Grasslhöhle

Useful Information

Location:	Dürntal 4, 8160 Weiz. In Göttelsberg, on the Weiz-Graz road, take the 7 km long road to Dürntal. From the cave car park a 100 m walk leads to the cave guides' hut with waiting room, balcony and snack bar. (47.2449256, 15.5496629)
Open:	MAY to JUN Sat, Sun, Hol 11, 13, 15. JUL to AUG Thu-Tue 11, 13, 15. SEP Sat, Sun, Hol 11, 13, 15. [2025]
Fee:	Adults EUR 9, Children (6-15) EUR 6. Groups (20+): Adults EUR 7, Children (6-15) EUR 5. [2025]
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:	A=740 m asl.
Guided tours:	D=45 min, Min=5.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:	Karl H. Hochschorner (1996): Kleiner Exkursionsführer für die Fahrt in die Grasslhöhle und die Lurhöhle Höhlenkundliche Schriften des Landesvereines für Höhlenkunde in Wien und Niederösterreich, Band 1. Landesverein für Höhlenkunde in Wien und Niederösterreich, Wien 1996. pdf Karl Schmutz (1816): Die Graselhöhle bei Weiz In: Der Aufmerksame, Beilage der Grazer Zeitung, 1816, Nr. 114. Karl Schmutz (1840): Die Graselhöhle in den Gößer Wänden In: Der Aufmerksame, Beilage der Grazer Zeitung, 1840, Nr. 14.
Address:	Johann Reisinger, Dürntal 4, 8160 Weiz, Tel: +43-3172-67328, Cell: +43-664-524-17-57, Cell: +43-664-514-30-34. office@grasslhoehle.at
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

1816	Grasslhöhle first mentioned in writing.
1837	Cave closed for their protection.
1950	leased by the couple Hermann and Regina Hofer.
1952	electric light installed and opened to the public.
1970	Show cave run by the owners, family Reisinger.
1971	electrical lighting renewed by the Styrian Speleological Society.
1987	modernisation of the cave lighting with energy-saving neon tubes.

Description

The Grasslhöhle is located in Eastern Styria and is often referred to as the oldest show cave in Austria. This is actually nonsense, because although the cave was first mentioned in writing in 1816, it was only opened as a show cave in 1952. There is a story about the discovery, see below, which even exists in two versions, in one of which the shepherd boy who discovers it involuntarily survives. As this kind of story is quite possible but unfortunately also quite widespread and somewhat bold, it is probably really a legend. Unfortunately, there is no historical document about the discovery. A mysterious document from the 18th century, in which the cave is said to have been mentioned, has also disappeared without trace. However, the document from 1816 describes that the cave was equipped with climbing facilities, which is probably the reason for the legend of the oldest show cave. In fact, there was no climbing equipment at that time, let alone cave equipment, and the cave was built with wooden ladders that were at least temporarily durable, which was the usual method of exploration at the time. Presumably there was further exploration and vandalism, and the cave was closed as early as 1837. Archduke Johann visited the cave in the 1850s, and although this was certainly an event for the small village, very little is known about it. However, it is known that miners from Arzberg extended the very low passage connecting the anteroom and the main hall for this occasion.

The cave was explored from around 1900 by Josef Fasching, chairman of the Gesellschaft für Höhlenforschung (Society for Speleology), and other cave explorers from Graz. This ended with the First World War. After the war, the Verein für Höhlenkunde Weiz (Weiz Speleological Society) under the leadership of Otto Kropatsch leased the Grasslhöhle. They offered guided tours of the cave with carbide light, candles and torches. This wasn’t a show cave, it was a cave with a few fixtures, and the tour was more or less cave trekking.

The newlyweds Hermann and Regina Hofer came to Dürntal on their extended honeymoon in 1950. They first visited the Grasslhöhle, built trails, installed the first electric lighting and cleaned stalactites which were sooty from pitch torches. They leased the Grasslhöhle and the Katerloch and opened the Grasslhöhle as a show cave in 1952, so this year is officially regarded as the beginning of show cave operations. They used the money they earned here to finance the research work in the Katerloch. After the Hofers retired in 1970, the Reisinger family, the owners, took over the show cave operation themselves. The third generation of the family is running the show cave today. They also run the Mostschenke at the cave and the Dürntalwirt inn, 250 metres away in Dürntal.

A shepherd boy drove his flock of sheep up the Gösser every day throughout the summer. He changed pastures again and again. When the evening bells rang from the little church in Arzberg, he and his flock would head back down into the valley.
One evening, the animals returned alone, without their shepherd. At first the people thought that the boy had just been late, but when he didn’t come back at night, servants and hunters climbed up the mountain to look for the boy. They heard anxious cries for help, followed the voice, called out the boy’s name again and again and received an answer. However, they could not find the boy anywhere. It seemed to them as if the cries for help were coming from inside the mountain. When they still couldn’t find him after a long search, they suspected that a mischievous mountain spirit or goblin was holding them for dear life and descended into the valley in a huff.
Over time, the new shepherd realised that he was missing a sheep from time to time. When he searched for the animal, he always heard muffled bleating in a certain place, which seemed to come from inside the mountain. But he couldn't find the sheep. One day he noticed how a heavy cow suddenly sank into the pasture ground with its hind legs. He quickly called for help and when the people had pulled the ox out, a deep hole appeared in the ground. Courageous men lowered themselves into the depths using a strong rope. When they returned, they reported that there was a large cave below. When this was later examined more closely, the people found not only numerous animal bones inside, but also the skeleton of a boy. The mystery of the shepherd boy who had disappeared years ago was now solved.

Grasslhöhle has been known for centuries. Just inside the entrance there is a veritable forest of stalagmites. The heart of the cave is the Dome with numerous cascades of stalagmites. The so-called Giant is 3 m thick and 10 m high. There are galleries running along the sides of the Dome which display a rich array of speleothems.

Grasslhöhle is easy to explore and gives children in particular an impressive insight into the beauty and fascination of such a cavern. Whoever intends to visit both Grasslhöhle and Katerloch should make a point of inspecting the considerably smaller Grasslhöhle first in order to fully appreciate the grandeur of the Katerloch afterwards.

Text by Tony Oldham (2002). With kind permission.