

It is rather difficult and strenuous to visit this cave. There is no nearby parking lot, with a few minutes stroll to the cave. This cave is located at 1,570 m asl at the slopes of the Untersberg. From the German side of the mountain the cave is reached by a three hour ascent to the Toni-Lenz-Hütte and then to the cave entrance. The parking lot is located at the B305 between Marktschelleberg and the Austrian border. A little easier is the use of the Untersbergseilbahn, the cable car from the Austrian side of the mountan, and the descent of about 200 m to the cave entrance. In both variations appropriate clothes, good sturdy walking shoes and and warm clothes for the cave are essential. The cave visit is definitely a day tour and requires physical fitness.